Page 34 of Framed and Forgotten (Ashen Wolves #3)

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K O E N

After digging up the skeletons buried deep in my family’s closet, I rushed back to Azure Smoke, knowing I had little time left to prepare for the confrontation with my scheming ex-wife.

The sky had already faded to black by the time I crossed the magical borders. More than anything, I wanted to spend one last, quiet night with Avril before heading to Crystal Pond for the final time, but I had loose ends to tie up first.

As soon as I stopped the car, I mindlinked Theo, asking him to meet me at my old cottage.

When he arrived, I started by telling him the dark secrets I had discovered back at my former home.

Like me, he was stunned. For Ashen Wolves, family was everything.

He couldn’t fathom how my father had been capable of turning his back on his own son - let alone erasing almost every trace that he’d ever existed.

“Now that you’re sure the man you saw talking to Nerine was your brother…” Theo began once the shock had settled. “What do you think they’re up to?”

“I wish I knew,” I admitted, frustrated. “But I have a theory.”

Theo raised a curious brow, clearly waiting for me to elaborate. I shook my head. “I’ll tell you when - if - I’m sure I’m right.” As he nodded, I seized the chance to ask, “Did you manage to find anything…suspicious on Nerine?”

“I didn’t,” he said, and for a moment, I thought he wasn’t nearly as disappointed to admit it as I was to hear it. Until he smiled proudly as he added, “But Elijah did.”

I lifted my gaze, watching closely as he picked up his phone to show me something. Even as I narrowed my eyes, I initially struggled to spot what was so peculiar about the picture. Then I saw it - far in the background, slightly out of focus, stood a familiar figure.

Nerine.

Still, I couldn’t quite make sense of what I was looking at. Why should this blurry picture of Nerine mean anything to me? Where was this even taken? Judging by the massive building in the center and the crowd surrounding it, I assumed it was inside a pack - but which one?

Before I could voice any of my questions, Theo proceeded to answer them, “This is a traditional festival that takes place every five years at Golden Valley,” he explained. “And as you can see, Nerine was there for the last one, two years ago.”

“What was she even doing there?” I couldn’t help but ask as Theo slid his phone back into his front pocket. “Crystal Pond and Golden Valley aren’t allies.”

“Yeah, we thought that was pretty weird too. But it gets even weirder.” He paused, clearly enjoying the buildup. “Her name was on the guest list, but nobody else from her family made the cut. It was just her. She was the sole representative of Crystal Pond.”

“Why?” I whispered, more to myself than to him, averting my gaze as I retreated into my thoughts, searching for answers. After a few minutes of coming up empty, I gave up. I’d just have to add that to the growing list of questions I’d save for when I was face to face with my ex-wife again.

In the end, I shrugged, resigned to the only conclusion I could come to. “Well, if she’s involved with Golden Valley, that certainly explains how she knows about the Ashen Wolves,” I pointed out.

Theo’s counter came with a hint of concern.

“And it makes direct confrontation more dangerous.” It wasn’t until I turned to him again that I realized how serious he was.

Even if I hadn’t, he made it clear by putting it into words.

“You wanna go back and expose her, but without knowing how deeply connected she is with Golden Valley, it could turn into a risky mission.”

I pursed my lips, looking away as I muttered, “I still have to do it, Theo.”

To my surprise, Theo placed both hands on my shoulders, lowering his head to meet my gaze as he pleaded, “Don’t go. If you still care for Avril-”

His words hit a nerve, and I cut him off, defensive. “That’s exactly why I have to do this!” I barked, taking a deep breath before adding, “For Avril. For her safety. For Azure Smoke’s safety.”

Theo’s expression twisted, evidence he didn’t agree. “Koen, if you’re captured there - or worse…” he dreaded, closing his eyes. His voice was low, fearful as he concluded, “Avril…she would lose her mind.”

Like a trigger, his statement tore down the dam I had built to keep my emotions locked up instead of flowing all over the place. I couldn’t bear the idea of causing Avril any more pain than I already had. But if there was anything I could do to protect her, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Determined, I replied with a heavy heart, “Then I guess it’s a good thing she can’t remember what she used to feel for me.”

