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Chapter 356
~Zara’s POV~
My mind raced, pieces of the puzzle clicking together. "So they attacked our pack to get to me because dad wouldn’t let them. Sigh."
My mother nodded, her face shadowed with pain. "Yes. You were only five at the time. We thought you were safe, but they infiltrated our pack during a party. They poisoned half of the pack, killing many outright, and the Thorned Crescent attacked the rest."
My heart sank. I could barely remember that night—flashes of chaos, screams, and fire. But now the memory sharpened like a blade.
"They planned to wipe out the Golden Claw Pack entirely," my mother said, her voice trembling. "Not just because we were the strongest pack, but because you were the heir. The last true link to the kingdom. If they could eliminate us, no one would stand in their way."
Tears stung my eyes. "What happened to Dad?"
Her face crumpled, and for a moment, she looked away. When she met my gaze again, her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. "He died fighting to protect you. He faced them head-on, knowing it was a losing battle. But he bought us enough time to escape, Zade and I but we lost you in the process..."
I sucked in a shaky breath, my heart breaking for the father I barely remembered. "And that was when the Beta’s wife stole me from the massacre."
"Well, you know what happened from there. Her escape cause her death and you ended up with the Zarelks."
I felt a lump rise in my throat. "With Liam Zarek raising you as his own, he kept your true identity hidden. For years, Thorned Crescent believed you were dead. But now..."
"Now they know I’m alive," I finished for her, my voice hardening.
"Yes," she said. "And their plans are back on track. They want to harness your powers, to corrupt them with dark magic. With your abilities, they could dominate the werewolf packs and restore the kingdom—but under their cruel, tyrannical rule."
My fists clenched. "They won’t get that chance."
My mother’s expression softened with pride, but there was still a shadow of worry in her eyes. "Zara, you have the heart of a warrior, just like your father. But this fight won’t be easy. You’re not just facing Thorned Crescent or Shadow Clave—you’re facing a force that’s been growing in the shadows for decades."
"Then I’ll train," I said firmly. "Teach me how to unlock my powers, how to control them. I’m not letting them win, Mother."
She reached across the desk, taking my hands in hers. "I’ll teach you everything I know. But first, we’ll need to break the seal your grandmother placed on your powers. It will be dangerous, Zara. Are you ready for that?"
I met her gaze without hesitation. "I’m ready."
"Good," she said, standing. "Then let’s begin. Because time is running out, and they won’t stop until they have you."
As I followed her out of the office, my resolve hardened. My enemies had taken so much from me—my father, my pack, my childhood.
But they wouldn’t take my future.
"One question," Mum stated as she came to a halt. "How did you defeat them when they came in your dreams?"
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