Page 13 of Shattered and Saved

His decision resonated deeply within me. Kea lowered her ears, but she didn’t dare argue. She knew that he was right - we both did.

“But…” Koen continued. The next second, I felt his hand gently brush against mine. “I think we could still work.”

As my heart skipped a beat, I finally lifted my head to look back at him. In his eyes, I saw regret, pain, and grief. They were heavy. Yet, amidst all the suffering, there was still a glimmer of faith.

“What if…” he hesitated before concluding, “we start over? Put the past behind us. No more lies.”

Kea wagged her tail hopefully inside my head. Although I was still getting used to my powerful beast turning into a lovesick puppy by this complicated man, I couldn’t help but smile.

“I guess we could try,” I replied at last.

Once things had been settled with Koen, I felt inexplicably lighter. I had been denying my feelings for too long, rejecting a relationship I had been wanting to pursue because I convinced myself that it was wrong, and it now felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Little by little, the walls I had built around me were crumbling, and I was slowly realizing that perhaps I didn’t need them to shield me at all. The details of our relationship had yet to be defined, but I was fine with taking it one step at a time, allowing us both time to figure out what we wanted.

I followed through with my plan of introducing Koen to my uncle, who didn’t try to hide that he had reservations about the newcomer, but was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt - mainly because he knew I wouldn’t have brought Koen if I didn’t trust him.

Subsequently, I had him meet my delta, the only member of my team who hadn’t yet met him. I was more nervous about her reaction than my uncle’s; we had always shared similar views on love and duty, favoring the latter. Unlike Theo and Elijah, she didn’t know the full story about Koen and me. She was aware only of the events that happened before my mission in Whispering Hills, not what transpired during it. The Avril who left Azure Smoke to retrieve the ashes was not the same as the Avril who returned.

Rhea’s interaction with Koen was brief. She wore an expression of indifference the entire time, but it had always been hard to read her emotions. In the end, I remained unsure of howshe felt about my decision to take him in, but chose to set those concerns aside for now.

Once these formalities were out of the way, I showed Koen to the vacant cottage where he would be staying. At least for the first few days, until the pack got used to his presence, I would have Theo and Elijah take shifts to ensure he was comfortable in the village. I didn’t really believe anyone in my pack would try to harm him, but better safe than sorry. There was still time before dinner, so I left him to rest.

As the evening wore on, I picked him up and accompanied him to the dining hall. He sat at the Elite members’ table, where Theo and Elijah were already waiting for him, while Rhea took care of the final details to ensure the event ran smoothly. One by one, the pack members began to arrive. The buzz of conversation quickly filled the space, but it settled the moment I rose from my seat upon noticing that everyone was present.

“I want to thank everyone for joining us tonight and for extending your hospitality to Koen,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady. “As you know, he’s lost everything - his pack, his home.” I spared a glance at Koen. His eyes were clouded with sorrow, his posture wavering as if the tragedy weighed on his shoulders, yet he still managed to force a smile, a sign of his strength. Facing the crowd again, I continued, “As unusual as the situation is, I’m asking you to welcome and support him during this hard time.”

A murmur of agreement flowed through the room, and I felt a small wave of relief. I met Koen’s gaze, and though his expression was still somber, there was a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.

“Without further ado, let’s feast!” I announced.

Soon enough, omegas approached our table to serve us. As we started eating, Theo and Elijah made an effort to include Koen in their conversation. It was relieving that they seemed toget along so well. Rhea was silent throughout most of our meal, which wasn’t exactly unusual - though it still worried me not knowing what was going on in her mind.

As the evening drew to a close, I bid farewell to my friends and escorted Koen back to his cottage. When we reached his door, he turned to face me.

“I never imagined things would turn out this way. To be honest, I’m still processing these last two days,” he said softly, his voice heavy with emotion. “But... thank you, Avril. For everything.”

A smile spread over my lips, and I nodded reassuringly. “Let me know if you need anything.”

We bid each other goodnight, and I made my way toward the packhouse. Once in my room, I leaned against the window, gazing out over the packlands. The path ahead was still fraught with uncertainty and challenges, but tonight felt like a small victory. I hoped Koen would be left alone - if not because the wolves who followed me might sympathize with him, then because they respected me - and that, in time, we would figure everything out.

9

____________________

K O E N

A couple of dayswent by, and I was still trying to digest everything. Avril’s betrayal. The massacre of my pack. Learning that the myth of the Ashen Wolves was actually real, and that the mate I rejected was not only one of them, but also their leader. I was surrounded by creatures far stronger than me, though I couldn’t even comprehend the extent of their abilities just yet.

It was a lot. At times, I wanted to scream, but I knew losing it wouldn’t help. I was still mourning the loss of my family, wondering if I could have saved them. Nights were the worst, where my brain tortured me as I lay alone in a bed that wasn’t mine. Yet, what haunted me the most was trying to figure out where Avril and I stood.

We had agreed to start over, but neither of us had made a move yet. The idea was abstract enough on its own, and even more complicated in reality. Let’s begin again, I had said, but where exactly should we start? Col still longed for our mate, nurturing a bond that had only been broken on one side. My body craved her, making it hard to think rationally whenever she was near. However, the chaos of the moment combined with the still fresh ache of her recent abandonment left me hesitant.

Since Avril brought me here, she tried to stay around me as much as possible. I knew she had to be neglecting some ofher responsibilities, and while I deeply appreciated it, it also made me feel guilty. When she was busy, she always designated Theo or Elijah to keep me company. In a new place where the residents didn’t seem especially fond of me, it was comforting to have a few familiar faces to both distract me from the darkness raging inside my head and help me adjust to their magical world.

My head was a mess. My heart was conflicted. But, all in all, I was grateful that I wasn’t completely alone.

“You know, it’s nice having a new face around, Koen,” Elijah casually said as we dined together.

All of our meals were held at the dining hall, where Avril always insisted I join her table - the table reserved for Elite members. Judging by the crooked looks I occasionally received from other pack members, it bothered them to have a new guy at the highest seat, but they respected their alpha far too much to disagree. If she ever caught their eye, they would immediately avert their gaze and lower their heads. It humbled and thrilled me, though it also sent a chill down my spine as I wondered just how powerful she might be to have them all tuck their tails with a single glance.

---