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Daughter of Alpha Rowan Thorn. The daughter of the Alpha who murdered his own mate. That was the story everyone knew. The story they whispered whenever they thought I wasn't listening. T
did his wife, Elara. They raised me when they didn't have to. They protected me when the entire world was judging me. They were the closest thing I had to parents. Which was why I hated disappointing them. "Iris." I stopped when I heard the seriousness in his voice. "What?" Kael walked closer. "You know I understand why you want answers." I looked away. "Do you?" "Yes." The answer came too quickly. I studied his face. "You believe him too." A shadow crossed his expression. "I believe your father was not the man people claim he was." My chest tightened. "But you don't know." "No," he admitted. "I don't." That honesty hurt more than a lie would have. Kael had always been honest with me. Even when the truth was painful. "The night your mother died, everything happened too quickly," he continued. "Your father disappeared. Your mother was dead. And everyone wanted someone to blame." "Everyone except me." His eyes softened. "Because you knew them." I swallowed. "Yes." I knew them. I knew my parents loved each other. I knew my mother was happy. I knew my father was not perfect, but he was not a murderer. Something happened that night. Something nobody wanted to talk about. And I was going to find out what. "You're really leaving." I turned toward the voice behind me. Elara stood at the edge of the training field, holding a basket of food. My heart softened immediately. She always looked the same. Warm. Kind. Like the world had never given her a reason to become bitter. "I have to." She placed the basket down. "You don't." "Yes, I do." She looked at me sadly. "You're my daughter, Iris. I know when you've made up your mind." I smiled slightly. "Then you know nothing will change it." She sighed. "No. It won't." For a moment, none of us spoke. The three of us knew this day would come. I had spent my entire life preparing for it. Learning how to fight. Learning how to survive. Learning how to control my wolf. Because one day, I would leave. One day, I would find
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