I have been on this thought spiral of what-ifs before and know there is no point to it except to drive you insane. We can’t go back in time and change things so there is no point dwelling on what we could have done differently. The only thing we can do is learn from the past to avoid making the same
EmoryI have met the Alphas of other packs over the years. Some of them have visited Moon Grove and my father took the family with him to visit the other packs often. The visits grew less frequent over time as my father collected more enemies than allies. I know that our pack used to be on good term
“You have old Nigel here to thank for your existence,” Mary Claire concludes. “And I’m sure he will never let you forget it.”Nigel winks at me. “You’re welcome.”I share amused looks with Coit who is stuck listening to Alpha Gerald recount that time he and his brothers took down a grizzly bear when
“We all have great respect for your grandfather, and that’s why most of us have shown up today, despite our history with your father,” Alpha Nigel explains. “Asking us to go to war for you is a big request.”“And from what I’ve heard, you and the vampire king are more than allies,” Alpha Gerald adds
KaneEmory has left for Moon Grove to persuade the other shifter packs into becoming our allies. I try not to be too hopeful that she’ll succeed, not because I have no faith in her but because the enmity between our species has been around for far longer than Emory has been alive. It will take a lot
“Father trusted you to always give him the best advice,” I point out. “And you did. From what I’ve heard, you’re the reason there was less bloodshed between us and the shifters.”“I never saw the reason to antagonize the wolves. While we may be stronger and faster, the tides can always change. There
“No.” I get up from my seat abruptly, causing dishes and cutlery to rattle on the table. “I do not want to hear your excuses. We did monstrous things. There is no excuse for any of that.”I leave without turning back. My mother calls out for me. I ignore her.She’s not the one I need to talk to.*
EmoryI don’t immediately return to Crimson Peak. I take a few days to iron out the alliances with the other Alphas before they return to their villages. All the excitement from the previous days finally hits me, and I need to rest. My mother calls for a pack healer to come to the mansion for a chec
MichaelThe emissary to Red River–the real one–isn’t anyone I recognize. He’s tall and pale blond, his red eyes gleaming in the brightly lit ballroom where he and his posse of royal Red River guards have gathered. He scans the group before him–myself, my father, and my uncle, and smiles faintly, hi
I listen intently, watching a myriad of emotion play over her face as she knits her fingers together. “We spent an entire summer sneaking around,” she says softly, closing her eyes. “He’d find me in the garden, in the library, sometimes going as far as to sneak into my room at night. We couldn’t st
FayeStill in the library, I listen intently as Emelda discloses far more than I expected her to.There was a point in Emelda’s life as a vampire that she’d accepted she’d always be alone. Her bed would always be cold, her skin unblemished by a loving touch. She’d never know love again, and for deca
Faye“It really is gorgeous,” Emelda says the next morning while walking with me to the library. She runs her thumb over the massive sapphire ring and smiles faintly, raising her brows. “I think it’s a family heirloom, too. You should expect a load of fine jewelry to follow.”“You know I don’t care
FayeKing Kane is a slightly terrifying man. His presence is all consuming–like he sucks the light out of the room. He doesn’t look his age, like all vampires. The only indication that he’s a senior vampire compared to his son is the faint gray glow around his temples where his dark hair is starting
MichaelI watch Faye run a comb through her hair, over and over. The golden strands shine like golden silk in the pockets of sunlight shimmering through the curtains. Beyond the glass, knee-deep snow covers the castle grounds in a blanket of pure, untouched white. Deep inside, I feel a flicker of m
I shake my head, sniffling, trying to pull my tears back into my eyes but fail miserably. They trickle down my cheeks, freezing to my face. “We would have been caught.”“I wouldn’t have cared. I still don’t!”“You were getting married–”“I’ve been betrothed since I was a child,” he says hotly, gritt
Emelda“Why are you out here?” Cole asks, his hand moving up my back as he presses me closer. “You’re freezing.”“I wanted to check on Ravenfell–”“I was on my way–”“It’s not your responsibility–”“I was on my way to find you,” he cuts in, taking a breath. I open my eyes, breaking out of the haze
Finn leans against the fireplace while Cassidy stokes the fire, but everyone is waiting for me to start talking. That’s why I came here, after all. To share news from the castle about our duke and our friends. “Lowe is likely going to survive,” I say to the group, ignoring the shuffle of feet as pe