Riven smirked darkly. “The curse was always there. Dormant, yes… but never gone. It lives in all of us, Alpha Kade. The beast is the blood itself. Every rage, every sin, every drop of Red Moon blood calls to it. All it takes is the right Alpha’s pride or pain… to push open the door.”
Kade’s jaw tightened. “And your uncle pushed it open.”
Riven’s smile widened, baring nothing but teeth. “No… he tried. But he lacked the pride for it. He was a coward, a weakling… too weak, too afraid. The beast in our blood only answers to strength. It would not answer him.”
“You speak of him as if he meant nothing to you,” Kade said quietly.
Riven’s silver eyes locked onto Kade's without a flicker of warmth. “He means nothing,” he said flatly. “Blood or no blood, weakness is worthless. Family is only a n
