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?”

and I knew I had her attention. “What are

offhandedly

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

Chapter 249

clenched. “Warrick wouldn’t

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said smoothly. “But you

sometimes.

features hardening. “Why

should know,” I replied, trying to

prepared, Piper. Strong wolves like you don’t have to let

walked away, glad that I was getting all

now vacant quarters of Rowan in

behind.

his effects having been gathered together in haste following his arrest, but one

near nonsensical at first glance, but one phrase leapt out, “the truth hidden within the grove shall

Chapter 249

heart was pounding in my chest, yet I kept my breathing

“What are you doing?”

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to face Piper standing at the door with her arms

the letter behind my

her eyes. “You

neither should you,” I said, advancing on the door. “But if anyone asks, we’ll just say you were checking in on me. After all, we’re

wait for an answer, brushing past her into the hallway as the letter seemed to

into the silence of my own quarters, closing the door

the cryptic words. “The truth

truth? And how could it undo Aurora

the papers on my desk, my fingers trembling in

Chapter 249

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

leaned back in my chair, staring at the letter as if it might reveal more

held secrets that had defined this pack, molded its. leaders, and now could unravel it

Rowan have this? And

stepped outside, I sat on the training grounds, pretending to watch the sparring

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space as she corrected

side, his easy grin back in place as he offered some kind of joke that made

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