Page 24 of Framed and Forgotten (Ashen Wolves #3)

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K O E N

From the corner of my eye, I watched my phone vibrate on the bed, but my gaze stayed locked on Nerine.

Time seemed to freeze, yet the ticking in my head only grew louder, pounding like a countdown.

Cold sweat prickled at my skin, but I forced my breathing to stay even.

I couldn't afford to look guilty. Survival instincts took hold, rolling my shoulders back, steadying my breath.

I needed a lie, quick and convincing, before she shattered the silence and tore the truth out of me.

With cold resolve, I raised an eyebrow at her, casually looking at my forearm as though nothing was wrong. As if it wasn’t my biggest secret, the revelation that could put what was left of the Ashen Wolves at risk. As if exposing the mark of werewolves’ most hated enemy was no big deal.

“This?” I stretched my arm out toward, paying no mind to the horrified gasp that broke through Nerine’s lips, as if I had nothing to hide.

With a shrug, I spat the best lie I could come up with.

“I saw this pattern in a book at Whispering Hill’s library last year.

It caught my attention, so I decided to tattoo it. ”

My explanation was brief and precise. Calculated.

Claiming the mark was artificially inked into my skin could be backed up.

In the two years Nerine had lived with me, she had never seen the mark on my arm.

Nerine knew I hadn’t been born an Ashen Wolf.

Since I was the first confirmed case of a regular wolf turning, it certainly wouldn’t make sense for the mark to have suddenly appeared on me.

So, my story was probably the most believable.

And when I noticed her expression soften with a hint of relief, I knew she’d bought it.

The adrenaline rushing through my veins started to fade gradually.

Once my secret was protected and I could finally think about the situation, questions swirled in my mind.

Why had she snuck into my room? Was this another one of her schemes to make me fall in love with her?

The thought flooded me with rage, but I pushed it down, urging Col to stay calm.

We were supposed to be under the effect of whatever enchantment she had put on me.

Swallowing my anger, an even more important question struck me.

How did she immediately recognize the mark of the Ashen Wolves?

As far as I was concerned, Crystal Pond had no participation in their demise.

Even as the alpha of a pack who had directly aided in taking out the guardians of the lycans centuries ago, I used to think it was only a myth until Avril came along.

Of course, she instructed us to hide our marks in case someone could recognize it, but to most wolf shifters, it should mean nothing.

However, Nerine’s reaction made it obvious she feared the creatures as if she believed they were very much real.

And I needed to find out why.

Putting on my best act, I stepped toward my ex-wife.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would scare you.

I wasn’t expecting to find you here, either,” I said, my voice sharper than intended.

Clearing my throat, I forced the bitterness away, feigning ignorance as I continued, “Did you say this is the mark of an Ashen Wolf? What’s that? ”

Although she looked less frightened, I could see Nerine’s distrust in the way she stood still, watching me with wary eyes. “You permanently branded something on your skin without knowing what it means?”

Stand your ground, Koen, I commanded myself.

“Like I said, I thought it was just an old legend,” I offered assertively. Tilting my head slightly, studying her, I switched the focus to her. “But you make it seem like it’s more than just that.”

Her posture shifted, and for a moment, it looked like she was the one caught in a lie.

She quickly averted her gaze, crossing her arms and biting her bottom lip nervously.

I simply waited, letting my unwavering presence suffocate her, the silence stretching between us until she realized there was no slipping away without an answer.

“It’s not just a legend, Koen,” she gave in, her voice barely a whisper, as though she was speaking forbidden words.

I furrowed my brows, listening attentively as she continued, “Whispering Hills really helped take the Ashen Wolves down in the past. We thought they were extinct, but…we have reason to believe they’ve returned. ”

My eyes widened as concern took hold. Caught off guard by her revelation, I couldn’t mask my reaction - but I hoped it came across as shock or fear rather than worry for Avril and Azure Smoke.

“Who’s we ?” The question tumbled out before I could catch it.

