From the edge of the Silver Pack territory, I watched as Skye moved further away from me, and closer to the very danger we had been protecting her from. Kain. My wolf was in turmoil within me, its frantic howls echoing my own panic, begging me to stop her, to bring her back. But I couldn't. She had made her choice, and despite everything in me wanting to drag her back, to protect her from what I knew was coming, I respected her decision.Each step she took felt like a dagger to my heart. My mate, moving further away from me, closer to my worst enemy. Kain. The sight of him, grinning, victorious, filled my vision with red. My fists clenched at my sides, every fiber of my being urging me to charge at him, to rip his grin off his face. But it was Skye's safety that mattered most to me. And for now, at least, it seemed that staying with Kain was what she believed was safe.Even so, as Skye's figure shrunk into the distance, a promise formed within me. If Kain so much as laid a finger on S

The room I was in felt strangely foreign yet hauntingly familiar. Its grandeur was overwhelming, and the framed photos scattered throughout seemed to narrate a story that was part of my own heritage. Images of my mother and father, happy and in love, stared back at me. The resemblance I shared with my mother was uncanny. Her strawberry-blonde hair, her blue eyes, the curve of her smile - they all echoed in my own features. One particular photo drew me in, and I felt an uncontrollable urge to pick it up. This was more than just a picture; it was a connection to a past I'd never known. I hid it in my bag, a precious memento I would keep close to my heart. As I strolled towards the window, I couldn't help but be consumed by my own thoughts. Why had I chosen to come here, to be with the man who was accused of taking my mother's life? Was it the pull of a shared lineage, or something deeper? Was it curiosity or a longing for understanding? I couldn't quite put my finger o

She still had that wary look in her eyes. Man, I was at a loss for how to make her relax a bit. "You good?" I asked. She glanced up, those big blue eyes, mirror images of her mother's, knocking the wind out of me every time. The resemblance was uncanny, and it tugged at my heartstrings. We ambled through the garden, the same one where her mom and I used to take our evening strolls.Skye kept her cards close, not peppering me with questions like I'd expected. If I wanted to come out on top in this impending war, I needed her trust."Ask me anything, sweetheart. I'll be honest with you," I assured her. She met my gaze, pausing briefly. "Why did you kill my mother?" Her eyes held mine, unwavering. Damn. The one question I wasn't ready for. Even I struggle to answer that for myself."It's a complex tale. I'm struggling with where to begin," I admitted, my voice faltering in a way it rarely did. She settled on the same bench I had crafted for my mate. "You said you'd be honest," Skye remin