Three Weeks with the Wolf I Should kill Chapter 07
Your Heart Knows the Truth
Aurora’s POV
I find my mother’s diary in a dusty box at the back of her study.
The first entry is dated twenty–two years ago, her handwriting still young and hopeful: “Another fight with the Valens family today. Over that damn water source. I’m so tired. How long does this hatred have to last?”
I turn the pages, reading words I never knew existed.
“Sometimes I wonder if our children could break this cycle when they grow up. I don’t want Aurora living in hatred. I want her to know there are more important things in this world than revenge.”
The last entry is from the day before she died.
“Tomorrow we negotiate with Ironridge. Maybe this time we can achieve real peace. For Aurora, I’m willing to let go of the past. Hatred is too heavy. I don‘ t want my daughter carrying this burden.”
But the next day she was dead. The negotiation became a war. Peace became deeper hatred.
I hold the diary against my chest, tears falling before I can stop them.
Mom, what am I supposed to do? You wanted me to let go of the hate, but I can’t. I hate them. I should hate them.
But then I think of Kieran’s eyes. Those gray eyes that
held the same pain and guilt. He carries his father’s sins just like I carry mine. We could have broken this cycle together if I hadn’t lied to him. If he hadn’t hidden my identity. If we’d just been honest.
Now it’s too late for any of that.
A scout bursts into my office the next morning, breathing hard.
“Alpha, we spotted a massive rogue force.” He points at the map spread across my desk. “Heading toward Ironridge’s eastern territory. At least thirty wolves, maybe more.”
I stare at the marked location. The eastern region.
Kieran mentioned the canyon there, how the narrow
terrain makes it perfect for ambushes. If the rogues attack there, Ironridge will suffer devastating losses.
Logically, this is the perfect opportunity to weaken our enemy. I should do nothing. Better yet, I should launch our own attack while they’re distracted.
But when I close my eyes, all I see is Kieran’s face pale with blood loss. I imagine him dying in that canyon. I imagine never seeing him again.
The fear drowns out everything else.
Our mate will die! Ember roars in my head. We have to go!
He’s not our mate. My voice shakes even in my own mind.
He is. Ember won’t back down. You know he is. No matter how much you deny it, your heart knows the truth.
I stand frozen in front of the map, logic warring with emotion. My brain says to let them handle it themselves. My heart says I can’t survive losing him.
“Call an emergency council meeting,” I tell Winston. ” Right now.”
The council chamber explodes the second I finish explaining.
“Support Ironridge?” Thomas jumps to his feet. “Have you lost your mind?”
“They’re our enemies!”
“Let the rogues and Ironridge destroy each other.
That benefits us!”
Voices pile on top of each other, everyone shouting at once. I stand at the head of the table and wait for them to run out of steam,
“Are you finished?” My tone cuts through the noise like ice.
“Alpha, please reconsider.” One of the elders tries a gentler approach.
“I’ve already considered everything.” I cut him off.” Listen. I know what you’re thinking. You see this as a chance to eliminate Ironridge. But have you thought about who becomes the next target after Ironridge falls?”
Silence.
“Us.” I let that sink in. “The rogues aren’t trying to claim territory. They want to destroy the existing order completely. Ironridge is an enemy I understand. An enemy I can fight, negotiate with, even coexist with. But rogues are chaos and destruction.”
“So what?” Thomas crosses his arms. “Doesn’t mean we risk our warriors to save them.”
I take a deep breath, feeling every word before I say it.
“You think I want to help them? I hate Ironridge!
They took my parents from me! I’ve been an orphan
since I was six years old. For twenty years, every single day, I’ve reminded myself that the Valens family is the enemy. But I hate the rogues more because they’re a plague that devours everything!”
I look at each face around the table.
“Kieran Valens is an enemy I can understand. He follows rules. He has limits. He doesn’t slaughter civilians. But rogues have no rules! They’ll kill everyone, including everything my parents left behind! Including this pack! Including your families!”
My voice rises, filling the chamber.
“If we stand by and watch Ironridge get destroyed today, tomorrow the rogues will be knocking on our door. And when that happens, who’s going to help us?
The objections start dying down. But Thomas still won’t quit.
“Even if you’re right, it doesn’t justify risking Nighthollow warriors‘ lives for the enemy.”
“This isn’t about saving the enemy.” I meet his glare. ”
This is about saving our own future.”
The resistance continues bubbling through the room. I’m out of time and patience. I release my Alpha command, letting that innate pressure roll over everyone present. It’s a power I hate using, forcing submission through sheer dominance, but I’m desperate.
“This is an order!” My voice echoes off the stone walls.
“Nighthollow will support Ironridge. This isn’t a request. It’s a command!”
The compulsion settles over the lower–ranked wolves like a physical weight. I watch their protests die in their throats, watch their bodies go rigid with forced compliance. The resentment burning in their eyes makes my stomach turn.
This is going to have consequences. But I can’t think about that right now.
Winston catches me before I can leave.
“Alpha.” His voice is quiet. “What’s the real reason?”
I look at this man who’s known me since I was a child, who served my father before me. He deserves the truth.
“He’s my fated wolf,” I say. “My wolf has already claimed him.”
Shock crosses Winston’s face, but understanding follows quickly.
“Then you need to be even more careful.” His expression turns grim. “If you sacrifice Nighthollow warriors to protect him, you’ll lose everyone’s support.”
“I know.”
“But you’re still going,”
“Yes.” The word comes out steady despite everything trembling inside me. “I have to go.”
Because I can’t bear the possibility of losing him. Evenif he hates me. Even if we can never go back. Even if this might be the biggest mistake I ever make.
I have to go.