Page 61 of Shattered and Saved

“I’ve been yours, and only yours, for a while now,” I replied as soon as I found my voice back, though I could understand what he meant. As my fingers touched the newly-placed mark to feel its texture, I wondered, “How does it look?”

Koen showed me a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you see it for yourself?” He gestured with his head toward the water.

After Koen helped me off his lap, I wandered to the edge of the rock, leaning over to catch my reflection in the clear surface of the water. Ripples blurred it at first, but as the pool stilled, the image sharpened. Every mark was unique, and Koen’s was no exception - seeing its uniqueness made my heart flutter. The puncture marks on my skin were etched with delicate precision, reflecting his natural kindness while hinting at his restrained strength.

Any doubts about how the transformation would affect Koen’s personality now seemed laughable; it was clear he would remain entirely himself, steady and true, come what may.

I wanted to stay here, admiring my mate’s mark forever. To lead him into the water and feel just how much our connection had amplified while he was inside me. But, as I’d feared, our carefree time together ended sooner than I’d hoped.

“Alpha,”Theo’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind, catching me off guard. His tone was serious, stained with a hint of concern as he informed me,“I’m back with updates. You’ll want to meet me in your office as soon as you can.”

37

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A V R I L

Sometimes, it suckedbeing an alpha.

Theo’s message landed like a stone, and Koen’s expression told me he had already connected the dots. For the first time, I found myself wishing I could turn away from my responsibilities, just for a heartbeat. The thought must have been written on my face. I let my fingers linger over my mate’s mark, relishing the sparks that rushed through my skin as I sensed our completed bond. When I reopened my eyes, paradise shattered, and duty dragged me to my office, where I told my team to gather.

As soon as we met in the hallway, their gazes flew to my neck. They stared at it for a moment, a wave of emotion glistening in their eyes. I was sure they wanted to congratulate me. Elijah would likely want all the details as well.

Unfortunately, the celebration would have to wait.

Breezing past them, I opened the door to my office, speaking to my beta before I even closed the door, “What did the Council say?”

I didn’t bother taking my chair this time; my nerves wouldn’t allow me to stay seated. Instead, I leaned back against the desk, my hands gripping the edge for support. Koen stood steady at my side while my friends arranged themselves around the room.At the center, Theo reached into his back pocket and pulled out two envelopes.

Two letters.

What?

Noticing my confusion, he took a step toward me and explained, “This one is addressed to Koen.” He handed one of the letters to my mate, who looked just as bewildered. Then, he held out the remaining envelope toward me, pinched between his index and middle fingers. “And this is for you.”

A rush of anticipation coursed through me as I took the paper from his hand and pulled it from the torn envelope. Elijah’s somber expression made it clear he knew what was inside, while Koen and Rhea held their breath, waiting for me to reveal its contents. Sucking in a final breath to steady my heartbeat, I unfolded it and began reading.

When I was done, a pinch of worry settled.

“The Council is hosting an emergency alpha meeting in one week,” I started, my voice low before the big revelation. “And they are summoning the Alpha of Azure Smoke Pack.”

I couldn’t say I expected this. While I had considered the possibility of the Elders wanting to arrange a meeting with me to discuss the incident in person, I didn’t think it would happen during a large-scale event.

There had been an alpha meeting shortly prior to me leaving Whispering Hills after retrieving the ashes. If they had resorted to organizing another one this soon, it certainly meant they desired convincing testimony from me, in front of leaders from all across the country.

“Are you actually going?” Koen whispered to me. “They don’t even know who you are.”

“I have to,” I replied matter-of-factly. “If I don’t, they will come looking for us.”

Azure Smoke had stayed under the radar of the Elders for now despite being held in some sort of high regard by most alphas due to standing out among other insurgent packs. No information regarding our location, Elite members, history, or wealth. They usually didn’t pay much mind to smaller groups until they could prove their ability to thrive, which was why new packs weren’t required to provide any data until they reached fifty members.

Until now, I had been able to keep our identity a mystery from the werewolf society, revealing only what could be used to our advantage. I believed hiding in plain sight would keep them off of our backs under the illusion that they knew who we were, while not being important enough for them to want to learn more about us. Was this my plan backfiring?

I shook my head. “But I won’t tell them the truth about who I am,” I continued, pushing myself off the desk to stand straighter. “I will be Avril Fletcher, the omega, representative of Azure Smoke Pack.”

While the limited exposure I allowed about my pack seemed to have put me in a tough spot, it was also the reason we were being politely invited to a political meeting instead of being hunted down for slaughtering an innocent pack.

We’d just have to navigate it properly now.

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