Chapter 5 - The Bloodline That Could Not Be Stolen
Marius spoke calmly.
Cassian did not.
He shouted.
"Lies."
Marius handed the council the genetic reports.
"Read them."
Ruth examined the documents.
Then she looked up.
"The records are authentic."
Cassian turned to Elara.
"You said the blood-seer confirmed my line."
Elara looked terrified.
"My father told me what to say."
"Why?"
"Because he wanted the pack."
Cassian's face twisted.
"Who is my father?"
Elara did not answer.
Marius did.
"Rafe Ardent."
The room erupted.
Rafe Ardent was infamous.
A rogue alpha who had disappeared after starting a war between three territories.
Cassian had spent years claiming his bloodline represented stability.
Now the council knew his true ancestry.
Cassian backed toward the wall.
"You can't prove this."
Marius looked at him.
"I can."
He produced another document.
A birth certificate.
Cassian's original.
The name had been changed.
Dorian Morell had never been his biological father.
He had adopted Cassian to secure the Iron Ridge line.
Cassian looked at the document.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Marius's expression softened.
"Because your mother was afraid of what you would become."
Cassian laughed.
"She was right."
I expected anger to rise inside me.
Instead, I felt tired.
So tired.
I had spent months preparing to destroy this man's lies.
Now the lies were collapsing by themselves.
One elder turned to Cassian.
"You cannot continue as Alpha."
Cassian's eyes moved toward me.
"You did this."
"I revealed it."
"You stole everything from me."
"No."
I stepped forward.
"You gave it away."
He looked confused.
"I loved you."
His face twisted.
"I know."
"No."
I shook my head.
"You loved what I owned."
The sentence silenced him.
Sloan began crying.
I looked at her.
She whispered:
"I'm sorry."
I nodded.
"I know."
The council formally suspended Cassian.
The Vain trust remained mine.
My father's property returned to Blackwater.
Iron Ridge entered interim governance.
But Cassian did not go quietly.
That night, he disappeared.
Three guards were injured.
The eastern gate was broken.
And my daughter was gone.
I woke to the alarm.
Sadi.
The nursery was empty.
The world stopped.
I ran.
Her blanket was on the floor.
The window was open.
A note sat on the crib.
COME ALONE.
My blood turned cold.
Garrick arrived behind me.
"Who?"
"Cassian."
The note contained coordinates.
An abandoned mill.
I wanted to go immediately.
Garrick grabbed my arm.
"No."
"My daughter is there."
"Which is why you cannot go alone."
The Vain Guard assembled within minutes.
Sloan arrived.
"I know where the mill is."
I looked at her.
"You?"
"I used to go there as a child."
"Then come."
We drove into the storm.
The mill was dark.
Cassian stood on the second floor.
He held my baby.
My entire soul stopped.
"Put her down."
He smiled.
"Still the perfect mother."
"I'll give you anything."
"I don't want anything."
"Then what?"
"I want you to admit I was right."
I stared.
"About what?"
"That you belonged to me."
I almost laughed.
"No."
He looked furious.
"I gave you everything."
"You took everything."
"I made you Luna."
"My bloodline made me Luna."
He stepped closer.
"You think those wolves will protect you forever?"
"They won't need to."
"You have no idea what you're dealing with."
Then someone else appeared.
Rafe Ardent.
Cassian's biological father.
He stood behind the shadows.
"Hello, son."
Cassian turned.
"What are you doing here?"
Rafe smiled.
"Taking back what should have been mine."
Cassian's face changed.
"You said you'd help me."
"I did."
"Then help me."
Rafe looked at me.
"You weren't part of the agreement."
"Neither was he."
Cassian realized it.
His father had used him.
Just as Cassian had used me.
The cycle was finally turning.
Rafe reached for my daughter.
Cassian resisted.
"No."
Rafe frowned.
"You don't get sentimental now."
Cassian tightened his hold on the baby.
"She's mine."
I looked at him.
For the first time, his voice sounded different.
Not possessive.
Afraid.
"My daughter."
I stepped forward.
"Give her to me."
Rafe raised a weapon.
"Everyone stay back."
Then Sloan attacked.
She shifted.
A silver wolf flew across the room.
Rafe stumbled.
I moved.
The Vain Guard surged in.
The next thirty seconds were chaos.
Rafe escaped through the upper window.
Cassian dropped to his knees.
My daughter began crying.
He looked at me.
"Take her."
I did.
She buried her face against my chest.
Cassian stared at her.
"I never wanted to hurt her."
I believed him.
That was the worst part.
He had been so obsessed with power that he had forgotten she was a person.
I turned away.
Before we left, Cassian said:
"Marin."
I stopped.
"I'm sorry."
I looked over my shoulder.
May you like
"You should be."
Then I walked away with my daughter.
