Shattered and Saved (Ashen Wolves #2)

35

____________________

A V R I L

Koen’s unexpected transformation had upended our world, but as we navigated its challenges together, I found myself gradually shifting perspectives. The initial guilt had bloomed into a glimmer of potential. Uncertainty lingered, but so did a growing belief that we could turn this into something good. And as long as my mate was at peace with it, nothing else truly mattered.

After a magical bracelet was crafted for him, we returned to the training grounds, where I began teaching him how to harness the abilities he had just unlocked. Connecting with his powers wasn’t as effortless for him as it was for born Ashen Wolves, but I wasn’t concerned. Despite a rocky start, I knew Koen was a quick learner; he would adapt in no time.

When he finally mastered his abilities, he might even rival me in battle. I was impressed by how dark Koen’s coat was - darker than any of my top warriors, perhaps even as dark as my uncle’s. That depth of color signified immense magical power, remarkable for someone who had once been a regular wolf.

Yet, his newfound strength didn’t seem to consume him the way it did us. The longer we trained together, the more evident it became that, despite his transformed appearance, his heart remained unchanged. The realization was a profound relief, helping ease my worries.

I was only overwhelmed that it happened at a time when I already had my hands full.

While Koen was out, I couldn’t bring myself to focus on addressing the aftermath of slaying the Blood Rose Pack. The newly forged bond between us compelled me to stay by his side in the hospital, though I doubted I’d have acted differently even without marking him. My friends, though concerned, took it upon themselves to devise a damage control plan while I remained at the hospital.

In the evening, after my first training session with Koen, we gathered in my office with my team to review the progress they had made in my absence. Fortunately, I was surrounded by only the best. I offered a few suggestions, proposing minor adjustments that we would polish in the morning.

At first light, we returned to my office to continue our work, the ticking clock echoing louder in our minds with every passing second. This time, Koen stayed out of it. Despite his desire to be involved - especially now that my claim on him had elevated his status as my co-leader in the pack - I insisted he use every moment available to sharpen his newfound powers.

Surrounded by my friends, I sat at my desk, my mind focused. Once the refinements were solidified, I grabbed the quill to write a letter to the Elder Council. There was no hesitation in my actions, no second-guessing. What I worried about wasn’t my ability to deceive the Elder Council, but what would happen next.

The letter was straightforward, carefully crafted to maintain the illusion of fairness. According to our story, the attack was sparked by the unfair capture of one of our pack members. I wrote that I tried to give the surviving members of Blood Rose a chance to surrender. But, true to form, Alpha Brent had insisted they fight to the death, protecting him until the bitter end.

I painted it as a matter of principle - a young alpha’s pride and naivety had led his pack to destruction.

My lie was convincing. I explored Brent’s bad name, fully blaming the tragedy on his refusal to back down. It was a clean story, and I hoped it should be enough to pacify the Council.

I signed the letter simply as "the Alpha of Azure Smoke Pack." When it was sealed, I handed it to Theo. We agreed that he would take it to the lands of the fallen Whispering Hills, where it couldn’t be tracked back to us. Koen’s survival and relationship with us had already been revealed, so it made sense.

“I’ll make sure it gets to the right hands without sparking any suspicion,” my beta promised.

Rhea watched him for a moment before meeting my gaze. “You’re sure they’ll buy it?”

“They have to,” I replied, the confidence in my voice a sharp contrast to the nervous flutter in my chest. “We gave them the perfect story. They might ask questions, but we’ll be ready to answer them.”

Elijah nodded in agreement. “The Council will swallow it. They don’t have the time or the inclination to dig deeper into what’s happened. Not unless we give them a reason to.” Despite his conviction, he sighed, crossing his arms. “It’s a waiting game now.”

Rising from my seat, I reassured them, “We’ll deal with whatever they send our way. No surprises.”

“And if anything goes wrong, we’ll fix it. We always do.” Rhea added, her words marked with resolve.

Theo tucked the letter into his satchel, already stepping toward the door, with Elijah at his heels. “We’ll be back soon.”

I watched them leave, the weight of what was to come settling heavily in my chest. The letter was out of our hands now. We could only wait for the Council’s response. Although I felt slightly lighter now that our explanations were on the way, I knew one thing for sure:

This was far from over.

K O E N

I couldn’t say I was pleased with Avril’s decision to finalize the details regarding the attack situation without me. As her mate, I wanted to be with her, standing by her side as we faced whatever came next.

But I knew she was right. The pack had already been informed of my transformation. They felt the shift in me after Avril had marked me as her mate, and she was making sure they understood my new role. Helping her with paperwork wasn’t going to make me any stronger.

My transformation wasn’t just a physical one; it was a new chapter in my life, one where I would have to adapt quickly.

At first, the energy inside me felt foreign, almost wild. But I was determined to make it my own. Every movement, every gesture, felt like I was learning how to use a new limb. There was something thrilling about it - the sense of power, the way my instincts grew sharper than ever, urging me to push harder.

