The Alpha I Left, The Brother in-law I ChoseChapter 1
My Alpha mate, Razen Blackspire, killed our pup for a liver offering to save my own sister, Navielle, his first mate.
So I did the unthinkable. I bound myself to her mate, Keegan Thunderhowl, to take revenge.
Now, Razen wants me back, and Navielle wants me dead.
***
Nivella's POV
A cold numbness spread through me as I stood by the carved wooden door, listening to their voices echo inside the stone hall. The scent of wolf musk and moon incense lingered in the air.
“Razen, are you sure no one has sensed it?” Layton asked, his tone uneasy.
“No one,” Razen answered, his voice sharp and calm. “Nivella still believes Sven’s death came from a rogue pack ambush.”
My blood turned to ice.
Sven… My son…
“What about the healers?” Layton continued. “Are you sure they will stay silent?”
Razen let out a low scoff. “I gave them enough gold and bound them by oath. They will carry this secret to their graves. I am the heir of Blackspire. None would dare stand against me.”
Secret?
My heart slammed hard against my ribs.
What secret?
“You took your own son’s life for a liver offering,” Layton said, his voice dropping in disbelief. “For Navielle.”
The world tilted. My breath caught painfully in my throat.
No no no…
I heard that wrong!
Sven… dead… because of a ritual? For Navielle? My own sister?
“You think I wished for this?” Razen growled. “I had no other path! Navielle was dying, and Sven was a perfect match. One life for another. Her life is worth far more.”
His words pierced deep into my chest. I clutched at my heart, struggling to stay upright as I staggered back.
My son…. my Sven…
He had not died to rogues like Razen told me. He had been taken… sacrificed by his own father.
“Razen,” Layton said, his voice shaking. “Sven was only a pup.”
“And Navielle is my future Luna,” Razen snapped. “Sven was weak, sickly. He would not survive long in this world. I did what had to be done for the pack.”
“There were others who could match her if you waited even one more night,” Layton argued.
“That risk was not worth taking,” Razen said firmly. “Navielle is everything to me.”
Tears slid down my face as I forced myself to stay silent. Every word he spoke tore something inside me apart. I couldn’t believe this was my mate, the man who once swore under the moon to protect me.