Zephyrine

#Finished

The morning sun spilled bacross /bmy face through the slit in the curtains. Iy there in bed alone, aware that Dessyn bwasn’t /bbeside me the moment I opened my eyes.

1 felt empty.

The usual turmoil in my chestb, /bthe burn, the warmth on my skin bwas /bgone.

Slowly. I ran my fingers along my arm where his mark should have been, expecting the familiar electric thrill. But nothing came. My heart thudded sharply.

Suddenly, I sat up and rushed to the hazy mirror. My reflection swam before me as I yanked up my sleeve.

Nothing. No mark.

Dazed. I pulled off my dress entirely and stood naked before the mirror, checking my back. Still nothing. It was as if… he was gone. Completely. From my heart. From my life.

Wait, did he buse /bme?

“Zephyr? Zephyr?!”

The door burst open, and Dessyn hurried in, but she froze mid–step, her gaze sweeping over my bare skin before meeting

my eyes.

“What’s… what’s wrong?” she asked.

I lowered my gaze. Maybe this was for the best. Maybe it was better if Lycannar hadn’t branded me like his without my permission.

“I’m fine.” I muttered, brushing past her toward the bath chamber only to stop cold at her next words.

“You won’t believe what happened in ckbridge Pack. Are you just waking up? They’ve found the murderer of Alpha ck”

1 froze mid–step-

They found.. Lycannar?

“I can’t believe it’s her, Dessyn continued, dropping onto the bed. “She looked so innocent.”

“Shel”

“The Luna. Luna Tahlia, Word has already spread across the empire that she murdered her husband because he caught her bcheating/b. And the pup that was supposed to be the next Alpha? A bastard.”

My knees nearly buckled. Lies. All of it.

I strode to the bed, frowning hard..

“Who would dare spin such lies against a bLuna/b? What…” I stopped bmid/b–sentence as the truth mmed binto /bme. “Dessyn, bwho /bbenefits most if Luna Tahlia loses her position?”

“Her son would be branded a bastard band /blose his right to binherit/b. The elders would have no choice but to crown the Beta as Alpha.”

Her eyes widened as the pieces clicked,

“Please don’t tell me it’s Ka and her father behind this. They even have Alpha Nyroth backing the imb.” /b

“What?!”

*b27PM /bP P

“You bknow /bHue Pack bhas /bmore allies than enemies. Everyone will listen to the Alpha.”

Finished

A cold wave rolled through me. More allies. The same ones I’d secured for him. The same leaders I’d secretly met as an Ashmere to bargain for Nyroth’s bsake/b.

I shot to my feet, dressing in haste and pulling my hair into a ponytail. Bath forgotten, I stormed toward the door.

In the living room. Dessyn caught up bto /bme.

“So what’s the n?”

“I’m going to expose their scheme. I won’t let a Luna’s life or her pup be destroyed just…”

The door mmed open. Moon rushed in, his face etched with horror.

“That’s it, Zephyr. Pack your things. You’re going back to Ash Pack.” He strode forward to take my arm, but I stepped back.

“What are you talking about?”

Before he could answer, the pounding of hooves shook the ground outside. Secondster, the door opened again, and Jurrek stepped in, tense.

“Let’s leave. Now, I came as soon bas /bI heard.”

“Heard what?”

“The rogues areing for blood.” Moon said grimly.

I stared in confusion.

“If they want bblood/b, they can storm the Lycan Kingdom and die. What does that have to do with me?”

“It’s all over the empire bthat /byou’ve caught the King’s eye,” Jurrek said tly. “Only a fool would challenge the King directly. They want a softer target and that’s you

1 took a step back, confused. Even Dessyn frowned.

“Why would the rogues want me!”

“bBecause /bthe Lycan King is obsessed with you,” Moon answered, jealousy shing in his eyes. “I still don’t get why he picked byou /bof all the women at the bcoronation/bb. /bThere were plenty dressed to catch his attention. But no, he had to choose the next Alpha of Ash Pack.”

“Lower your voice, Moon.”

“Why should I?” he snapped. “Do you have any idea what people are saying about you now?”

My heart pounded. His anger wasn’t just fear, it bwas /bpain.

“They’re calling byou /bba /bbslut/bb. /bA whore. A rogue. Saying you had a rtionship with the rogue Alpha, then came to the coronation to seduce the Lycan King for power and poisoned his bmind /bto spill blood that bday/b. No one’s even talking about ckbridge anymore. Everyone’s talking babout /bbyou/b”

“Moon…”

“Don’t call me!” He raked a hand through his hair. “Go with Jurrek. im your throne. Please, I’m begging you

His voice cracked with frustration, band /bit burned in bmy /bchest.fnd7f8 For more chapters visit fin?novel/fnd7f8

stepped toward him, reaching for his hand, but he looked away, jaw tight.

b“/bbYou /bbknow /bwhy I left my name bAshmere /bfive byears /bago. For bNyroth/b. To find my brother. For peace. I can’t go back now.

“Why? Because of Apex?”

427 PM p p.

Finished

“Moon…

“First it was Nyroth. bNow /bApex? Really?”

He didn’t wait for my answer. He tore his arm away and mmed his chamber door shut.

Silence swallowed the broom/bb. /bMy thoughts spun. The rogues weren’t smart enough to spin lies like this. This was politics. Someone high up was pulling the strings.

I turned to Jurck, bgrateful /bhe’de so quickly. Stepping close, I took his hand.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be safe.”

“Mydy…

“When next you appear, Jurrek, bring news of my brother. Or I’ll never forgive you.”

He swallowed, bowed, and left taking ba /bpiece of my heart with him.

“Zephyr.”

“Go talk to Moon: Tell him bI’m /bfine,” I told Dessyn over my shoulder.

Then I walked to the window, breathing in the familiar scent drifting on the breeze. My mate was here.

And now. I bknew /bexactly who was behind all the lies.

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