I looked at Dominic for a long time without speaking.
Night slowly climbed over the roofline of the residence.
"You want the truth?" I asked.
"I do," he said.
I took a deep breath.
"Because I'm a Silver Wolf."
"One like me is born only once every few generations in the entire North."
"Ever since I was old enough to remember, there have always been Alphas around me."
"They said all the right things, but all they saw was my bloodline and Nightriver's throne."
"What they wanted was never Seraphina."
"They wanted the Silver Wolf who could give them stronger heirs and a direct path to the King."
Dominic listened in silence.
"So I learned not to trust anyone," I said. "Especially not Alphas who opened their mouths and immediately talked about alliances."
"Last year, you petitioned m
