Chapter 16
In the darkness, Valdrin lay on the floor of Ravenna’s chamber, her scent still lingering in the air.
Beyond the veil, the Moon Goddess showed Ravenna these moments of grief. “Would you look upon him one last time?” the Goddess asked.
Hesitating, Ravenna’s spirit form manifested beside him. Valdrin’s head lifted, sensing something. “Ravenna? Have you returned?”
She remained silent. In this form, he couldn’t hear her anyway. She watched him, puzzled by his despair. She’d expected him to struggle briefly before finding comfort in Winter’s presence. Yet these past three days, he’d barely acknowledged Winter at all.
“His heart now beats only for you,” the Moon Goddess spoke. “Return to him, and your Trial would end. Do you still wish to seek another path?”
Through the darkness, Valdrin’s broken whisper reached her: “I was wrong.” A bitter laugh escaped him. “I was so wrong. Please… come back to me.”
Only silence answered.
After a long moment, Ravenna spoke: “Choose another.” Her trust in him had died with her heart. The wounds he’d inflicted would never heal, the betrayal never fade. What right had he to forgiveness?
Light flared as the Moon Goddess prepared her rebirth. Ravenna closed her eyes without regret.
Morning found Valdrin hollow eyed. Young Ash sat waiting, tears falling: “Mother isn’t coming back is she?” Despite his maturity, he was still just a pup of seven winters.
“She’s abandoned us, hasn’t she, Father?”
The pain in Valdrin’s chest threatened to tear him apart. “No,” he whispered, but his voice held o
conviction.
He rushed to the crypt, his last connection to her. Empty.
“Where is she?” His roar shook the stones. “Where’s Ravenna?”
The frightened healer stammered: “Her friend… took her for the burning ritual…”
Complet 10
Valdrin ran like a wolf possessed.
Winter called after him as he passed, reaching for him only to fall. “Alpha!”
He hesitated at her cry, torn between past and present as she lay there weeping. “What’s wrong?” she pleaded.
After an eternity, he turned away.
At the den’s entrance, he found Lyra overseeing the ritual preparations. He lunged forward, scattering the attending wolves. “Get away from her!”
Lyra’s tear–filled eyes blazed with fury. “She’s dead, Valdrin! Will you deny her peace even now?”
He trembled. “No… she’ll return. She always returns.”
Lyra’s palm cracked across his face, the sound echoing through the sacred grounds.
“You dare speak of return? You put her on that stone! You took her heart!”
“And now you pretend to care?”
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