After the vampires retreated, the Alliance reopened the Black Pine case.
Derek was permanently stripped of his title as Alpha and of all authority over Black Pine for releasing a dangerous prisoner. Because he had helped defend the city, his life sentence was reduced to 10 years of service in the northern mines.
Because Noah was still a minor, the tribunal did not prosecute him. However, it permanently revoked his status as a candidate for Black Pine Alpha. He voluntarily gave up his noble privileges and applied to serve as a rank-and-file patrol guard at the northern mines.
Six years ago, they had looked down at me from their carriage. Now they would walk the same snowy road I had once walked.
Outside the city, Derek asked to speak to me alone.
"If I'd given you those three days to i
