Page 114 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

Could my heart have melted anymore? Doubt it.

He’s gonna be a lovely father.

Oh heck no my brain did not just go?—

There? Oh girl, you’re as smitten as a dragon smelling embers for the first time,Ran teased.

“You’ve brought a cold-blooded murderer into the village, ousted our very leader with your witchery, and now you come for your very brother?”

The words of Rey’s father, Bill, prompted me to spin around, only to see him holding a crossbow pointed at Shen and the kids. A few others were on top of buildings, their crossbows glistening with silver arrows. Shen wasn’t concerned, even turning to give me a wink, but he moved so the kids were beneath him, away from the arrows even as they continued to play. I sighed, resisting the urge to rub my eyes. Couldn’t he take death threats a bit more seriously? And could hestopputting himself in the way of blasted arrows?

“Are you this much of an idiot, Billy?” I said, stepping between him and Shen. “They were never our enemy. We hurt them first. We began this war. And now you and your little boy-child threaten my family? It ends now. Your child was never my sibling. He is a manipulative abuser who has used my sister all these years, keeping her sick just so he can use her all over again.” I raised my eyes to those around me, those with their hands on weapons and those watching in contemplative silence.

I stood on a precipice. How I responded would determine my reign. I could win them or lose them, here and now. No pressure.

I took a deep breath, and I decided. Regardless of whether I won or lost, I would stay true to myself. I would be honest.

“My sister has magic, just as I do. But old Billy boy here didn’t want you to know that, did he? No, he must keep herGift contained, because her Gift allowed him to buy this shop, allowed him to gain riches—all by knowing a person’s deepest secrets so he could blackmail others into subservience.”

The crowd stepped away from Rey and Bill.

“Is that how you knew Shawn was conceived out of wedlock? You cost me my son because I wouldn’t give into your demands!” a woman cried out, her voice verging on murder.

“He cost me my best pigs and slaughtered my best stock!”

“He’s made me pay tithe to his family.”

That and more was tossed at the two, weapons slowly lowered and the people staring at the them with clenched fists and hard eyes.

“Why did you not say anything?” Elder Timone asked. His face was weathered by time and hard work, but his voice and body were still strong as he came up beside me.

I shrugged. “What would have happened differently?” I asked. “Mom had already come forward, questioning the marriage and his behavior, but you said it was young love. You allowed this abuse, Elder Timone. Because you looked the other way, my sister became sick. Because you wished to hide under a rock and not allow your secrets to come out, you gave into demands that went against all we stood for. But now we have a second chance. We all do. A second chance to do this right, to protect the innocent and those who cannot protect themselves. A chance to right the wrongs of our ancestors. To usher in an age of peace where we wage war on those who would harm the innocent, the weaker but not lesser, and the broken but healing people and creatures of our world, just as our code was meant to be.”

“And we stand by you.” The voice came out of the crowd. It was of a deep timbre, shivering with pride.

CHAPTER 40

Confrontation

ALIA & SHEN

Alia

The people parted, and there stood my family. Dad stood at the front, his eyes glowing with something I would almost call tears, except I’d never seen him cry. He held little Fina while Mom held Jess; both children had their eyes locked upon their father.

My heart broke. These two would forever adore the man meant to love them unconditionally, but they would someday have to come to understand what he is, and I hoped it didn’t break them when they found out.

My sister and brother stood right behind them, Jacob gently holding Anna upright. She gave me a weak but radiant smile. She had already gained some weight; her cheeks weren’t so sunken, and her eyes were a little less dim. What this man had done to her would leave scars, but with time, she would heal.

That was the thing about broken things: they could always be mended with a little elbow grease and hard work.

“We’re by your side, hon, every step of the way,” Mom said, her smile wide and her eyes sparkling with a mixture of rage and love. She wanted to tear Rey to pieces, but she was holdinghis child and would do nothing of the sort while the kids were around. But when they were not?

Her wrath should terrify the man-boys at my back, but they stepped forward. I felt the grazing of wind, but when I turned, Shen had an arrow in his mouth, holding it by the shaft. He slowly bit it in half, his eyes never leaving the man who was once my sister’s husband.

The man-child paled, his face stricken as if he finally understood what danger he was in. He slowly lowered the bow in his hands.

Shen stepped forward, his eyes glowing red as his lips peeled back to reveal fangs the size of a finger and a half. The people took a collective step back as Rey soiled his pants.

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