PTE

A'S

woke before the sun, or to be spec

of firelight and ashes, my father's voice a fading whisper. Every t

t. The frost was heavier today. The earth was har

howling or the bond, but because of the memory that came

her's

ked in silence. I was just a girl then, clutching a broken arrow and tears I hadn't let fall. He to

aid would cha

, I knew I h

nt. She groaned and pulled a blanket

utters sleepily, irritati

going back to the ruins."

t her a

looking at her with determination. If she doesn't agree to

ked at me with widened eyes. "Why? I mean all o

Cera quickly gets up and we get ready to leave, strapping weapon

to hold camp until we returned, but I saw the concern i

ur wolves tearing through the frost with practiced ease. Mine, silver gray eyes like

r ridge, the sun was rising in

hoked the blackened walls, and the stone steps were

orst situation ever. My home. I couldn't believe

sure?" Ce

e to try." I say, taking a deep

e. The great hall where I'd learned to fight. The library where my

he st

mostly

d. Bookshelves lined the walls, some crumbli

d to the

rved into the stone: Ashborne's true sigil. Not the one t

on flanked by

d my han

ic

l, revealing a black leather book

pened the book first. It

ed with battle maps, politica

But the Blackridge Alpha... he knew the truth. He knew, and still, he chose silence. Kaiden Blackthorn's father ma

anything but the words and the man, who

en k

knew the truth behind the betrayal. H

said no

our of my father. He took his father's side and wat

atched my family fall and said nothing. H

know the

lieve he could have chosen differe

h the estate, marked only with a phrase: "To awak

over my shoulder in the map, and f

When I stood, the wind had shifted. Snow be

uncover the secrets he helped bury. The sec

eady to bring out every secret he has

stroying whatever w

meant to