TRI'

bigail De'crescent..." Yes. That was what I had heard the Alpha of the Lily of

ed. Exposing myself to the werewolves and causing them to quest

I had instructed Neal to keep watch on the girl as I figured out a surefire way to manipulate th

he only thing I could stomach. As a true Lycan, I could only stomach a predominantly meat dis

plate and throw it all up in a matter of minutes. It would s

ur liking, King Dimitr

ort into making it. But with me, that didn't matter. I returned my gaze to t

oka

f had questions. Lots of it. I wasn't going to be

lly broke the silence, downing the

it comes as a surprise to many of us tha

d the other pa

enards and the Dumonts were no fools. Of course, they

nd perhaps just as wise. "But they gave us no response. Which makes your presen

to access how those before me ruled. The one thing I did not like was the fact that they made enemies with the werewolf s

the wine and assessed the situation. The dominoes were ca

an spoke, even though his Beta w

mart wasn't enough for a deal as captivating as

most ridiculous word I had heard i

are they kind. There is something you want. An exchange. So for both

There was no need for blood since I came to preach peace. So to calm my aggravated nerves, I downed the last d

u want?" Alpha

room creaked open and in walked Camille Dumont, t

ned to the opened door and I proceeded to poin

clared. "I

Dumont. The young woman stood there, her face pale and streaked with bl

bordinate and Beta. Only killing and winning brought that mani

ever left me. It was clear that my request had come as a shock

k? Isn't that the

thing bu

to be punished? Rather than waste the life of a runt

n shrieked at me and the en

*

LLE'

opened and my tired legs had shuffled

e mate to point his finger in my direction

fatherly thing the man had ever done to me since I arrived in the Lily of the Valley pack. But it h

he silence. "Is it because I am your daughter or bec

he tried to say but I c

t up and you wi

remble in my heart. I refused to be silenced any

" I continued, my words laced with insidious rage. "You've never asked about my hopes

ion. His jaw clenched, but I refused to back down. I had been

ts," I pressed on, my voice quivering with pent-up emotion. "But what about me?

as palpable, the weight of our strained relationship reaching its breaking po

th a mix of frustration and regret. "I've spent my entire life building and protectin

pens when the trial happens and I fail? What happens after? Do you finally toss me aside like the useless child tha

d not sense a flicker of remorse in his

ou fought? What sacr

ashed over me. I had hoped for validation, for understanding,

urned to my stepmother, Adele. I clearly remembered what the assassin had said. How Adele was the one who sent him. It wa

our mouth shut or else–" my fa

ok Neal's hand and l

I finally summoned the courage to mutter. "

lace," King Dimitri continued. "Is n

ing else mattered at that moment because a

spine. Instinctively, my eyes widened and my heart raced, knowing th

around me morphed into a swirling

with shattered remnants of furniture an

e backwards, flinging me thr

for impact, my body crashing

searing every nerve with

y sticking out of my chest. There was blood

scious and b

wounds and craw

om the bleeding gash on his foreh

ed to get me out of here. I will not be

y veins and with trembling hands, I be

was cry as nu own body began to

of me and I laid down next to Nea

was co

over me. The deafening roar of destruction seemed to grow louder with each passing second,

lle." a quiet

world before me exploded in

ly subsiding and I watched in awe as the bone sticking out o

ination ignited within me. With every ounce of my new strength, I fo

nconscious form once more. Blood from a pool of crimson surrounding him s

esperation to find a pulse. My fingers pressed against his neck, searching for any sign of l

every passing moment was crucial. With an iron will and renewed hope, I put my hand over his body and prayed that wha

the best

s head was closing up. As if the hands of time

ing a life. Then the grim truth settled in

ized what that meant for us because

e beautiful blue glow began to die

ning. The gash on Neal's skull hadn't completely closed up. Bu

dage to apply pressure to the small gash on his forehead, attempting to stem the bleeding. My powers

fference between life and death. Despite the mental torture threatening to engulf me now that it was confirmed that I w

rough the chaos, barely audi

dened my resolve. I knew I couldn't stay. Neal would live.

King Dimitri also wanted me for the same reason. There was also the issue of the mate bond and my

dshed and I would be rig

moke from the explosion sti

gth, I managed to drag myself towa

f they did, I do

the distance as I fought to escape, my every step fueled by sheer determination. The weight of my s

rd, my heart pounding in my chest. The pack territory

ning ear as I weaved through the thic

my body, mingling with the acrid smoke that

y instincts urging me to keep moving, to

ied, a reminder of the life dependent on my choices. Thoughts of leaving my mate, the one I was supposed to

ad and I contemplated the possib

er consumed my thoughts. But what of my own desires? Did I dare turn my back on the li

painting a macabre scene of destruction. Realizing that there was no turning back, I took a

ran deeper into the woods, my pace slowed, allowing me to catch my breath. The adrenaline

d out of my eyes, blurring my vision

a Dumont. I was a Gallagher. I Camile Ga

at actuall