Chapter 98: Faces We Can’t Fight
The lead wolf stepped closer, and Elara’s heart stopped beating. Her father’s voice came from its mouth.
"Why did you let me die, sweetheart? Why didn’t you save me?"
"No," she whispered, backing away. "You’re not real." But the wolf looked exactly like her dad when he changed. Same gray hair with the white patch on his chest.
Same kind brown eyes that used to read her bedtime stories. Except now those eyes glowed silver like moonlight. "I waited for you," the wolf continued in her father’s gentle tone.
"I called your name as the rogues tore me apart. But you never came." Tears burned Elara’s face. She knew this wasn’t really him.
Her dad died three years ago defending the pack borders. She’d been only fifteen, too young and weak to help. But seeing his face made all that pain come rushing back.
"Don’t listen," Kael said sharply, ice forming around his hands. "It’s the trial. They’re not real." But then another wolf emerged from the darkness.
This one had Kael’s mother’s face from before she died giving birth to the triplets. "My son," the fake Luna Blackwood said sadly. "You think you’re strong enough to be Alpha? You couldn’t even save me.
How will you protect your mate and children?" Kael’s ice broke. His face went white as snow. "Mom?" he breathed. More silver-eyed dogs surrounded them.
Ronan’s best friend who died in a hunting accident. Darian’s mentor who taught him to handle his truth powers. Even Elara’s grandma who passed last winter.
"This is sick," Ronan growled, flames dancing around his body. "Using our dead against us!" "But we are your dead," said the wolf wearing his friend Marcus’s face. "We’re unhappy in you, Ronan.