The Guardian's Unforgivable Debt

My parents burned to death in a silver dust trap.

My mate, Zachary, the Guardian of the Pack, refused to send help, all so he could be with his old flame.

My childhood sweetheart, Landon, the Healer of the Pack, discovered the trap was man-made.

But he destroyed all the evidence.

All to protect the true murderer.

When I questioned them like a madwoman, they pushed me aside, shielding Scarlett behind them.

The two men who had sworn to protect me with their lives pushed me into an even deeper hell at my most desperate hour.

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1

I stared at my parents' cold bodies, my eyes bloodshot.

"Zachary, you have to give me an explanation!"

Zachary handed me an official Pack report, his brow furrowed.

"'Accident due to Lunar Weakness.' The report's been signed. Their bloodline was declining, which is why they couldn't resist the silver dust. The Council of Elders was merciful enough not to charge your parents with contaminating Pack territory."

His voice was devoid of any warmth.

"With this report, no Pack member will dare to question it, and no consultant will take your appeal."

The moment he finished speaking, Scarlett peeked out from behind him, shaking her head frantically.

"It wasn't me, it really wasn't me..."

Her body trembled as she went limp, collapsing into Zachary's arms.

"Zachary, my... my bloodline... It hurts..."

Zachary immediately panicked, holding her tightly and soothing her with his scent. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Landon rushed over and tore away the silver-thread shroud covering my parents' bodies.

He spread the cloth in front of Scarlett. "Quick, let Scarlett sit down and rest."

In his haste, he didn't even notice that one of his feet had stepped on my father's hand.

A bitter smile touched my lips as I watched the sickening display.

I looked away, knelt, and gently wiped my father's sullied hand.

Zachary turned his head and roared at me:

"Willow, what the hell is wrong with you! You scared Scarlett so badly her bloodline-weakness is flaring up!"

"Scarlett was with me the entire time your parents had their accident. It couldn't have been her! Now you've scared her sick, so you need to apologize!"

He spoke with such self-righteousness, as if I were the sinner.

I pointed at Scarlett, my voice choked with sobs.

"So, to be with her, you ignored dozens of my parents' pleas for help and let them burn to death in a silver dust trap?"

Scarlett, dragging her weak body, dropped to her knees with a thud.

"I'm sorry, Willow. Zachary just wanted to take me out for once. It's all my fault."

Landon helped Scarlett up from the floor, his voice full of heartache. "Willow, you've gone too far!"

"What happened to your parents was a complete accident. Why are you forcing an innocent, sick person to kneel to you?"

Scarlett coughed weakly a few times, shaking her head.

"I'm so weak, and the Pack assessment is in a few days. I haven't even been able to practice the bloodline fusion ritual. I don't think I can stay."

"I'll leave, then. I don't want to come between you and Willow."

Zachary wrapped his arm around Scarlett, glaring at me. "If anything happens to Scarlett, I will make you pay!"

Pay?

I looked at my parents, their faces ravaged by silver dust. Hadn't I already paid a grim enough price?

Zachary's face was full of impatience.

"Since your parents' death is a fact, let them serve one final purpose. Scarlett's bloodline has always been weak. Landon says we can try an ancient ritual to extract the untainted bloodline essence from your parents' remains and fuse it with hers. It might save her life."

"I won't allow it!" I gritted out. "My parents have already been burned to this state. Why can't you just leave them in peace!"

A flicker of greed crossed Scarlett's eyes as she pointed to my parents' bodies. "Thank you, Zachary. We only need to extract their remaining bloodline essence. To be able to 'live on' inside my body will be an honor for them."

"It's an honor for your parents to be of use to Scarlett. In the future, she'll be a Healer who benefits the entire Pack."

"Don't forget, I am your mate. I have the authority to dispose of your parents' remains."

His face cold, Zachary used his authority as my mate to sign the body donation agreement.

"No! Don't!"

I tried to lunge forward to stop it, but Zachary's Pack guards twisted my arms behind my back, pinning me to the ground.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

My face was pressed into the cold dust. I sobbed, my body trembling, helpless as an abandoned stray.

A flicker of emotion, almost imperceptible, crossed Zachary's eyes. He squatted down, reaching out as if to wipe the dirt from my face.

"Willow, be good. Stop making a scene."

His fingertips carried his scent, once my most cherished sanctuary, but now it only made me want to vomit.

"If Scarlett's parents hadn't funded us with their bloodline essence back then, who knows what wilderness we'd be struggling in now."

"They are our bloodline benefactors. Scarlett is their daughter. We can't just abandon her."

I gave a hollow laugh. "Are you sure it was Scarlett's parents who funded you with their bloodline essence?"