Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be DeadAlora discovered that everything she knew about her family was a lie.Serafina survived.
Barely.
The healer confirmed the dagger had missed her heart by less than an inch.
Damian remained beside her only long enough to learn where Varek's body had been taken.
Then he returned to Alora.
She stood alone in the royal library.
Hundreds of old books surrounded her.
None contained the truth she needed.
"Your mother was alive," Damian said.
Alora did not turn.
"You knew?"
"No."
"You believed Serafina."
"I believed she was frightened."
Alora laughed bitterly.
"That's not an answer."
Damian approached slowly.
"I believe you deserve the truth."
She turned.
"My entire life is a lie."
He didn't deny it.
"My grandmother never told me who my father was."
Damian said nothing.
"She always said my parents died together."
"Maybe she wanted to protect you."
"Then from what?"
Damian reached into his coat.
He had found a hidden ledger among Varek's belongings.
Inside was a list.
Names.
Birth dates.
Bloodlines.
At the bottom:
Alora Wynn.
Next to it:
Survivor.
Alora stared.
"Survivor of what?"
Damian answered quietly.
"The Moonfire Purge."
Her breath caught.
She had heard stories.
An entire healer bloodline wiped out twenty-four years ago.
A crime blamed on rogue wolves.
But the ledger showed something else.
Orders.
Signed by the Voss council.
Damian's father.
Alora stepped away.
"Your father killed my family."
"My father may have."
She shook her head.
"You are his son."
"I am not him."
"But you benefit from everything he left behind."
Damian moved closer.
"I will give you the choice."
"What choice?"
"Walk away."
Her eyes filled.
"You saved my life."
"And you saved my children."
"You said I was your mate."
"I meant it."
"Then why are you giving me permission to leave?"
"Because a mate is not a prison."
That broke something inside her.
Alora closed her eyes.
For a moment, she almost kissed him.
Then a scream came from the hallway.
They rushed outside.
One of the royal guards lay dead.
On his chest was a message written in blood.
ONE PUP WILL DIE BEFORE THE NEXT MOON.
Damian froze.
Alora grabbed his arm.
"We have to move them."
"No."
He stared at the message.
"The nursery is compromised."
"We'll hide them."
"Where?"
Damian looked toward the forest.
"Somewhere even I can't find them."
Alora realized what he meant.
"The southern monastery."
Damian nodded.
Only the oldest healers knew of it.
They could hide the pups there.
At dawn, they prepared to leave.
But when Damian entered the nursery...
Finn was gone.
Wren screamed in her cradle.
A window stood open.
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There was blood on the floor.
And beside the empty cradle lay Serafina's silver pendant.
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