Rejected by the King, Protected by Her Alpha Twin Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Freedom of the Twin Wolves

Three months rolled by. Selene could get around with a cane now. The pack healer checked over her injuries, his tone low and somber. “Frostbite has damaged her legs. She canno stand for long periods. Her recovery will be slow.”

I watched Selene, bracing for her to break down at the news.

Instead, she glanced down at her injured legs and tossed the cane straight at me.

“If standing tires me out, I’ll just sit.”

She winked. “You can keep me fed and cared for, after all.”

I tapped her shin lightly with the cane.

“Pull that stunt again, and no honey-syrup treat for you tonight.”

She instantly clung to my arm.

“My wolf spirit threw it. Not me.”

I huffed, half-amused, half-exasperated.

“Three years gone, and all you’ve picked up is how to dodge blame.”

Ronan walked in and handed me the final official judgement scroll.

Our father had been executed.

Evelyn screamed for Helena to save her right up until her death. Helena herself had been stripped of her pack name and exiled from the Silver Moon pack for good.

Caius had restored honor to my fallen private guards. He also sent gold, gemstones, and rare medicinal herbs, trying to make amends to Selene.

Selene only reclaimed the sealed land deed for her birthright territory. Every other offering she turned away.

“He inflicted all this pain. “You won justice for me. “I want none of his handouts.”

I never expected Helena to show her face again.

She was nothing but skin and bones; more than half her dark-brown hair had turned gray.

“Vesper… Selene… “I know I was wrong. “I do not ask for forgiveness. I only beg for one last chance to see you both.”

Selene squeezed my hand and said nothing.

Helena crawled toward me. “Vesper, you loved me so deeply as a child. “Call me mother, Just one more time.”

I stopped in front of her and looked down. “Back then I truly thought you loved me. What is why I drank the brew you gave me without the slightest hesitation.”

Helena shuddered all over.

I knelt, meeting her terrified eyes.

“But that potion held herbs powerful enough to burn my wolf spirit out completely. “When I came back, you felt no joy–only fear. You never wanted me to survive.”

Every drop of color drained from Helena’s face.

“I only lost my head for a moment…”

“You knew exactly what you were doing.”

My crushing pheromones crashed over her, driving her flat onto the stone.

“You valued Evelyn’s ambition above my very life. “You have lost everything, not because we are cruel. “You are simply reaping what you sowed.”

I turned my back on her without another word.

I went to Selene’s side and shifted into a massive silver-gray wolf. She clambered onto my back with practiced ease and locked her arms tight around my neck.

Helena’s broken sobs echoed behind us. I never glanced back.

I traveled onward until every trace of her scent faded away. Only then did Selene lean in close to my ear and whisper.

“Sister… do you ever blame me?”

I halted and shifted back to human form. “Blame you for what?”

“If I hadn’t needed protecting, you would never have nearly died from poison. You would never have had to vanish for three years.”

I flicked her forehead gently.

“Do not carry guilt for other people’s crimes. “I chose to save you. That was my choice. “They

hurt me because they are rotten. “Those are two separate truths. Never mix them up.”

Her eyes glistened. She nodded.

“What will I do once we reach the northern frontier?”

“You know medicinal herbs well. You can look after the young cubs and wounded pasmates.”

“What about you?”

I shifted back into wolf form and lowered myself for her to mount.

“I will guard the northern frontier. And I will guard you.

“If anyone dares harm you again, I will tear their throat out.”

Selene climbed onto my back and smiled, genuine at last.

“Promise me. Don’t leave me behind this time.”

I lifted my head and let loose a long, ringing howl.

It was both a vow and a proclamation.

Three years ago, the pack had claimed twin wolf daughters would bring ruin. They’d forced poison down my throat and cast Selene out.

But they had miscalculated.

They could not take my life.

And they had no right at all to touch my sister’s.

Morning sunlight spilled across the northern-range mountains and washed over us.

Neither of us needed to die for the other now.

We would both live.

Free.

And proud.