Page 10 of Shattered and Saved

“I wasn’t completely sure until I held the ashes under the moonlight,” I replied in all honesty. “When they absorbed the light, I knew that Diana had given us her blessing. She gave us our powers back, so we could fight to survive.”

At my explanation, he fell silent. I didn’t push him; he had been through a lot in the past few hours and had much to process.

“Well, there you have it - the truth, all of it,” I said, slapping my thighs and pushing away from the wall I had been leaning against as I approached Koen. “How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?”

“I’ll be fine,” he insisted, avoiding my gaze. Kea’s ears drooped at his coldness, but I knew I couldn’t expect kindness from him after everything that had happened.

“Okay,” I sighed, trying not to show how his reaction made my heart tighten - it was hard enough to admit it to myself. “I’lllet you rest for now. I’ll be back in an hour, then I can show you around if you’re feeling better,” I offered. He seemed to perk up, but he didn’t say a word. As I headed to the door, I added, “You may not be able to leave, but you’re not a prisoner here. I will do my best to make you feel at home.”

It felt strange to leave Koen alone in my room. I had never brought anyone there except my Beta and Gamma, and they never stayed longer than a few minutes, always while I was present. In the end, I shrugged it off. Koen didn’t seem like the type to snoop, and it wasn’t like I had anything else to hide.

When I returned, I found him still sitting in his chair, now positioned closer to the window. He was staring thoughtfully into the forest - I wondered if he was mourning or absorbing everything he had just learned. Probably both.

“Ready to get some fresh air?” I asked lightheartedly, managing a smile.

He glanced at me over his shoulder and forced himself to return the gesture. “Yeah, that’d be good.”

I led Koen through the hallways and down the stairs to the ground floor. The packhouse was empty since most members were busy with their work, which was a relief. It would take time for them to adjust to my former mate’s presence, and I wanted to avoid drawing too much attention until it was time to formally introduce him to everyone.

Unceremoniously, I pushed open the double doors that led outside. Koen halted, his entire posture shifting as he took in the view before him. I couldn’t help but smile genuinely as I watched his awe unfold, his eyes scanning every inch of the townsquare with admiration - from the lush green grass to the vibrant orchids and the serene stream, finally lingering on the Banyan that flowed with magic.

Warmth filled me as I said proudly, “Welcome to Azure Smoke.”

7

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A V R I L

I took Koenon a leisurely tour around Azure Smoke, allowing him to get acquainted with our beautiful lands. Although they weren’t quite as vast as his home, since a smaller territory was easier to hide and protect, there was a lot to see. Initially, I avoided straying too far from the town square - it would be best to let him explore it once he was fully recovered.

It was amusing to witness his fascination as I revealed more about my pack’s history. I began by telling him about the young Banyan tree my parents planted when they reclaimed these lands. Like the original, whose ashes were recently returned home, it played a vital role in the rebirth of our pack. We called it the Overseer, for it watched over and guided us, warning of unseen dangers and sending us subtle signs.

I also explained the powers of the Ashen Wolves and how we differed from regular wolves, revealing just enough so he wouldn’t be caught off guard. It helped him understand how I managed to avoid detection by his sentinels when I fled his pack, and how Theo and Elijah were so skilled in battle. But that was before we reached our full strength - I knew he would only grasp the extent of our abilities when he saw them in action.

Funnily enough, the more I revealed, the easier it became to share every one of my kind’s secrets with him. I had been hiding them for so long and hesitated so deeply to share them withanyone that I expected it to be harder. But in the end, I found it was more difficult to lie to him than to tell the truth - probably because part of me had been dying to let him see it all along.

By the time we made it back to our starting point, I invited him to sit at one of the empty wooden tables scattered around the town square. As we did, I linked my Beta and Gamma to let them know to join us; I thought a couple familiar faces would help him adjust.

“Azure Smoke is amazing,” Koen stated sincerely, still glancing around with admiration. “I’m glad you found your home here - and as the alpha, at that.” His voice carried a semblance of pride and genuine happiness, though I didn’t miss the hint of sadness in it. As his eyes scoured through my lands, I wondered if he was thinking about the home he had lost.

I had always hated Whispering Hills. More often than not, I dreamt of watching that hellhole burn to the ground, Koen along with it. However, after the time I spent there, its destruction didn’t bring me an ounce of joy. I still didn’t care about it - in fact, I believed they got what they deserved - but it meant the world to him. I knew how deeply he cared about his home, his people, and how much effort he put into making it a better place. I truly rued that it was all taken from him.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” he continued in my long, introspective silence, catching my attention. When I blinked myself back to the moment, I found him looking at me questioningly. “But I don’t know how long I can stay, Avril.”

His statement made me purse my lips. “You can’t leave, Koen,” I reminded him.

“I know,” he sighed. “I can stay until your pack trusts that I won’t tell the outside world about you, but I need to go back at some point. Whispering Hills may not be anymore, but since I survived, there are still issues I need to take care of. Those landsare still mine, as is the pack’s money. Besides, I need to report what happened to the council.”

“They don’t know you survived,” I observed.

“All the more reason I need to return,” he countered. “I have a life outside of here - at least I used to. I’m thankful for your hospitality, but I don’t belong in Azure Smoke.”

To be honest, I hadn’t thought about the duration of Koen’s stay. None of this had been planned - since the destruction of Whispering Hills the previous night, everything I had done was on impulse. Yet, I had to admit he had a point. After the loss of his family, Koen was as good as packless; he was no different than a rogue. Wolves couldn’t survive long without a pack.

Just then, Kea perked her ears up inside my head, reminding me of her presence. At the same time, an idea floated in my mind -her idea.

“We can’t,”I told her immediately.“There has only ever been Ashen Wolves in our pack. Koen isn’t one of us.”

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