Page 69 of Framed and Forgotten
In my mind, I traveled. Through dense forests and over snow-laced mountains, the journey felt endless - until a distant light shone beyond the peaks. Then, just as clarity seemed within reach, the vision shattered.
A cacophony of voices yanked me back to the present.
“What the hell...?” I muttered, my head snapping toward the sound.
Narrowing my eyes, I noticed pack members organized around a circle. Two blurry figures moved in the center - one standing, one crumpled on the ground. I couldn’t make out exactly what they were doing, until I realized the grass around them was unnaturally scarlet.
And my heart jumped.
Kea’s ears perked up, bristling with alertness, and I was already moving. Faster than ever, I crossed the town square in a blink, weaving through the crowd to reach my target.
I didn’t think, launching forward and yanking my uncle off Koen with so much force I nearly fell. Pain rippled through my healing body, but I didn’t care. My eyes locked on my mate’s broken form. After making sure he was still breathing, all I could feel was rage as I turned toward my only living relative.
Suddenly, the idea of being the last one left in my bloodline didn’t seem so bad.
Kea went berserk inside my head, ready to tear Joe apart. She would have, had I not contained her, though I kind of wished I hadn’t. A savage part of me wanted to watch it unfold, just so I could make an example of him. To show the pack what would happen to anyone who dared lay a hand on my mate. But the leader in me prevailed.Barely.
I snarled, my voice a low growl that silenced the entire square. “Isn’t it enough that werewolf society is out to get us? How the hell do you expect us to survive if we’re tearing each other apart from the inside?”
“He’s not one of us,” Joe barked. “He never will be!”
In a flash, I was on him, gripping his collar and hauling him to his feet. “Heisone of us,” I corrected, Kea’s voice mixing withmy own as the blatant disrespect toward our mate made us see red.
“Can’t you see it, Avril?” Joe choked out, still trying to justify himself. “You brought the enemy straight into our den. If I were still Alpha-”
“That’s exactly it, Joe,” I cut him off, my tone sharp as a blade. “You’re not Alpha anymore. I am.” For the first time, I saw the fight drain from his face.
My aura exploded outward, cracking like thunder as Kea crawled beneath my skin. “That means I make the rules,” I reminded him. “And you fucking follow them!”
With that, I released him, and he dropped to the ground. Just as I turned my back to him, I heard his voice echo in my head.“Avril, I just want to-”
I halted.“Help me?”I finished for him, letting the words echo before adding,“You know what would help, Uncle Joe? If you didn’t challenge my authority in the middle of a damn crisis! It’s all fucking falling apart already! Beating on Koen isn’t going to change that.”
After I cut our connection, I didn’t hear any more from him. I didn’t need to look over my shoulder to feel him lower his head, submitting to me as I’d commanded. Under different circumstances, I wouldn’t have been this lenient, but I had too much on my plate already and way more important things to worry about.
Once the situation was under control, my attention immediately returned to Koen. Gratitude filled me as I noticed that my friends were already with him, helping him get back up, and I showed it with a subtle nod. I wanted to rush over to my mate, but for now, knowing he was no longer in danger had to suffice.
I turned to my pack, recognizing what I had to do.
“Since we’re all here already, I might as well tell you now,” I began. No ceremony, no politics. We lacked the time for it. “Our existence has been discovered,” I announced. “In two days, we leave our haven and head north, toward the ancient vale of the Lycans,” I declared, revealing the location the Banyan had just pointed at.
Shocked gasps exploded, followed by questions I’d been expecting.
“Leave?” someone echoed in disbelief.
“What if they destroy the sanctuary?” another asked, fear in their voice.
“We’ll lose our power again!” a man called out.
“No, we won’t,” I assured them, firm and resolute. “Our power was restored when the ashes were returned to these lands. It flows through our rivers. It feeds the soil beneath our feet. No one can take that from us again.”
Silence fell. A heavy, tense silence. It was on me to steady them.
“I know you have doubts,” I acknowledged, my voice steady. “I won’t lie and pretend I have all the answers,” I added honestly. “But I promise to guide you until my dying breath.” With a short breath, I drew in the weight of the moment and bellowed, “Are you with me, Ashen Wolves?”
Their answer wasn’t immediate, but when it came, it evoked nothing but sheer loyalty. “Yes, Alpha!”
K O E N
