Page 9 of Shattered and Saved

“The pack,” she clarified. “I’ve broken our most sacred rule by taking you in. If I weren’t the alpha, they would’ve banished me already. But now that you know, we can’t risk you sharing our secrets with the rest of werewolf society. It would jeopardize what we’re doing.”

“And whatareyou doing?” I asked, bracing myself.

Her eyes locked onto mine as she replied with determined intensity, “Getting revenge.”

6

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A V R I L

“What do you mean?”Koen asked, confusion written all over his face, mixed with a hint of weariness. “Revenge on who?”

I clenched my jaw, as if to help keep my mouth shut. Elijah had insisted I should come clean with Koen - tell him everything, from start to finish. But I doubted he had even been able to digest what he’d just learned. Besides, sharing our ultimate goal with him made me hesitant.

“There’s no point in keeping the truth from him,”Kea chimed in. She had been mostly quiet since our visit to Whispering Hills, though I could feel her emotions clearly - from the pain she felt when she witnessed our former mate fall to his knees amidst the fallout of the massacre to his pack, to the peace that enveloped her when I made the decision to rescue him. “You said it yourself - he can’t leave. If he’s going to stay with us, he might as well know the good, the bad, and the bloodshed.”

Accepting she was right, I sighed, letting go of my hesitation. “It’s a long story, but I guess you’ve got time. The shaman said you should rest for at least another hour. You might feel dizzy until the tea wears off.”

Koen faltered when I gestured to the chair, debating whether to take my advice. Eventually, he realized I wouldn’t give himwhat he wanted until he complied. Once he sat, I paced to the window, staring out as I searched for where to begin.

A minute later, I started, “What do you know about the Ashen Wolves?”

“Only that they used to be some kind of loyal guard for the lycans,” he replied without hesitation. “I mean, that’s what I read. Is it even true?”

I nodded. “Centuries ago, when the lycans still ruled over every species of wolf shifter, the Ashen Wolves were tasked with being their protectors. We were created by the Moon Goddess to have special abilities, as well as a predisposition to serve. Our duty was to assist the lycans in keeping the peace in the kingdom.”

Koen listened attentively to my words. Every now and then, I glanced at him, too curious not to study him. Despite how focused he was, disbelief still glistened in his eyes, as if he struggled to believe that all of this was actually real.

"But the lycans went extinct," he remarked during my brief pause.

“Legend has it, the Moon Goddess wanted to share their power with all her children, believing peace would follow if everyone was equal,” I explained. “Gradually, lycans were paired with regular wolf shifters until there were no pure-blooded lycans left. The same didn’t happen to the Ashen Wolves.”

A puzzled frown creased Koen’s forehead, his eyes locking onto mine, searching for answers. I knew exactly what he was thinking - if Ashen Wolves didn’t mate outside their species, how werewebonded? I quickly averted my gaze. After years of dwelling on the question, I still had no explanation. There was no point in bringing it up.

“Anyway, Ashen Wolves didn’t disappear along with lycans,” I went on, “but we lost our purpose. Without a dynasty, we had no one to serve. Still, for another couple of decades, we livedamong the other wolf shifters, until they decided there was no longer use for us.”

As anger surged in my throat, I clenched my fists. Even though I wasn’t born then - nor were my parents or my grandparents - the fury I felt over the injustice our kind suffered felt almost hereditary. I had heard that story enough and dreamed long enough of changing its ending.

Koen seemed to notice the shift in my mood. His tone carried a careful undertone as he asked, “What happened to them?”

As I tore my gaze away from the window, my eyes fell on Koen. “A massacre,” I said, my voice heavy with the weight of the past. “Although our kind was peaceful, regular shifters feared our power. The packs that existed back then united against us. Our strength couldn’t match their numbers. They drove us from our territory, set fire to the sacred Banyan to weaken us, and killed us one by one - only a few of us managed to escape by hiding.” I paused, the gravity of history sinking in, then added, “Whispering Hills was the one who led the hunt.”

Koen’s eyes widened as a mix of emotions crossed his face - shame, regret, and sympathy. “That’s why the ashes were with my family,” he realized, his expression then giving way to doubt. “Wait,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Did you...?”

A shiver ran down my spine at the unspoken question. I couldn’t blame him for the assumption, but it still bothered me.

Shaking my head, I said, “No, we weren’t part of Whispering Hills’ destruction. I believe that was solely your father’s doing.” Giving him a sympathetic look, I offered, “And, for what it’s worth, I am sorry for your loss, Koen.”

Koen nodded, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes after his accusation. However, it only lasted a moment before uncertainty flooded them again as he put the pieces together. “What’s your plan, then? To decimate the entire werewolf society?”

I looked away, feeling the disapproval in his voice. “We just want to live, Koen. Not like rats, hiding in alleyways, fearing what might fall upon us if they find out that we’re still around,” I argued. “We want to be ourselves and have the same rights as everyone.”

“And the only way you can achieve that is through war?” Koen’s face went slack with shock, his expression a mix of horror and incredulity.

There was no anger as I countered, “You just found out in the worst way possible that peace can’t be achieved through politics.” He winced at my words - a low blow, yet necessary if I wanted him to understand me. “Once the bloodshed begins, there’s no raising of white flags. Either you fight, or you die.”

When Koen stiffened, I knew I had made an impact. That didn’t mean he agreed with me, though, which became evident with his next question. “What makes you think the Moon Goddess wants the Ashen Wolves to thrive?”

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