SINS OF THE FATHER

tlefield had gone quiet, his soldiers lingering at the edges, waiting for the final blow to be struck. Aldr

his unborn child, how

in the world who saw the humanity in him when everyone else only saw the beast

ft in Aldric's thoughts. She smiled up at him, her face bloodied

aker now but still filled with venom.

for good nearly overwhelming. He could feel the magic in her words, crawling un

speak of, witc

s you are. He will be trapped in the body of a beast, a wolf. A creature without the ability to sh

is child-the future alpha of Vordane-to such a fate was unforgivable. His sword hovered in th

er lips curling into a twisted gri

s wolf

witch in one stroke. Her body slumped to the ground, lifeless at last. The air

n the battle-destroyed the coven and claimed their land-but it felt hol

s corpse. His soldiers were waiting, their eyes filled with a

ind now was Lysandra an

_

ng kingdom. He rode at the head of his army, his wolf barely contained beneath the surface of his skin, his though

Lysandra waited. Aldric's heart clenched at the thought of her. How could he face her now?

shadow that now loomed over their royal family. Aldric barely acknowledged them, his mind too focu

had

oing against the stone. Lysandra would be in her chambers, waiting for him, eager to tell him of

standing by the window, her long silver hair cascading down her back

t and warm, as she crossed the ro

in. For a moment, he let himself relax in her presence, forgetting the darkness that loomed over them. But

resting on his cheek. "Something trouble

't reach his eyes. "It is nothing, Ly

placed it gently on her swollen belly. "Our son grows stronger every day," she s

ow could he tell her that their son had been cur

dn't. N

er forehead. "He will be," he murmured, t

g with love and faith in their future. "You've always p

pressing down on him. He would protect them-he had to. But how could

_

him. His advisors had gathered earlier to discuss their next move-the expansion of Vordane'

kering shadows across the room, but Aldric's gaze was fixed on nothing in particular. His wolf stirre

to happen? His son-the future alpha, the future king of Aramore-would be a beast, trapped in his wolf form unles

uler, a force of nature. He bent others to his will, not the other way around. An

unacc

nger. His wolf howled inside him, desperate for release, but Aldric held it back, his c

dying witch, h

c couldn't shake the feeling that this battle-this war agai

war against