Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

"We reached out to other packs," added Elder Thorn, his tone clipped with frustration. "We thought perhaps they'd have some forgotten text buried in their vaults. But even with access granted, we came up empty."

"There's no record of Kaden," said Elder Mira, her silver braid falling over her shoulder. "Nothing about demigods. Nothing about what's keeping him locked. Nothing about how to undo it."

Each elder took a turn, each report a variation of the same grim truth: nothing. Not even breadcrumbs.

The silence after their words felt louder than before. I turned my gaze toward Raven.

She leaned forward slowly, resting her forearms on the table. Her dark hair was pulled into a low bun, strands loose around her temples. Even in stillness, she looked exhausted-more so than any of us. Her eyes were ringed with sleeplessness, her voice barely above a whisper when she spoke.

"I haven't found anything either,” she admitted. "I've followed every lead I could think of. I even reached out to some of my mother's old contacts."

She paused, pressing her fingers to the bridge of her nose for a second before continuing.

"As for the spell itself... I still haven't figured out a way around it. It's layered, ancient, and laced with magic I have no clue about. To unravel it safely would take more time than we have. And even then, I don't know if it's possible."

A cold hush fell over the room as her words settled in.

"Are you saying," I began slowly, "that the only way to break the spell is to release him?"

eyes flicked up to meet

was it. All this time we'd been trying to find a way to weaken the

to the coven. Try and see if I can find

in on my discovery or not. Finally, I decided on telling them.

the table. "There's something else," I said, my voice

sharply. Alec went still. Jason tilted his head, alert. Even Micah, who rarely betrayed anything,

I said

A pause.

were right, Alec. The veiled woman is Nyx's sister and

a slow, quiet curse. Alec's

the elders remained still, their brows

because I

I didn't want to bring

gaze locked

Kaden..." I took a breath, the words heavy in my throat. "They're somehow connected. Nyx didn't reveal anything,

that

blinked slowly, like she was trying to process it. Micah sat back in his chair, exhaling a sharp breath. Jason

And the elders?