<i>Zephyrine </i>


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    I had never known I’d wee the idea of Hades apanying me until I nced out the window and saw him riding his horse beside the carriage.


    He looked calm, but I swore beneath that expression something dark was brewing.


    Lycannar was calm too, but I trusted his calmness more than Hades’s. Something had happened back there and I could feel it. Uncle Dareth had nearly revealed something, something so dark it made me wonder if saying yes to Lycannar was a choice I should rethink.


    I sighed gently, closed the window, and leaned back in my seat. Now that we had left the Lycan Kingdom, I realized something was truly brewing beyond its walls.


    The carriage rolled into the open, and the first passerby we came across said something that raised my brows.


    “You mean ckwater is no more?”


    “Don’t you listen to the news? Apex and an Ashmere did it. Guess what else. They freed thousands of ves. Now the ves sing their praises.”


    I froze where I sat, raising an eyebrow in awe. The ves were singing our praises? Truly?


    I was just about to push the thought away when another voice rang out.


    “Are you sure we’re notte for the execution? We can’t miss the traitor’s death.”


    I stiffened, nearly rolling my eyes. Of course Ka must have lied about Warrior June’s so- called offense to make herself look righteous and saintly.


    “But think about it. How could Apex conquer thousands of men in a single night?” another passerby asked. One chuckled.


    “I’ve always known he could wield a sword. Don’t you see how handsome he is?”


    “Wish he’d host an event, open the Lycan gates for us all. Maybe then we’d have a chance at him.”


    A girlish giggle followed, and atst I lost my patience. I pushed forward, parting the curtain, ready to challenge them, only to stop short.


    <b>17:36 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>19 </b>B…


    51


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    What I thought were just passersby turned out to be a mass of people all moving toward the market square. My jaw dropped.


    Was this really just a simple execution or a public one? No, somethingrger was happening


    here.


    I closed the curtain, sat back, and thought it through. What had happened overnight? Why was there such a crowd? Why was everyone gathering all at once?


    Those questions still burned when the carriage halted, and I leaned forward, wondering why. I was about to call out when the curtain parted and Hades appeared, palm extended.


    “Come out, sister–inw. The carriage can’t go further than this.”


    I raised an eyebrow at him but ced my hand in his. He steadied me, his palm brushing my lower back as I stepped out and my jaw fell.open.


    Almost the entire popce of the surrounding packs had gathered. All to watch an execution. Ahead, tables and chairs were arranged like a tribunal, the three Council members seated.


    Ka and her father were present, as well as every Alpha from every corner of the Shifter Empire.


    And there, unmistakable Warrior June.


    Stripped to the waist, d only in torn trousers, bleeding from countless wounds. Tortured to the very edge of death.


    The crowd was <i>so </i>dense my carriage couldn’t have gone further even if it tried. I scanned the square, searching for the Ash Pack’s seat, but found none.


    So I turned toward the White Pack’s table instead, drawing Hades with me. His hand stayed firm on my back as the crowd parted to let us through, until we reached Alpha Auedric.


    We had barely arrived when Nyroth of the Hue Pack rushed forward, nearly startling me.


    “Zeph, what are you doing here?” His voice was sharp. Then his eyes darted to Hades beside me, his brow creasing. “You’ve got a new man now?”


    Hades chuckled under his breath.


    66 <fn8efc> Fresh chapters posted on find[?]ovel</fn8efc>


    “Crazy fellow,” he murmured, his re so sharp it made Nyroth stumble back in sudden fear.


    Before I could speak, another voice rang out. The murmurs of the crowd died with it.


    <b>17:37 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>B…


    “Oh, look who we have here.”


    Ka strode forward, her smile cutting.


    <b>51 </b>


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    “You. I heard what you did at ckwater with Apex. Tell me, how will you exin to the Council that you wiped out an entire pack just to save your crazy brother?”


    Silence fell. Too much silence. My throat nearly closed as her words sank in. Had I heard right?


    I stared into her eyes, a hot urge to strangle her boiling up. But before I could act, Hades’s hand brushed softly at my back. Calming. Steadying. Somehow, it helped.


    “I heard your brother is insane and wouldn’t stand trial at the Wolf Fortress. Seems you failed, Ashmere.” Her smirk widened. “Just as you will fail now, watching Warrior June die for the crime of not stopping you and Apex from storming into ckwater. He will pay for your sins with his blood. You aren’t even a proper Alpha anymore. Your presence here is worthless. You can’t save him.”


    Another silence. I searched her eyes, shook my head, goosebumps crawling over my skin. Because I could hear it, the sound of hooves, the wheels of a carriage approaching. The arrival of the true owner of ckbridge Pack.


    Atst, I smirked. Straightened my shoulders. And whispered to Ka’s face.


    “Who said I came here to save Warrior June?” I leaned closer to her ear. “I came to watch the Yadevs fall.”


    I pulled back, seeing her confusion. She giggled.


    “You think you, an Alpha, can do that?”


    “Who said I’d waste my strength on you or your thieving father? I can’t meddle with ckbridge Pack. But she can.”


    No sooner had I spoken than the carriage rolled to a stop.


    Every head turned. Every murmur ceased.


    The guards who nked it were from Ash Pack. The crest upon it was mine.


    When the curtain parted and she descended, gasps rose so loud they shattered the silence.


    Luna Tahlia, with Young ck.