The Pack of Lies

ouldn'

iling with the stranger's words ringing in her head.

r shown fear-not to

nd control, the Alpha of

the years of being ignored and of feeling lik

ht streaming through the window. Outside, the pack was still chanting victory songs and celeb

block the pain. She tried to let it go, she tried to stop caring, but

e that event in the woods, as if it woke up from a long slumber.

stirred r

t keep sit

heering voices from the main hall outside as the entire house was quiet.

as her

, gently opening it to avoid creaky hinge. She got into the hallway,

re, as she had no reason to do. The walls had old tapestries and family portraits

udy. She hesitated, pressed her ear to the wood to liste

ly opened the door

with books about pack law, history, and strategies for war. The desk at the center was clutte

answers, they

e had learned a few tricks over time, so picking and opening the sturdy

d, "come on", it was taking longer than she ex

her breath grew louder as

ted with a faded ribbon, sitting

ntly in the moonlight. It was old, the car

s worn, the edges of the pages frayed. She flipped

tings, alliances, and rivalries. But as she

e does not know it. If her wolf fully awakens, there will

dated years ago, written in her

wolf awakening

pages, her pulse racing

ven from Alina. Esme must never know the

e closed the journal. Her f

It was heavier than it looked, and a faint hum se

he opened

t of silvery light. It was like a heartbeat, pulsing softly. Esme lo

er, she felt a sharp pain shot through her head. Ga

tle, fire and blood. She saw a wolf with eyes lik

n being unbearable. The pain stop

again, but Esme felt

sound broke the silence-a faint c

e was

the cabinet. She locked it quickly and moved to the window, pushing

the ground outside, the

ity, her father ro

window, her heart racing. She could hear her fat

r closing reached her ears, a

wers, but not

ts shadows comforting in a

still burning in her mind, Esme tur

s alive. Leaves rustling, owl hooting afar off, stream near

r again, that her pack was in danger an

seen in her father's journ

gure appeared ahead, leani

the stranger said, his voice low

ignored it. "You knew, didn't you?

hee glinted his eyes in the moonli

ht. "How do you

mitted, his tone unapologetic.

r w

you're wo

enched. "I don'

's what they all say, right bef

you want

ng closer. "For you. The truth.

ger this time, and she took a st

ut you should know that it is not only

a beat. "What are

why he chose Alina over you. Ask him w

d, but a sudden roar echoed thr

pression darkened

ho

, his voice grim.

and this time, she di

shifted as glowing eyes

ves stepped into the clearing, their teeth b

to stand beside h

rth saving?" he asked, his

olf rising to the surface.

the rogue