Chapter 32 AURORA I blinked at Esther .


    None of that is true .


    She gave me a pitying look .


    If you say so , dear .


    I dont want you to traumatize yourself , digging too deeply in the past .


    Speaking of which … She leaned over and dug in the crate , then handed me a folded up piece of paper .


    We found this when we were scavenging the old house one night .


    It looks like old house one night .


    It looks that page from your mothers nonsense journal you liked to y with as a child .


    Wonderingly , I took the paper from her hand and slowly unfolded it .


    It was only one page , not all three , but as the symbols glimmered in front of my eyes , some of them shaping into the word ceremony , I realized it was exactly the page wed been looking for .


    Thank you … mother , I said .


    Esther Reed smiled .


    Like I said , darling .


    Youve always been one of us .


    Theres no reason you cant be again .


    ***** A Chapter 32 2/5 The Reeds took me back to the mansion Id bought .


    When I walked in the door , Trajan and Evander practically fainted with relief .


    To my surprise , the Blue Ridge wolves , led by Piper , were still there .


    Didnt Dane call you back to the pack house ? I asked her .


    No , she said .


    I frowned at the dark haired woman .


    I was so tired , and all I wanted to do was copse into my bed .


    It took me long minutes to figure out why Dane wouldnt have called them away .


    Then I realized : he was protecting his asset , of course .


    He had literally said he never wanted to see me again .


    That didnt mean he was willing to let our search for the relic go .


    Did he tell you what happened ? I asked .


    Piper hesitated , then shook her head .


    Only that you betrayed him … again .


    Esther Reed made a very convincing fake recording of me , I said .


    I dont know how she managed .


    I usually didnt speak this bluntly to people , but I was so tired , and so tired of Dane never taking my side .


    All these years , I was what he desired most .


    But what did that matter ? Desire wasnt love .


    It wasnt trust .


    It wasnt what I so badly wanted and had wanted for years : a real , true ,sting Chapter 32 3/5 rtionship where he listened to me and respected me , the way I used to respect him .


    Pipers brows drew together at my words .


    Thats … interesting .


    Yes , I said flippantly as I moved past her toward the stairs .


    Thats what Dane thought .


    When I made it up to my rooms , I was shocked to find Holden Coleridge waiting for me .


    The Alpha of the Fall Line pack looked exhausted .


    Holden ? What are you doing here ? Everyone has been searching for you , he said .


    Until Dane finally decided to announce you were safe through his own .


    wolves .


    You searched for me ? I asked , smiling .


    High and low .


    Holden sat up and grinned .


    But you look worse than I do .


    We could both use a shower and a bed .


    I hesitated , then tilted my head at him .


    He didnt know about the journal , or my strange gift for reading it .


    He didnt know about the relic that High Alpine and Blue Ridge both wanted so badly .


    Holden had been my friend for long enough .


    I should be able to trust him with this .


    And I wanted to speak to someone about everything I was going through with Dane .


    Mommy ! The twins burst from their room and ran to me , both of them wrapping their arms around my waist ..


    Chapter 32 4/5 My babies ! Iughed and bent to kiss each one of them , and immediately put telling Holden out of my mind .


    Yes , I wanted an ally .


    A partner .


    Someone I could trust .


    Someone I could love .


    Holden might be that person … one day .


    He was charming , handsome , and kind .


    But for today , when I was bone tired from no sleep and even more exhausted from dealing with Dane , all I needed were my children .


    As I held them , I realized how badly Id let Ethers words turn my head .


    Id found out so much in thest twelve hours .


    My birth mother had sold me .


    Dane … wanted me , if nothing else .


    I used to keep a journal that made it sound like what I wanted as a young woman was every terrible thing the Reeds wanted , too .


    But as long as I had these two , I had light .


    They were good .


    That meant there had to be good in me , too .


    ***** The next days were so full it made my time in the cave with Dane feel like a dream .


    I couldnt spend too long with the page , because deciphering more than a few symbols at a time sent pain spiking through my head .


    But the meanings were clear enough this was the ceremony .


    The only problem was it required 100 wolves to perform it .


    Many , many more than my little collection of five , especially Chapter 32 considering that two of those five were my children .


    5/5 The petty part of me thought about cutting Dane out .


    Holdens pack was asrge as his -a few hundred wolves , at least .


    Was But I couldnt .


    The relic was on Danesnd .


    Blue Ridge High Alpines partner in this , and I wouldnt go back on my packs word .


    I hadnt told Dane about the page , yet .


    And I wasnt going to leave our business to Trajan or Evander , no matter what he said .


    So on the third day after our night in the cave , I picked up the phone and called him .


    Except he didnt answer .