The Rouge ls a Female Alpha (Zephyrine) novel Chapter 308

Chapter 308

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Zephyrine

The hall was narrow; my steps were light as I pushed open the door to the memorial chamber. The moonstone vessel that held my parents‘ ashes stood before me like a silent altar.

I stepped inside and lit a candle, then bowed my head to pay my respects. For a long moment I drifted into emptiness.

I had so many plans for them, one a great funeral to celebrate their names and deeds, yet here we were instead, preparing for war.

Hours passed since Moon came and left, his words still sinking into me. Tomorrow night they would march on the Lycan Kingdom to kill. And then what?

Would the councils have what they wanted? My ruin, my guilt, my grief? Had they used my father’s death as a cover for their own sins?

I stared at the moonstone vessel, fell to my knees, and closed my eyes. I prayed for guidance. For anything.

Lycannar.

I had only known him briefly, but that briefness had filled my life with light. He loved me; he had chased me. Until now, until he didn’t. Why had he held back? Why had he stopped trying? The thought burned in me, sharp and insistent.

The silence swelled then his question about the dragon drifted into my mind and I opened my

eyes.

He hadn’t chased me, so maybe I would choose my family. He hadn’t explained himself. Maybe he had already given up.

One solution kept returning like a tide. I had to speak to my brother. We were true Ashmere blood, direct descendants. The council’s aim was to set us against one another, but we could not let them win.

I rose and headed toward Varyn’s chamber but midway I pause. He was not there; his presence hummed from the meeting room.

I moved quietly toward it and found him in his element, hunched over charts and maps, surrounded by the commanders who would ride into battle, the same men whose banners Railan’s force had borne when they slaughtered Ashmere warriors in their amp.

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Chapter 308

He stopped when he saw me. Every eye turned.

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“I want to speak with you, Varyn,” I said, my voice steady despite the crowd. He met my gaze and nodded, signaling me to continue. “Not here. In private.”

A frown crossed his face, but he came to me. I took his hand and led him back down the hall to my bed chamber. We sat together on the bed, fingers still linked, and stared at each other for a long moment.

“Varyn,” I whispered. “You know… I love you.”

He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and answered softly,

“I love you too. More than you can imagine.”

I smiled, warmed by his words, then rose to open the drawer.

I pulled out a small chest and inside it the broken hairpin he’d given me years ago. I took it back to the bed; when he saw it his brow creased with something like awe.

“Is that…” he laughed, half in disbelief. “My gods. Is this…”

“It is,” I said, fingers tracing the cracked hairpin. “I keep it like it’s my life.” He frowned at the break.

“You’re always clumsy when you’re not feeling yourself,” he murmured, and I smiled.

“I cherished it so much,” I told him, meeting his eyes. “More than you know, Varyn, when I couldn’t find you.”

The memories of those lonely months flooded me, how I had been hollowed out by waiting, how the insults and hatred outside Ash Pack had worn me down while I only waited for him to be found.

“I am here now,” he said tenderly. “Those who wronged us will pay. You have my word.”

I searched his face and my heart cracked.

“Varyn, you’re barking up the wrong tree. The Lycans aren’t our real enemies, the council is. Lycannar’s a victim in all of this. He was despised by his father; that drove him toward war.”

“Are we still on this?” he asked, the warmth in his eyes shifting.

“Varyn…” I began.

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Chapter 308

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“I thought you agreed to sit this out,” he said, voice tight. “I thought you would not interfere. I’m only targeting Apex.”

“Apex… with thousands at his back?” I asked. “You cannot say you’re targeting him alone with that many soldiers.”

He lifted his chin, anger sharpening him.

“How much did he give you that you’d be so blind? What did Apex give you that you’d betray Ashmere warriors to save him?”

“I am not betraying anyone,” I said. “Those armies aren’t true Ashmeres. Names on banners don’t make men who they were. You and I are what’s left of our family and we will carry the name forward. We are siblings, for the Moon Goddess‘ sake. We are not supposed to be at each other’s throats, Varyn.”

He paused. His gaze on me cooled. The softness drained away.

“Against each other? I am not against you,” he said, frowning.

“I’m not either,” I murmured, staring at him. “But I will be if you keep walking this path.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“You’re not yourself,” I said slowly. “You’re brilliant, always three steps ahead. But now you slip. Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe the plan that took Father’s life sits heavy on you, and you’re trying to punish Lycannar for it.”

“Is that what you believe?” His voice was low, incredulous.

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