Chapter 249

ALINA

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Firelight in the gathered hall danced upon the walls in long shadows while I sat toward the rear.

I chose my place for a specific reason: I could let my eyes trail across them, from the babbling wolves to those nervous looks at neighbors and the more who whispered stories of Rowan’s rise and fall into destruction.

“Did you hear how he argued with Aurora before he was arrested?” I whispered to Lyra, a younger wolf sitting to my side.

Lyra’s ears twitched. “I heard him say something about her playing favorites. Is that true?”

I sighed, faking reluctance. “I wouldn’t say that outright, but. There’s truth to every rumor, isn’t there? Rowan wouldn’t have acted out for no reason.”

Lyra frowned, her gaze wandering to the front of the room, where Aurora stood beside Dane. “But Aurora’s always been fair.”

“Fair?” I let the word hang in the air, laced with doubt.

“Fairness is not the same thing as a good leader, Lyra. Fair doesn’t mean it listens to everyone. Rowan wanted to be heard,

Chapter 249

and look where it got him.

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And in that, the seed was sown. Lyra’s doubt would grow like a fire taking to burn slowly, and I would be the one fanning the flames.

Later that day, I made my way to the training grounds, where a group of wolves sparred beneath the sharp commands of Piper.

Her voice rang out with authority, but with a jagged edge a hairline crack that I was more than happy to widen.

“Piper,” I called, taunting her with a sweet smile.

She turned, wiping the sweat off her forehead. “What do you want, Alina?”

“Just a moment of your time,” I said innocently. “You work so hard. I thought you could use a little break.”

Piper crossed her arms. “I’m busy.”

“Too busy to hear what Warrick’s been saying?”

I knew I had her attention. “What

looking offhandedly

he admires, strong willed wolves. He seemed awfully impressed with

Chapter 249

clenched. “Warrick

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he wouldn’t,” I said smoothly.

And sometimes. admiration can turn

at me, her features hardening. “Why

thought that you should know,” I replied, trying

like you

that ensued was satisfying… I walked away, glad that I was getting all

evening, I snuck into the now vacant quarters of Rowan in search of whatever secrets the accused

behind.

been gathered together in haste following his arrest, but one

scanning my eyes over the spidery, uneven handwriting. The words were cryptic, near nonsensical at first glance, but

Chapter 249

my chest,

“What are you doing?”

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sharply to face Piper standing at

I replied casually, hiding the letter behind my back.

eyes. “You shouldn’t be

you,” I said, advancing on the door. “But if anyone asks, we’ll just say you were checking in on me. After

for an answer, brushing past her into the hallway as the letter seemed to burn like a

into the silence of my own

cryptic words. “The truth buried in the grove will be

the truth? And how could it undo Aurora and

desk, my fingers

Chapter 249

be a fool, but his desperation had unearthed something significant. This

at the letter as if

this pack, molded

would Rowan have this? And why hadn’t he

stepped outside, I sat on the training grounds,

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sharp voice cut through the space as she corrected some young wolf’s

his easy grin back in place as he offered some kind of joke

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