As if she hadn’t heard me, she brushed it off, quickly slipping back into her usual innocent and sweet demeanor.

“Anyway, it was just a misunderstanding. You should be careful showing that tattoo around other wolves - it could give off the wrong impression,” she warned, a hint of caution slipping into her tone one last time.

Then, with an apologetic smile, she added, “I’m sorry for barging in. I didn’t mean to catch you coming out of the shower. I’ll make sure to knock next time.” Before I could process what had just happened or ask anything more, she was gone.

For a few minutes, I just stood there, replaying our conversation. How did she know about the Ashen Wolves, and what made her believe they were back? Who was she working with? Could her ploy to lure me in be connected to whatever all of that was?

Now more than ever, I was certain I couldn’t leave without figuring it all out.

Suddenly, the sound of my phone ringing pulled me from my thoughts. I rushed to grab it, expecting Avril’s name on the screen. I felt both relieved and disappointed when I saw it was actually Theo. After double-checking that the door was locked and Nerine wasn’t spying, I answered the call.

“Yes, Theo? Is everything okay?”

He didn’t bother answering, his tone frantic as he implored, “We need you back here, Alpha Koen.”

I stiffened when I heard him address me by that title. I didn’t deserve it - not after what I’d done. But I would earn the right to carry it. I’d uncover what Nerine and the other packs knew about the Ashen Wolves, and we’d use that information to turn the tables in our favor.

Despite the urgency in the beta’s tone making my heart tighten, I had to focus on my mission. “Theo, I just discovered something major,” I told him. “I need to stay and investigate.” With a deep breath, I tried to control the worry in my voice as I asked, “Is Avril safe?”

“Yes, Alpha, but-”

“Then I trust you’ll make sure it stays that way until I return,” I interrupted.

If I listened any longer, I might lose my resolve. All that mattered was knowing Avril was safe. Any extra details could cloud my focus, and if I was going to redeem myself and protect my new family, I couldn’t afford that.

After a moment of hesitation, Theo finally agreed. “Yes, Alpha.” He paused, then added, “Stay safe, and hurry back.”

“I will,” I reassured him before ending the call.

Once the shock wore off, I paused to carefully plan my next steps.

First, I needed to clear the awkwardness between Nerine and me.

I wouldn’t get far in my investigation if she suspected that whatever spell she had me under wasn’t working.

As disgusting as it was to even pretend I harbored romantic feelings for her, not playing the part could put my very life in danger.

Secondly, I needed to find other clues to solve this mystery. Pressing Nerine for information would be easier, but also risky. Too risky. She had to believe I trusted her, and asking too many questions might raise suspicion. Thankfully, I had an ace up my sleeve.

When I first started training with Theo and Elijah, they explained the special skills Ashen Wolves possessed - including the ability to glimpse fragments of the past by touching an object.

At Crystal Pond, I was surrounded by items that carried pieces of Nerine’s story.

Her essence lingered in every corner of the packhouse, the walls silent witnesses to her every whisper.

As long as I chose the right targets, I was sure I could uncover something useful.

The only problem was, I had never actually used that ability.

In my short time as an Ashen Wolf, I had barely tapped into my powers, and the ones I had mastered were more suited to camouflage.

Still, since I had learned to become one with the shadows, I could only hope this skill would come just as naturally.

Either way, I’d find out soon enough.

After a moment of mental preparation, I got dressed and headed downstairs in search of Nerine.

As I walked, I analyzed the decorations lining the halls, scanning for anything that might hold enough significance to reveal glimpses of the past. Nothing in particular stood out, but eventually, I found my ex-wife outside, playing with our pup.

The second Elias noticed me, he beamed and rushed into my arms. I lowered myself to greet him with a hug, but for the first time since diving headfirst into this mess, I couldn’t fully enjoy the warmth of his love.

Questions crept into my mind, leaving me hesitant and cautious.

Still, I smiled as though nothing was wrong.

Nerine shot me a sheepish look, studying me. She was clearly searching for any signs of our last conversations affecting me, wondering if something had changed in my behavior.