I tried to concentrate on one ability at a time. Avril had said it would be easier to perfect one skill before moving on to the next. Right now, I was focused on the most basic one - mastering my ability to camouflage with the shadows. I was so absorbed in it that I didn’t hear the footsteps until they grew louder.

When I glanced up to see Waylon, I was struck by a wave of mixed emotions. Tension hung in the air that crackled with the hostility between us. We were far from friends - more like rivals - though our last encounter had been different. I hadn’t talked to him since the mission where we fought together, which was why I hesitated, waiting to see what he would do.

His eyes locked with Col’s immediately, sharp with a mix of irritation and something else I couldn’t quite place. “What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, his voice blunt, clearly not expecting to see me anymore than I did him.

“What’s it look like? I’m training,” I replied through mindlink, not backing down. He was caught off guard hearing my voice in his head. This new bridge we shared through the bond of our species felt just as strange to me. While he was still startled, I barked back, “What are you doing here?”

Shaking off his surprise, Waylon scoffed, though I could see the underlying frustration in his eyes. “I was hoping to do the same,” he answered in a low, thoughtful tone, as if he didn’t want to share much.

I didn’t dwell in it though. “Well, the arena's big enough for the both of us.” My wolf shrugged. “Just stay out of my space, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

He shot me a hard look. I never got a verbal response from him, but the way he turned around and started throwing punches at a target suggested he agreed. With a huff, I tried to ignore him, focusing my attention back on my own training.

As Col closed his eyes, blocking outside stimuli, I concentrated on the new flame burning in my chest. When his eyelids blinked open again, we were surrounded by a thin cloud of smoke. This was the easy part - what was truly hard was moving with the shadows.

With each step, my wolf tried to be lighter, swifter. Our new eyes could see well in the darkness, and our charcoal coat blended with it. Yet, our body didn’t move quite as gracefully as the rest of the warriors. We weren’t light, fluid, or furtive.

“You’re doing it wrong.” The annoying voice sounded from the other side of the arena, making my wolf’s ears perk up as a frown crossed his face. “You’re trying too hard to control the shadows. Try moving with it instead. Become one with the element.”

I was stunned. Was Waylon really offering me advice? I searched for signs of mockery on his face, in his voice, yet I found none. His jaw was still clenched, and he didn’t look directly at me, but for once, I sensed no animosity emanating from him.

When Col cocked his head, both confused by the change in his demeanor and not fully comprehending his advice, he approached us. “Here, I’ll show you.”

The way he spoke, it wasn’t so much condescension anymore. He wasn’t offering this out of some sense of duty. He was helping because, for once, he recognized that we were on the same side.

As he let his own wolf out, we trained in silence, in what seemed like an unspoken truce. I followed his instructions, adapting to his style, letting him guide me through the motions. He showed me a few techniques, ways to center myself and focus on the power, letting it flow naturally through me rather than trying to grasp it with my paws.

After a few more rounds, Waylon stopped and turned to me, his expression less guarded. “Good. You get it now. All you have to do is keep it up when you move on to your other skills.”

Col gave him a curt nod, still unsure about his sudden kindness. We watched as Waylon shifted back into his human form, grabbing a robe. I thought he was leaving when he suddenly stopped with his back turned to me.

And what he said next left me utterly baffled.

“You know, I longed for Avril’s recognition more than I wanted her love,” he explained introspectively, his voice quieter, almost...vulnerable, as if he was both recognizing the truth himself as well as telling me.

“When a regular wolf - the mate who rejected her at that - suddenly stole the spotlight, I guess I got… jealous,” he went on, causing Col to raise his brows at the man’s raw honesty. Before I could process it, the warrior snapped his head toward us, glaring as he threatened, “But if you ever tell anyone that, I’ll rip your tongue out. I don’t care if you’re technically my alpha now.”

I couldn’t help but smirk. “As if you could,” I muttered as my wolf flashed him an unphased look. “But don’t worry. I won’t say a word,” I reassured him, making a brief pause before adding, “And thanks for the tips.”

He met my gaze with a steady look before giving me a slight nod. “I just paid back the debt I had with you. We’re even now.”

With that, he turned and walked off. It wasn’t an apology, and it certainly didn’t erase the tension between us, but it was as close as we’d get. As the sound of his departure faded, I felt a strange shift in the air - something that made it feel, for the first time, like we weren’t all that different anymore.

Seconds later, Avril stepped in, an askance look on her face. “I just ran into Waylon. It seemed like he was heading out from here?” I could understand the unspoken question behind her words.

Assuming my human form, I soothed her, “He was helping me, actually.”

She widened her eyes at my response, more confused than ever. “Oh.” As if digesting the revelation, she blinked a couple of times before brushing it off. “Okay, then.”

“How did the meeting go?” I asked, changing the subject.

“I’ll tell you while we practice some more,” she replied.

And with that, we returned to training, the recent uncertainties pushed aside for now.