The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 14

**Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe**
**Chapter 14**

Luna Evelyn felt as if the very ground had been ripped from beneath her feet. The news hit her like a lightning bolt, electrifying her senses and leaving her reeling.

“Aysel Vale! Have you completely lost your mind? You’ve set fire to your grandmother’s house!” Her voice quaked with a mix of rage and disbelief, each word laced with an emotional weight that threatened to crush her.

In the history of the Moonvale Pack, no one had ever imagined Aysel would descend into such madness. Sure, her temper had flared before, and she had made demands that bordered on the unreasonable, but to obliterate the one tangible legacy her grandmother had left behind? That was unfathomable.

When the Fire Guard from the northern district had called that fateful morning, Luna Evelyn had nearly dropped the phone in sheer shock.

“That house was the sacred bond site of your grandparents!” she exclaimed, her voice cracking with sorrow. “It was the place where their souls intertwined beneath the Blood Moon! You swore it meant the world to you, that you would safeguard it for eternity! And now look at the destruction you’ve caused!”

The official report labeled it an accident, but the whispers among the pack members told a different story. Everyone knew it was far from an accident—especially after Aysel had left Celestine bloodied and bruised the night before.

The hushed conversations echoed through the pack: Aysel had burned the house down because she couldn’t bear the thought of it being handed over to Celestine. If she couldn’t possess it, then no one else deserved to either.

For the first time, Luna Evelyn caught a glimpse of the chilling resolve in her youngest daughter’s eyes, a coldness that sent shivers down her spine.

Aysel’s laughter was soft, almost mocking. “So, you do recognize how much it meant to me. And yet, you chose to betray Grandmother’s wishes.”

Luna Evelyn faltered, momentarily at a loss for words. “We had our reasons—”

“I don’t care about your reasons,” Aysel interrupted, her tone sharp enough to cut through the tension. “It’s better for it to turn to ashes than to be handed over to a murderer.”

“Aysel! Mind your language!” Luna Evelyn shouted, her voice a tumultuous mix of fear and heartbreak. “Your grandmother’s death was a tragic accident! Why can’t you let go of this insanity? Celestine is your blood sister—why would she ever harm her own kin? Don’t let jealousy blind you!”

Aysel’s expression remained unchanged, a mask of determination. She understood that she lacked proof, and deep down, she knew they would never believe her.

Desperation clawed at Luna Evelyn as she pressed on. “You do realize arson is a serious crime, don’t you? That house meant everything to Celestine! You’ve already inflicted so much pain—she was taken to the healer’s ward last night!”

“Oh?” Aysel replied, her voice devoid of emotion. “Then go ahead. Report me.”

A heavy silence enveloped the conversation, thick with tension and unspoken fears. Finally, Luna Evelyn’s strained response broke through. “You know we can’t. Aysel Vale, what have you become? I can hardly recognize you anymore.”

Of course, she couldn’t report her. Aysel understood that all too well. The charred remains of the cottage still legally belonged to Luna Evelyn, and to accuse her own daughter of setting fire to an old, nearly worthless house would only serve to make the Moonvale Pack a laughingstock among the clans.

The issue would be swept under the rug, just like all the other uncomfortable truths they preferred to ignore.

Aysel’s voice turned icy. “Then perhaps it’s time you meet the real me. From this moment forward, I refuse to be the daughter you can manipulate with guilt and reputation. Test me, and you’ll discover just how ruthless I can truly be.”

With that, the call abruptly ended.

For a long moment, Aysel sat in silence, her mind racing. Then she turned her gaze to the man—the stranger—lurking in the shadows of her cramped apartment. His golden eyes glinted with a predatory amusement, as if he were savoring the chaos that surrounded her.

“So,” she said dryly, a hint of defiance in her tone, “you see? Threatening me with a little fire won’t work. Now, kindly leave.”

Magnus Sanchez—though she hadn’t yet learned his name—tilted his head, a smirk dancing on his lips. “So, you didn’t save me out of fear. You simply couldn’t resist my good looks.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify