“The kind that gets people killed.” She starts pacing, agitation clear in every movement. “About a week ago, this high fae showed up at the pack borders. Called himself Lord Hule. Said he could bring back your mother.”
My heart stops. Of course. Of course that would be what broke my father completely.
“My mother is dead,” I say roughly. “Has been for over two decades. Nothing can bring her back.”
“Try telling that to your father.” Dana’s laugh is bitter. “He welcomed them in with open arms. Gave them free rein of pack lands. Anyone who objected was exiled—including me, Gran, and half the pack’s most experienced warriors.”
Aurora makes a small sound of distress. “Gran? Is she?—”
“Safe. For now.” Dana’s expression softens as she looks at her friend. “We’ve set up a camp in the eastern woods. But Kieran…” Her eyes cut to me. “Your father has gone completely off the deep end. He’s letting the fae perform rituals in the heart of pack territory. Dark magic that makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.”
I close my eyes, memories washing over me. My father’s obsession with my mother. The way he blamed me for her death. His increasing instability over the years.
“The fae can’t actually bring back the dead,” Aurora says quietly. “Can they?”
“No.” I open my eyes, meeting her worried gaze. “Whatever they promised him, it’s a lie. They’re using his grief to get what they want—access to pack lands.”
“It’s worse than that.” Dana reaches into her jacket and pulls out a folded paper. “One of our scouts found this in the ruins of Pack Onyx. It’s written in those runes you taught me about, Rory. Took us a while to translate it, but…”
Aurora takes the paper with trembling hands. As she reads, her face goes pale. “It’s a ritual. They need… they need pack land magic. All of it. They’re trying to create permanent doorways between our realm and theirs.”
“And they need the blood of an alpha to seal it,” Dana finishes grimly. “Your father thinks he’s getting his mate back. What he’s really doing is sacrificing himself—and the entire pack—to give the fae permanent access to our world. No more bargains, no more tricks, they’ll just… conquer us all.”
The implications hit me like a physical blow. Pack lands are saturated with ancient magic, magic that keeps us hidden from humans and gives us our strength. If the fae gain control of that…
“How many are still loyal to him?” I ask Dana, already planning strategies in my head.
“Maybe a third of the pack. The rest have either been exiled or are too scared to speak up.” She eyes me speculatively. “Although that might change if the future alpha came back to challenge him.”
The weight of responsibility settles on my shoulders. This is what I’ve been training for my whole life—to lead and protect the pack. But I’ve never imagined having to protect them from my own father.
“It won’t be that simple,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “If he’s made a bargain with the fae…”
“Then we’ll break it.” Aurora’s voice is firm as she steps closer to me, her hand finding mine. “Together. Like we said.”
The bond pulses between us, carrying her strength and determination. Dana watches the interaction with raised eyebrows.
“Well,” she says after a moment. “Maybe you have changed.”
“I have.” I meet her gaze steadily. “I know I hurt her. Hurt both of you, since you had to pick up the pieces after I rejected her. I can’t undo that, but I can try to make it right. Starting with saving our pack from my father’s foolishness.”
Dana studies me for a long moment, then nods sharply. “Fine. But if you hurt her again, I swear?—”
“You’ll kill me slowly and painfully,” I finish. “I know. And I’ll deserve it.”
“Damn straight you will.” But there’s a hint of approval in her voice now, hopefully not for the last time. “Come on. The others will want to see both of you. We need to plan our next move carefully.”
As we follow Dana through the woods, Aurora’s hand stays firmly in mine. The bond hums between us, carrying strength and support back and forth.
“Are you ready for this?” she asks quietly. “Facing your father?”
The question makes my wolf whine with distress. How do you prepare to fight your own alpha? Your own blood?
But then I look at Aurora—my mate, who I almost lost to my father’s toxic influence. Who grew stronger despite everything we put her through. Who fights for a pack that never fully accepted her.
“No,” I admit. “But it needs to be done. The pack comes first.”
She squeezes my hand. “We’ll face him together. All of us.”