I nod as the chronology lines up in my head. “So, Harper wasn’t a victim who was dragged into this. She was part of it from the beginning.”
“Exactly. The guard who took Zari’s bribe has been executed,” Kael says grimly, “and Harper and Magnus Blackwood are in the deepest cells, under constant watch.”
“Good.” The satisfaction in my voice surprises even me.
Kael’s thumb strokes the back of my hand. “You know what we learned about your mother’s death. About how your pack betrayed her.”
The memories feel distant, like looking at someone else’s life through thick glass. “I don’t remember much from my childhood,” I admit. “Bits and pieces, but nothing clear about what happened.”
“Your wolf is protecting you,” Kael explains gently. “Trauma can make shifters’ wolves suppress memories that are
