Chapter 15 THE LETTER
LOGAN’S POV
Elara, Alicia's mother, writing to Vincent about secrets and lies and "the truth about her father."
Ray's father. The old Dark Night Alpha. The affair that created the corrupted bond.
But the letter is ten years old. Which means Elara and Vincent were hiding Alicia's true parentage a decade ago, long before Ray and Alicia ever met. This wasn't a secret that came out recently, it was a conspiracy that's been running for years.
"The girl must never know." I whisper the words into the empty room.
Know what, exactly? That Ray's father was her biological parent? They revealed that already at the Alpha ceremony. So what else is Elara talking about? What truth could destroy both packs?
And why does it involve "the council"?
The mate bond pulses again, stronger now. Alicia is afraid. Something's happening at the packhouse.
I need to get back. I need to show this letter to the others. Need to…
Footsteps outside. Multiple sets. Moving fast.
I shove the letter inside my jacket and move toward the door just as three wolves step into the ruins.
Blood Moon warriors, all of them. I recognize two from my childhood, Thomas and his brothers.
They're armed. Silver knives at their belts, expressions cold and purposeful.
"Logan Hale." Marcus's voice is flat. "Didn't think you'd be stupid enough to come back here."
I raise my hands slowly, non-threatening. "Just visiting old memories. I am looking for trouble."
"Trouble found you anyway." The second brother, Stephen circles to my right, cutting off that exit. "Vincent issued new orders last night. Anyone who sees you on Blood Moon territory is to kill you on sight."
My stomach drops. "Why? I've been back for five years and he has never bothered about me. I'm not a threat."
"Maybe not before." Marcus draws his knife, silver gleaming in the dim light. "But you're bonded to Vincent's daughter now. That makes you a problem."
So they know. Know about the mate bond, know about Alicia. Which means Vincent knows.
"I'm not going to fight you," I say carefully. "Let me leave peacefully."
"Can't do that." Stephen draws his weapon too. "Orders are orders."
The third warrior who is a younger wolf that I don't recognize blocks the door behind me. Three armed men against one.
I'm not walking out of here without violence.
"This is stupid," I try one more time. "Killing me won't change anything. Alicia's still bonded to me. My death will hurt her through the mate bond."
"Vincent's aware." Thomas lunges without warning.
I dodge left, barely avoiding the silver blade. Stephen is already moving, coming at my other side. I grab a broken beam and swing hard, catching him across the chest. He staggers back but doesn't drop.
The third warrior tackles me from behind. We crash into the wall, stone biting into my spine. I elbow him in the face, I feel his bone crunch, and then, shove him away.
But Stephen is there, blade flashing. I twist, and the silver scores across my ribs instead of burying in my heart. The pain burns me hot and immediately. Silver burns differently than regular wounds. The pain is deeper and poisonous.
"Stay down," Stephen growls, raising the knife for another strike.
I grab his wrist, stopping the blade inches from my throat. My wounded ribs scream. Thomas is getting back up, murder in his eyes.
Three against one. I'm not going to win this.
But I don't need to win. I just need to survive long enough to….
The mate bond burns again, this time, it was sudden, and brilliantly warm. Alicia. She feels my pain, my fear, my desperation.
And through the bond, I feel her response: Hold on.
Thomas wrenches his wrist free and stabs downward. I roll, and the blade buries in the floor where my head was. Scramble to my feet, blood soaking my shirt.
"You're dead, traitor," Stephen spits.
Maybe. Probably.
But I've got information now. Evidence. Proof that there's more to Alicia's story than anyone knows.
I just need to live long enough to share it.
Marcus and Thomas charge together. The third warrior circles behind me.
And I realize, with crystal clarity, that I'm not getting out of this alive.
The mate bond beats with Alicia's fear. I could feel her desperate plea through our connection: Don't die. Please don't die.
Sorry, Alicia. I think. Some ghosts are meant to stay buried with their secrets.
Stephen’s blade is inches from my heart when something massive crashes through the wall.
Not something. Someone.
Silver-white fur. Ice-blue eyes. Claws like knives.
Kai, in wolf form, tearing through the ruins like a force of nature.
He slams into Thomas, sending him flying. Spins and catches Stephen by the throat with his jaws. The third warrior tries to run, but Kai is faster.
Within seconds, all three Blood Moon warriors are down. Dead or unconscious, I can't tell.
Kai shifts back to human form, completely naked and covered in blood. He looks at me with those unsettling ice-chip eyes.
"You're welcome," he says flatly.
I press my hand to my bleeding ribs, trying to process what just happened. "How did you know?"
"Felt it through Alicia's bond with you. She was panicking." He grabs a torn piece of cloth from the ruins and wraps it around his waist. "Figured you were doing something stupid. I was right."
"There were three of them."
"I noticed." He glances at the bodies. "We need to leave. Now. Before more come."
He's right. But I pull the letter from my jacket, holding it up despite the pain in my ribs. "I found something. About Alicia. About her mother and Vincent."
Kai's eyes narrow. "Is it relevant to whoever's watching her?"
"Maybe. Probably."
"Then tell me while we run." He shifts back to wolf form and jerks his head toward the forest.
I shove the letter back in my jacket and follow, every step sending fire through my wounded side.
Behind us, the ruins of my childhood home fade into darkness. Full of ghosts and secrets that are finally starting to surface.
Alicia is the key, the message said.
Now I'm starting to understand what she might unlock.
And why someone wants her dead before she can.