“Koen-” he tried, but I stopped him again.

“Thank you for your help, Theo,” I said wholeheartedly. “After all I’ve done, I don’t deserve it,” I acknowledged, sighing. Then, I glanced at him one last time, “When I’m done with Nerine, I hope you will grant me your forgiveness.”

Worry never left his features as he countered, “Just make sure to come back to collect it.”

After nodding hesitantly, he reluctantly left.

I took a moment to reflect on our conversation before moving on to the other tasks I had to complete before I could finally enjoy my night with Avril.

Firstly, I set off to Vereya’s hut to fetch a dose of the magical potion that helped mask my wolf’s changed appearance.

While I hoped I wouldn’t have to shift, I wanted to ensure no one could identify me as an Ashen Wolf in case I had to.

When I was back, I sat down to carefully plan everything I would say and do.

The amount of information I would get out of this depended on asking the right questions and using the most persuasive methods.

I also had to prepare for every scenario I could face when I was out at Crystal Pond, including the possibility Nerine might have already figured me out.

Once I had a thoroughly analyzed, well-crafted plan, I grabbed my phone to set it in motion.

Step one was sending my ex-wife a text falsely informing her that I had broken it off with Avril.

I would ask her to meet me on Whispering Hills - neutral grounds, far from witnesses or allies she could hide behind.

After reading what I had typed twice, I finally hit send and took a moment to reflect on what I’d have to do tomorrow.

Though I would’ve preferred a few more days to plan more carefully and learn more about the people I was dealing with, I had to work with what I had.

I was counting on catching Nerine off guard, and if I wanted to succeed, I couldn’t afford to wait another minute.

By dawn, I’d be off.

A V R I L

When Koen approached me late at night with that same forced smile, I pitied him. His heart was clearly breaking, yet he pushed through the pain, pretending everything was fine. Pretending it didn’t crush his spirit to know I felt nothing for him.

Deep down, it hurt me, too.

I didn’t know why. With the memory of our epic love story erased from my mind, I shouldn’t feel anything for him - aside from the pull of our tainted bond.

If anything, I should be angry at him for ruining everything by abandoning me.

Still, as I watched him try so hard to pick up the broken pieces slipping through his fingers, part of me couldn’t help but hope he’d succeed.

We spent the night together by the waterfall again.

Much like the night before, our time was filled mostly with silence.

Comfortable, peaceful silence. I watched him relax as the minutes passed, my simple presence seeming to calm him.

Though I still struggled to trust him, it truly felt as if he held me in high regard, like I was just as important - if not more - than the air he breathed.

Lying on the grass beside him, I eventually drifted off to the sound of cascading water.

I only stirred when I heard the grass rustle close to my ear.

It must’ve still been dark since there was no light bothering my eyes, but I refused to open them to confirm.

I knew it had to be Koen, waking up to follow through with his plan - and if I wanted mine to work, I had to make him believe I was still asleep.

Even with my eyes closed, I could feel his gaze lingering on me, his hesitation filling the stillness between us. Eventually, he paced away. I waited until the sound of his footsteps faded before carefully rising as well, and I prepared to follow him.

It was a long journey back to Whispering Hills, especially when traveling on four paws instead of four wheels.

Even for me, taking the long route through the forests instead of the highway was a test of resistance.

As if making the journey wasn’t challenging enough, I also had to keep up my speed, taking no breaks at all, or else I’d risk arriving too late.

By the time I reached the outskirts of Whispering Hills’ wastelands, the burning in my muscles was so intense, even my bones were aching.

Kea was panting heavily when I asked her to retreat, and standing on my human legs was no easy feat.

Still, I pushed the searing discomfort away to search for Koen, afraid I might not have made it in time.

But as I drew closer to the heart of the territory, sneaking behind ruins of destroyed houses, I finally heard voices.

All I had to do was follow them to catch the pair by the pack house.

Considering a triumphant smile was still plastered on the blonde bitch’s face, Koen must not have shattered her fucked up fantasies yet.

