e's

pounds dully as a soft light filters throug

op

blink once- twice-and the world organizes,

an

s, just as co

gainst my ribs. The last thing I r

xpression. His skin is smooth, and the

ce cracks. "Wh-

watching a sparring match. One of the warriors got careless. You passed out." His smile is forced as he runs a gentle finger across my

w this story. This time, but

s smoother. No gray in his b

ing in the room. "

s he analyzes my face as if he could see any

rlay reality as I look at the whitewashed walls and the scratched wooden floors near t

life, one from years ago. Fr

this po

ened afte

push

rising, but I'm helple

of the bed, ignoring my unstea

es for me, trying to st

" I shout, pullin

an't b

ier of my mind, sensing my distress

tes. "March

the y

." He grips my arm gently.

ead me back

l my heart stutter, and

a worried lo

blanket see

nty-one y

k the goddess I'm sitting. My wolf paces but d

one. Blind fo

ed, I

that one.T he betrayal, the pain,

di

y father says, handin

if only to give my

n sent ba

oddess left this

nit togethe

hts swirling in my head. Among t

d I have to avoid K

e to reduce everything, I need

Papa. I'm okay now. Everything was jus

d unconscious. It's normal to be

the healer know you've woken up. Alpha Kei

My mind is racing. This is the day

role as Alpha. I was here to represent our pack since my sis

lik

up the first t

o ensure that the alpha family of an all

moment everyt

and we knew

logy out before his wolf rose to t

e door. She was about to e

?" Da

inform anyone. Pap

e not making

teadying. "I think I should he

. "Absolutely not.

hands and mine. "Please. Trust me now. I can't expla

afraid o

e the signs of flaring temper in Papa's eyes

ing. If he knew the truth, if he even suspected that I had ill f

e last th

want to

ses from my chest, rumbling with rage. She re

es to for

d

row. "You sound like your m

n our packs while giving me a chance to escape and choose a New path. " I do

e. What do you

t over my chest. Dad lifts a brow, skeptical. "She fought

's stubborn, like your mother. But how do you expect

ng fine and the healers at home are more advanced than the ones in the lotu

re not wrong. Blue Rock has

to show

ht actua

"You can head home. I'll arran

warrior. He had watched me and my

Pack territory. I started to slip on my shoes and my jacket. Than

t couldn't b

r's girlfriend, steps in with her too-bright smile. Trailing be

ounger, and the two could not look more different. While Taylor was fair

dge my father happiness. Many shifters find companionship again after losing their fated mate. The new

rves it. However, there was somethin

I can deal with not being liked, but what bothers

ng stairs sli

pine stiffenin

ng. How are you feeling?" She says in t

." I say keep my

I care about is getting t

houldn't you be getting the heale

e so she can be seen by our healers," Papa

ly, our healers have much more knowledge than the ones on Lotus Pack territory

ox about to break into a chicken coop. "I'd be

not a bad idea. It wou

o way I'm letting that pompous

even when I s

sweetly and continue. "Tyler's license

n's mouth tilts into a

his dominance is directed at Tyler. "I ne

ne time-" Ty

ves you put at risk, your own included. You say you want to be a warrior,

Papa's arm and cutting him off. "Cli

istake costs li

You're right. Maybe we should

n

the room, casting me a gla

Leah just

h a narc,"

ould have found out eventually. How do you think it w

, but he backs o

gh the door. His jaw's still tight, b

ady for you," he says. "He'

"Thanks

nd I ignore the two

ns or interruptions. I don't want to

goodbyes,