Chapter 13
9
In the SilverFang den, my grandmother’s sacred artifacts lay on the ancient oak table. Four of the moonstone crystals were missing recovered by Soren’s trackers from throughout Thorne’s territory and the Sacred Grove. The pack’s best hunters had searched for days, following the faintest traces of my grandmother’s scent.
Tears welled in my eyes at the sight of the ceremonial cloths, still carrying my grandmother’s scent after all these moons. “Thank you, Soren.” I whispered, unaware of how his wolf stirred at the sound of his name on my lips.
Between us, no thanks are needed.” Soren stood behind me, his hands resting protectively on my shoulders, his Alpha presence warm and steady. His touch lingered longer than necessary, his scent carrying notes of pine and something deeper, something he’d kept carefully hidden since we were young wolves. “I’ll make them return the missing moonstones, no matter what it takes.” His voice softened when he spoke to me, different from the commanding tone he used with others, even to Storm.
Storm burst into the den, clutching investigation scrolls, her wild energy making the ceremonial candles flicker. “Rayne! That silver–tongued viper! We’ve uncovered her whole scheme!”
“What did you find?” Soren’s voice held the quiet danger of an approaching storm.
Storm’s eyes blazed with fury as she revealed the truth. “Silvana never had silver sickness. She switched healing records at the pack healer’s den! In these times, healer’s records only bear pack markings, not names. She saw her results showed mere moon sensitivity while another she–wolf’s showed terminal silver poisoning.”
“She wouldn’t…” I breathed, but Storm continued, her voice trembling with rage.
“She gave her clean bill of health to the dying wolf, then took the terminal diagnosis to Thorne, playing the tragic victim. The older she wolf couldn’t read the ancient runes, trusted Silvana’s ‘kindness.‘ She returned to her den without treatment.”
Soren’s claws extended, leaving marks in the wooden table. “What happened to her?”
“The silver took her before the next full moon,” Storm’s voice cracked. “Her mate and pups never got to say goodbye. All so Silvana could play her games with our Luna’s mate.”
“It gets worse,” Storm growled. “She bribed a corrupt healer to support her lies. Not even clever deception – just gold buying false testimony. But Thorne, the mighty Alpha,” her voice dripped with contempt, “never questioned a word. Too enchanted by her act to see the truth.”
hapter 13
sank into a chair, my world spinning. All of it my pup, my mate bond, my life – destroyed by such a simple lie?
“The Moon Goddess will have justice for this,” Soren’s Alpha voice resonated with deadly promise. “Breaking pack law is one thing. But causing an innocent wolf’s death for her schemes? That demands blood price.”
The moonstone crystals on the table seemed to pulse with agreement, their light reflecting the fury in all our hearts.