It was time to put on my best act.

“I’m so happy you decided to stay longer, Daddy,” Elias said, unburying his face from my chest.

I ruffled his hair. “Now that I’ve found you, I can’t stay away from you anymore.” Sucking in a shallow breath, I steadied my voice to make my lie more convincing as I added, “Or your mom.”

On cue, Nerine gasped. I made sure to hold her gaze, locking eyes with her, making her believe in me.

In the end, she glanced away, her cheeks flushing red.

The corner of her lips curled as she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

Although my heart pounded, my mind spat every curse word I could think of at her.

I would turn the tables - she would be the one caught in my web.

Just then, I delivered my last line, “We’re a family, all three of us. I don’t ever want to break us apart.”

In every line on Nerine’s face, I watched her soften with appreciation, her eyes lighting up with a quiet glow as she absorbed my words.

However, behind the expected signs of affection from a loving comment like mine, I could see something darker.

It was subtle, yet unmistakable the way her lips curled maliciously, as if savoring a victory.

Though it was exactly what I needed her to believe, the sight of it made my blood boil.

Remembering to stay calm, I forced myself to sit beside her.

I could feel her relax, the hesitation from earlier fading with each word we exchanged.

As we spoke, I let my fingers brush against her hand - seemingly by accident at first, but gradually becoming more deliberate, making her believe I wanted to touch her.

Half an hour later, she called Elias. “Baby, let’s go inside. Mommy has to work.”

The pup pouted. “But I wanna play a little longer, Mommy!”

“It’s okay,” I promptly chimed in, smiling at her. “I’ll stay with him.” I told myself it would be easier to play detective in her absence, but truth was, I couldn’t stand to stay next to her a second longer.

She nodded, thanking me before leaving. As soon as she did, I sat on the grass beside Elias. “Can I play with you, buddy?”

“Of course, Dad!” Elias agreed cheerfully. An instant later, he grimaced at the toy in his hand. “But I only have one dinosaur. Do you want to do something else?”

“Sure. What do you want to do?”

“Hmm.” He was thoughtful for a moment before his face lit up with an idea. “Oh, I know! Can I ride your wolf, Daddy? Mommy sometimes lets me ride hers. She’s very pretty.” He paused, eyes wide with curiosity. “What does your wolf look like? I bet he’s super cool and strong since you’re an alpha!”

His suggestion made me stiffen. The thought of freeing Columbus at Crystal Pond didn’t sit well with me.

I had brought a couple of potions to mask his altered appearance in case I absolutely needed to shift, having just taken the last one this morning, but it wasn’t something I should risk doing casually.

However, shifting would also give me access to my Ashen Wolf powers.

Suddenly, an idea bloomed. Who better to inform me about what Nerine had been up to during the years we were apart than her own son? If Elias could show me the past, perhaps I could uncover everything I needed right here and now.

“Let’s do it,” Col decided.

With a smile, I replied, “Alright, bud. I’ll let my wolf out so you can see him for yourself. Then, we can go for a quick ride.”

“Yay!” the pup cheered, his eyes glistening with anticipation.

Rising to my feet, I took a few steps back. After putting a safe distance between us, I allowed my counterpart to come forth. In a matter of seconds, he was standing on four paws while an awestruck Elias stared at him.

“Wow! Your wolf is even more amazing than Mom’s! And he’s huge! Just like a real dinosaur!” Elias chanted, wobbling toward my massive beast.

Col lowered himself, allowing our pup better access as he surrounded and pet us, running his tiny fingers through our fur. When he was done, he stopped in front of us, stretching his hand to our muzzle.

That was our chance.

As my wolf closed his eyes, we gathered our focus.

I summoned the shadows within me, channeling my power.

Clearing my mind, I concentrated solely on my goal: a deep desire to connect with Elias and his memories.

When we were ready, Col leaned forward until the tip of his wet nose made contact with our little boy’s palm.

And as soon as I touched him, reality warped around me.