“What?” Markus’s face contorted in shock as his gaze flickered between Asher and Bella. He clenched his fists, the rage simmering beneath the surface.
“Let’s sit,” Asher suggested, his tone low and serious, “and I’ll explain everything I’ve pieced together.” The group moved to the plush chairs around the fireplace, where the gentle crackling of the fire did little to ease the tension in the room.
Asher recounted what he knew, the strange and faded memories Bella had, the suffocating atmosphere of her former pack, and finally, the ritual in the cave, where Henry removed the hex that had bound her wolf. Kaia’s hand shot to her mouth in horror as she listened, while Markus sat rigid, his gaze darkening with each revelation.
When Asher finished, Markus’s body shook with rage. He stood abrup
