as I staggered backward. My heart pounded

re? No, what is Alpha Ashvin

feared and held in awe to in high regard by all. And yet,

le sight before me. Maybe it was a trick of my imagination there was

is name hesitantly, my voi

nto me. His silence was confirmation enough, and a chi

Zahra-Rose?" His voice was

e. He's annoyed? I'm the one who's supposed to be angered! How cou

o form words while my mind ree

xpression hardening. "Tha

ently relinquished power to him, making him the youngest Alpha to rule an entire realm. His reputation preceded him-cold

t so completely at odds with the i

his voice low and firm. "This plac

shes of what had just happened flickered in my thoughts, his lips

istance myself from him and from my own shameful weakness. What had I done?

ve..." I started, bu

arrowing with disbelief. "T

my better judgment. "You and I both know I had a valid reason to

that didn't make it easier. "I still d

but I shook my head. "No. I came

h churn. What would people say? What would they think? And despi

ng you," I said cold

d away from him, each step faster than the last. My best friend had once told me to do something I

eached home, so

despite our pack being the smallest in the four realms. But now, as I stepped into our lands, a

unease I felt. Something was wrong. I could fee

t, I stepped out of the car before the driver could even open th

d the sight before me stol

ice quivered as he rushed

e bodies of his guards. My knees buckled, and I sank to the

body. "Please, tell me this is a

ars as the reality of the scene settled over me. My father

the

ing my father's body down gently, I ran through the house, cal

knew. "We need help," he whispered, his voice trembling. "The Alp

in twisting into fury. This wasn't an accident. This was an assassinat

ied myself, Ineed to be

e I could turn to for h

lpha