Chapter 14
Soren accompanied me to meet the bereaved pack. When they learned the truth about their mother’s death, they brought their grievance to the Council of Alphas where both Thorne and
Silvana served.
*Silvana’s true nature became known throughout all territories. Thorne, once a respected Alpha,
found his own pack’s loyalty wavering.
He cornered me outside the SilverFang den. “Did you deliberately expose Silvana’s deception?”
Who revealed it doesn’t matter,” my voice was winter–cold. “She caused an innocent wolf’s death. And you? Your claws are stained with our pup’s blood.”
Thorne’s Alpha presence faltered at the mention of our lost pup. “I didn’t know the truth then.”
He lunged forward suddenly, trying to scent–mark me. “Rayne, she deceived me.”
Soren’s leg shot out, blocking Thorne’s advance. With deliberate care, he draped his Alpha cloak over my shoulders, his scent wrapping around me protectively.
Remove your tainted hands,” Thorne snarled, reaching for the cloak.
“Tainted?” Soren’s grip locked around Thorne’s wrist. “You speak of yourself?”
“Indeed,” Soren’s lip curled. “Your presence alone fouls the air.”
“Rayne,” Thorne’s eyes widened. “You’ll let him insult your Alpha this way?”
Once, I would have defended him with tooth and claw. My loyalty had been absolute, brooking no slight against my mate, no matter how small.
Thorne waited, expectant.
But what right had he to expect my protection after betraying our mate–bond so completely?
When I remained silent, Thorne’s posture shifted, his confidence returning like a poorly fitted mask. “Stay away from the SilverFang Pack, Rayne. They’re jealous of our bond, trying to drive us apart.”
“Without my moonstone crafting, their pack faces ruin. Don’t align yourself with failing wolves. It….. might make me reconsider renewing our mate–bond.”
After I Let Go My Alpha He Knolt in Regret
nearly laughed. Still trying to manipulate me with promises of reconciliation.
When our pup was taken, when our bond was broken, my heart had shattered. But now? Now I felt only relief. Better to see the monster in your den early than too late.
Soren, usually the epitome of Alpha control, actually growled. “Not everyone is fool enough to be played like a moon–struck pup.”
Thorne ignored him, confident in his power over the SilverFang Pack’s future.
“Rayne,” he purred, “we’re pack. You’ve reclaimed your grandmother’s relics. Stop this stubbornness. Release funds to compensate the dead wolf’s family.”
- th. So this was his game – he needed money for reparations.
“After all our years mated,” I replied coldly, “you should know me better. I’d throw gold to the winter winds before giving you a single coin.”
“What have they done to you?” Thorne raged. “What magic have they used to turn you against me?”
“Time to leave, Alpha,” one of the SilverFang warriors grinned, his fangs glinting as he gripped Thorne’s shoulder. “Before we decide to teach you the meaning of pack respect.”
Thorne tried to shake off the warrior’s hold, but found himself firmly caught between two powerful betas. His former Alpha strength seemed to desert him in that moment.
“Thorne,” I called after him, “there’s something you should know.”
“The reason I couldn’t carry a pup… it was never my full moon transformations that were unstable. It was your wolf blood that was tainted.”
Thorne whirled around, his eyes wide with shock. “Impossible!”
“Why would I lie now?” My voice carried across the distance between us. “Yes, my shifting was damaged after the river incident, but your wolf spirit was always the broken one.”
The truth was there in his past – a pup left to freeze in winter dens, starved of proper kills, beaten by a drunk Alpha father. Such trauma had weakened his ability to pass on his bloodline long before we
met.
As the SilverFang warriors dragged him away, Thorne stumbled, his denials growing weaker with each step. “Impossible… impossible…” But the certainty in his voice was gone, replaced by the howl of a wolf finally facing its own weakness.
After Set Go My Atriba
