Page 109 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

I grew increasingly agitated. My hands kneaded at my blades, even while I kept my face blank. “You interviewed them both? Did you not get my sister alone? Did you not ask her what was happening? Gain her trust before you stuck them both together to ask if there had been abuse?”

Elder Timone’s smile dropped. He wouldn’t meet my eyes. I leaned back in my chair, staring at him. I couldn’t believe it.

“If she were in danger, she should have come out about it. She should have left. That was her freedom, you know.”

I leaned forward, biting my tongue before I spewed a mouthful of curses. “And what if he had something over her? Something which kept her from leaving? Whether it be the children, a secret, a threat? What then? All you did was ask them both if there was abuse. They said no, and you left?”

Elder Timone shook his head. “It was not so simple, Matriarch. We asked questions. They were happy with each other. There was no need to embarrass anyone further.”

“You mean embarrass Rey. Because my sister needed you, and you failed her. Leave,” I hissed.

His jaw ticked and his eyes sparked with a hint of anger, but he bowed and walked out.

My shoulders hunched. I rubbed my eyes as a headache built behind them.

Howcouldhe?

This—from Anna’s sickness to the kidnapped children—could’ve been prevented if those in power were a bit more competent.

Aneedcrashed over me. It was sharp with longing for freedom. I knew that need well.

I glanced up with a hint of a smile. “Shen,” I whispered, my heart leaping with happiness. I spotted him hiding in the shadows a mere ten feet from me.

The smile fell from my face as I met his eyes.

“Run,” he whispered with a guttural groan.

CHAPTER 38

A Battle of Wills

ALIA & SHEN

Alia

“Shen, what’s wrong?” I asked, standing and taking a step toward him.

Then I saw the blade. His knife was bare, glittering in the moonlight and shaking.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end at a massive growl from Shen.

“What—”

“Go, Red. NOW!” he barked before doubling over.

Did he really think I’d start listening to him now? I walked over to him, just as fur sprouted along his nose and cheeks and his fangs poked from his upper lips. Hisneedscreamed at me. It stabbed into my breast, cut into my chest, and tore my heart out.

It wasn’t freedom that called to me then. It was his wolven side. I heard something whisper in my mind, something sharp yet gentle, much like the man before me.

His wolf screamed for his mate. My heart clenched. He’d found her. He’d found his mate. I knew she’d come. Of course we could never be. It had only been a fantasy, but it’d been fun whileit lasted. Now it was my turn to be there for him as he’d been there for me.

“Who is your mate, Shen?” I asked, gently touching the velveteen fur on his half-shifted, sweat-streaked face.

He looked up. There was such fear in his eyes. It shone with the desperation of a man about to jump from a cliff. I had never seen him so fearful, not even when he tried to trade his life for mine.

“Who’s your mate?” I demanded, putting fire into my voice even as he flinched away from my touch.

“You,” he whispered, his eyes stark with pain as a single, crystal tear fell from his eye.

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