Chapter 5: A Past Rewritten

Alethea's POV

I stared at the worn leather book in my hands, heart pounding in my chest. The words on the pages seemed to swirl as I tried to process the twisted history they told—a history I was part of without even knowing it.

I sat by the open window, the night air cool against my skin as I reread the passages. My parents… They weren’t just ordinary members of Silverwood. They were deeply entangled with the Midnight Fang pack, fighting alongside them in the pack wars. But the text was vague about their death, only hinting at “mysterious circumstances.” I felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of a story, one with no beginning or end.

A quiet knock on my door startled me, pulling me back to the present. I closed the book with a snap, stuffing it under my pillow.

“Alethea?” Ryker’s voice was low, hesitant. I could feel his presence on the other side, even through the heavy wood of the door.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. After the revelations I’d just read, facing him felt like a challenge I wasn’t ready for. But ignoring him wasn’t an option, either. I opened the door just enough to look at him.

“What do you want, Ryker?” I asked, my voice harsher than I’d intended.

He raised an eyebrow, taking in the tension in my posture. “You looked shaken when you left Thane’s. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“‘All right?’” I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “I just found out that my parents were tangled up in some bloody feud, Ryker—your pack’s feud. And you didn’t think to mention it?”

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I wanted to protect you.”

I bristled at his words, that familiar anger flaring up again. “Protect me? By keeping me in the dark about my own family? Don’t you get it? That’s not protecting me—it’s lying. And you’re just as bad as Thane if you think you can control what I know.”

Ryker’s jaw tightened, and he took a step back, a flash of regret in his eyes. “I understand why you’re angry, Alethea. But you have to believe me—I had reasons for keeping it from you. You were already dealing with enough.”

“That’s not your decision to make,” I replied, my voice trembling. “All this time, I’ve been wandering through life, never knowing why I felt… different. You knew something, Ryker. And you didn’t tell me.”

He looked away, the guilt clear on his face. “I wanted to tell you. But I didn’t want you dragged into this war.”

“It’s too late for that,” I shot back, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m already in it. And now, thanks to you and Thane, I know that my parents died for it. And I have no idea why.”

Ryker opened his mouth as if to respond, then closed it, his gaze heavy with something I couldn’t quite place. Pain? Regret? It was impossible to read him.

“I’m sorry, Alethea,” he finally murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper.

But his apology didn’t calm the storm brewing inside me. If anything, it fueled it.

“Sorry doesn’t give me answers,” I replied, each word sharp. “You owe me the truth. All of it.”

He met my gaze, eyes shadowed. “The truth is dangerous.”

I clenched my fists, anger tightening my throat. “My whole life has been a lie. I think I can handle a little danger.”

Ryker’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. “You think you’re ready for that kind of truth? Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He took a step closer, so close I could feel the heat radiating off him. His gaze was intense, his voice low and full of unspoken things. “Your parents weren’t just allies to Midnight Fang. They were leaders. They helped shape the way our pack operated, forged alliances and… enemies. They were powerful, Alethea. And their deaths weren’t random.”

I swallowed, my mouth dry. “What do you mean, ‘not random?’”

“They were targeted,” Ryker replied, his voice heavy with certainty. “Someone wanted them out of the way. They were seen as a threat to certain… powerful interests.”

My heart pounded painfully in my chest, the weight of his words settling over me like a shroud. “Why didn’t anyone tell me this?”

“Because whoever was responsible covered their tracks well,” Ryker said, his jaw clenched. “They made it look like an accident. A tragic event, nothing more.”

I took a shaky breath, my mind whirling. “Do you know who did it?”

He hesitated, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “I have my suspicions. But without proof…”

“You mean Thane, don’t you?” I whispered, dread seeping into my voice.

Ryker didn’t answer immediately, his silence confirming my worst fears.

I felt a wave of nausea as I thought about Thane’s smug smile, his smooth words. “He killed my parents?” The words barely left my mouth, strangled and trembling.

“Possibly,” Ryker said, his voice tight. “Thane always had ambitions beyond his station. And your parents—well, they stood in his way.”

I could barely breathe. “And you… you let me go with him? You didn’t warn me?”

“I was trying to keep you out of it!” Ryker’s voice rose, frustration flashing in his eyes. “I wanted you safe, Alethea. Away from all this mess.”

“Well, congratulations,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice. “I’m in the middle of it now, aren’t I?”

Silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable. Finally, Ryker let out a sigh, running a hand over his face. “I know I can’t make up for what I’ve kept from you. But I’m here now, Alethea. I’ll help you get the answers you need.”

I crossed my arms, staring him down. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”

“I’ll speak with the elders, dig into the records,” he said. “But you have to promise me one thing—don’t trust Thane. Not even for a second.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “After everything you just told me, do you think I would?”

His expression softened, something like relief passing over his face. “Good. Because he’s dangerous, Alethea. He has plans, and he won’t hesitate to use you if it benefits him.”

A heavy silence settled between us, the weight of the night pressing down on me. I was exhausted, mentally and emotionally drained, and yet, I knew sleep would be impossible tonight. Too much had been uncovered, too many questions left unanswered.

“Thanks for the warning, Ryker,” I said finally, my voice weary. “But I think I need some time alone to process all this.”

He nodded, his eyes full of unspoken words. “If you need anything, I’m just a call away.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the dim light of my room, the weight of my family’s secrets pressing down on me.

I was about to close the door when I noticed something strange—a folded piece of paper slipped beneath it. My heart raced as I bent down to pick it up, unfolding it with trembling hands.

The message was short, scrawled in dark, hurried handwriting:

“Your bloodline is not what it seems.”

A shiver ran down my spine, cold and foreboding. I stared at the note, my mind spinning with questions. What did it mean? And who had left it?

But one thing was clear—whoever had written this knew more about my family, more about the strange powers lurking inside me, than I ever could. And if I wanted answers, I’d have to be willing to venture even deeper into the shadows of Silverwood.