I made it just in time.

“What is it you wanted to show me, Koen?” Nerine asked excitedly, big eyes glistening with anticipation.

She was so deep in her delusions, she didn’t seem to notice Koen’s serious expression.

There was nothing romantic - or remotely positive - about the way he held himself before her, keeping a safe distance, as if the very idea of sharing the same air disgusted him.

Even if she couldn’t see it, he didn’t hesitate to break the news.

“I know the truth, Nerine,” he said without hesitation.

Her lips twitched, her grin beginning to fade. “What?”

“The love potions,” he promptly accused, his calm slowly evaporating. “Your sick plan to poison me so I would reject Avril and pick you instead.”

It was bizarrely entertaining to watch reality hit her hard in the face. Still, she played dumb, a gagged chuckle pushing through her lips. “W-what?”

Koen took a step toward her, out of patience for her and her games. “Everything was just some twisted scheme to make me fall for you, wasn’t it?” He paused, his resolve wavering as he hesitated to ask, “Elias isn’t even mine, is he?”

Nerine’s mask slipped, and her eyes widened. “How can you say that?” she cried, feigning hurt, her arms flailing as she lost her composure. “You saw the results! You…you feel the bond you share with Elias! He’s your son! Our son!”

Koen pressed his lips together, hiding part of the pain he felt.

“You’re right,” he said, pausing thoughtfully before continuing.

“What sold it to me was the paternity test. It didn’t appear to have been tampered with.

Elias’s DNA is a match to mine.” He paused, gaze darkening.

“Or… to someone with DNA practically identical to mine.”

Horror washed over her face as she froze. For the first time, she recognized he really had figured it all out. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about-”

Koen lowered his head, releasing a bitter, humorless laugh.

“While the family bond was there from the beginning, it was never that intense. Not as intense as a bond between father and son should be,” he revealed.

“At first, I blamed it on how long we’d been apart.

It should be normal to feel a little distant from him, right?

But then, I realized… Maybe it wasn’t as strong as it should’ve been because I wasn’t really his father - but his uncle. ”

Goddess, this whole story was just insane. Simply listening to everything this psycho bitch had orchestrated to lure him in made me nauseous. I couldn’t really blame him for falling into her trap.

But I did enjoy witnessing her fall from grace.

It was like watching a castle crumble from the inside out.

Every lie Nerine had built her reality upon was turning to ash.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Even without comprehending exactly the damage she’d done to my relationship with my mate, I wanted to see her fall.

So when footsteps whispered too close and a breath ghosted just behind my ear, I reacted a second too late.

“Look what we’ve got here,” came a voice I knew too well, though the pitch was slightly off.

My head snapped around to find Koen standing right behind me. Only it couldn’t be him. How could he possibly have gotten here this quick when he was just talking to Nerine?

My breath caught, my body stiffening as I sensed that something was wrong. Yes, it was his face, and those were his eyes. But that malicious smirk… This wasn’t my mate.

I blinked, and that was all it took.

The stranger plunged a needle into my neck, piercing my skin before I could even register it.

Pain ignited in my veins instantly, making me feel as if my insides were boiling.

I couldn’t stop the scream that tore from my throat.

As adrenaline surged, instinct took over, and I let Kea loose without a thought for the consequences.

She burst forth in a flash, seizing control and exposing our true nature to someone we didn’t yet know was a dangerous enemy.

My vision blurred, the world tilting as the drug overwhelmed me.

My head throbbed with every heartbeat, the ground swaying beneath me.

Maybe if I hadn’t already burned through my strength just getting here, I would’ve had something left to fight with.

Unfortunately, all Kea managed was one staggering leap before our legs gave out.

We crashed to the ground, coiling as the poison surged through us like liquid fire.

Darkness gripped me, no matter how hard I tried to fight it. I could no longer see, my senses quickly shutting off quickly, my limbs growing numb as the effects of the wolfsbane kicked in. I could barely hear him as his voice slithered through the haze like venom.

“The alpha of Golden Valley will be very pleased when I bring you to him, Ashen Wolf.”