Page 57 of Shattered and Saved

Now, Koen would be forced into that fate as well. Not only would he carry our burden, but he would also be at risk. If his identity were discovered, he would be hated and hunted down just like the rest of us. By becoming a target of all werewolf society, he would lose the freedom he was born with.

Even if he wasn’t found, there would come a time when war would find its way to us. At some point, it would be us against them, and aside from fighting his morals, he would have to fight for his life - one he never asked for in the first place.

A life I forced him into because I was too selfish to let him go.

As I sobbed uncontrollably, I prayed no one would walk in and see me like this. It was bad enough that Koen was here to witness my breakdown, to see me at my weakest. The fact that I couldn’t even be strong for him only deepened my shame.

Then, something cold and damp bumped my arm, and for a moment, the hurting stopped.

Inhaling a quiet breath, I lifted my face to find Col standing beside me, his large head lowered to meet my gaze. As my eyes met his, now vivid peridots, I saw they still held that quiet, reassuring tranquility that always eased my fears. I wanted to lose myself in them, just as I had on the day I first realized I loved him.

When I finally calmed down, I heard Col’s voice echo in my mind,“I can feel your guilt, mate. Please, don’t be sad for me. I’m not sad,”he reassured me as he slowly drew nearer, inviting me to touch his face.

As my fingers brushed through the soft fur on his cheek, I was awestruck. Receiving a mindlink from him, after sharing no telepathic connection with him for so long, had startled me, but it was nothing compared to the overwhelming sense of closenessI felt upon touching him. It was as though his emotions had become my own, and I could testify that his words were true.

“I understand that power comes with a price,”Koen said, his voice steady.“I won’t lie and say I would have confidently made this trade if I’d had the choice. To be honest, I don’t know what I would have done, because I never even deemed it possible in the first place.”His words were sincere, and I listened closely to every single one.

“But I won’t let you carry this burden, Avril,”he continued, firmly.“I chose to be your mate, and even now, knowing what it means, I have no regrets.”Staring deeply into Col’s eyes, my fingers resting on the side of his face, I knew it was true.

Then, his voice mixed with his wolf’s as they both told me,“You are all we want. All we need.”A warmth settled in my heart at my mate’s soothing reassurance, spreading through me as they added,“No loss could ever be greater than the gift of winning you.”

As the wound in my chest began to heal, I wrapped my arms around Col’s neck. My grasp was tight, fearing he could slip through my fingers like the shadows that constantly surrounded me. At that moment, I didn’t care about strength or weakness. Everything else seemed frivolous as I gave in to the feeling, pushing the darkness away as his words sunk in.

For worse or for better, I would always have him - he was mine, and mine only.

When the storm passed at last, and I pulled away, I couldn’t help a chuckle. Whether as a regular wolf or a mythical beast, Koen remained my anchor. Even when I should have been the one holding it together for him, he showed me his support instead.

I smiled as a thought crossed my mind. If someone told me a few months back that I, Avril Fletcher, Alpha of the Ashen Wolves, would fall in love with the mate who rejected me, Iwould have deemed them insane.What a funny thing destiny is, I thought to myself.

Forcing the lump in my throat down, I regained my composure and rose back to my feet. “There’s no doubt anymore. You’re an Ashen Wolf,” I admitted, more so to myself than to him. Inhaling a sharp breath, I continued, “Let’s have Vereya make you a bracelet. Then, I can teach you how to use your new powers.”

A wolfish grin spread over the gray wolf’s lips as Koen joked,“Careful, Alpha. They say the student often surpasses their master.”

Normally, I would have felt threatened. If anyone else dared say my strength could be beat, I would take it as a challenge. It was simply in my blood - a consequence of having alpha genes. Yet, when Koen said it, I could only feel pride.

“I would hope so,” I replied out loud.

35

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A V R I L

Koen’s unexpectedtransformation had upended our world, but as we navigated its challenges together, I found myself gradually shifting perspectives. The initial guilt had bloomed into a glimmer of potential. Uncertainty lingered, but so did a growing belief that we could turn this into something good. And as long as my mate was at peace with it, nothing else truly mattered.

After a magical bracelet was crafted for him, we returned to the training grounds, where I began teaching him how to harness the abilities he had just unlocked. Connecting with his powers wasn’t as effortless for him as it was for born Ashen Wolves, but I wasn’t concerned. Despite a rocky start, I knew Koen was a quick learner; he would adapt in no time.

When he finally mastered his abilities, he might even rival me in battle. I was impressed by how dark Koen’s coat was - darker than any of my top warriors, perhaps even as dark as my uncle’s. That depth of color signified immense magical power, remarkable for someone who had once been a regular wolf.

Yet, his newfound strength didn’t seem to consume him the way it did us. The longer we trained together, the more evident it became that, despite his transformed appearance, his heart remained unchanged. The realization was a profound relief, helping ease my worries.

I was only overwhelmed that it happened at a time when I already had my hands full.

While Koen was out, I couldn’t bring myself to focus on addressing the aftermath of slaying the Blood Rose Pack. The newly forged bond between us compelled me to stay by his side in the hospital, though I doubted I’d have acted differently even without marking him. My friends, though concerned, took it upon themselves to devise a damage control plan while I remained at the hospital.

In the evening, after my first training session with Koen, we gathered in my office with my team to review the progress they had made in my absence. Fortunately, I was surrounded by only the best. I offered a few suggestions, proposing minor adjustments that we would polish in the morning.

At first light, we returned to my office to continue our work, the ticking clock echoing louder in our minds with every passing second. This time, Koen stayed out of it. Despite his desire to be involved - especially now that my claim on him had elevated his status as my co-leader in the pack - I insisted he use every moment available to sharpen his newfound powers.

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