RAFAEL

The cold air hits my face the moment I shove the doors open. It’s not even winter, but it feels like frost is crawling up my spine.

Seven fucking years. Seven years of silence. Seven years of watching Ace lose himself little by little.

They fucking watched me marry Lila, when they know quite well that I'm supposed to be bonded with my mate. They watched my bondless rage grow like rot in my soul. They watched my father die mad and said nothing. Fucking Nothing.

I had always known that they weren't to be trusted, but to think Elder Mave and Garrick would also connive and want to...