Chapter 22 Better Blood Than Silence Three days have passed since the Midnight Howl , and already , I can feel the difference . Finished The Queen's Wing is no longer silent . More pack members have moved here . Children's laughter fills the halls where dust used to sleep . The air smells of soap , jasmine , honey , and something that almost feels like home . I sit cross - legged on the carpet , a doll in each hand . Ivy giggles sleepily in my lap , clutching another in her tiny fingers . Across the room , Finn runs in circles , flying his wooden wolf through the air . A croak startles me - Rowan's raven perches on the edge of my desk . Its feathers shimmer darkly in the light . Finn chases it , laughing , but the bird only hops higher , smug and untouchable . Then I hear footsteps . The herald's voice follows . " Alpha Kade Thorne ." My smile fades . I expect Izel to be trailing behind him . Maybe the Queen's Wing itself would cast her out - the wards on these walls are old and loyal - but when Kade steps through the doorway , he's alone . For a moment , he just stands there . His gaze finds Ivy first , and something in his face softens . Then he looks at Finn , who freezes mid - run . " Papa ! " Finn bursts forward . Kade catches him easily , lifting him off the ground . A laugh escapes his throat , rough and surprised , like he hasn't used it in years . My chest tightens . I turn away , stroking Ivy's hair . The sound of his laughter used to make me happy . Now it just hurts . When Finn wriggles free and races out into the hall , Kade lets him go . The nurse follows , and the door closes behind them , leaving only Ivy sleeping in my lap . " They're calmer with you , " Kade says . I look up sharply . " They're my children . " He nods once , jaw tightening . " I know . I just meant ... they seem at peace here ." " They're at peace because no one's feeding them fear ." I keep my tone even . " They laugh because she isn't here . " 1/3 21:36 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 22 Better Blood Than Silence Kade exhales . " Freya - don't start ." " You came here , " I remind him . " So say what you came to say ." ( 15 Finished He takes a few steps closer , his boots clicking against the marble floor . " I wanted to see them . That's all . " " You've seen them ." I brush Ivy's curls back from her forehead . " If you've come to punish me for the Midnight Howl , then do it quickly . " His gaze flicks to mine . " I'm not here to punish you . " " Could've fooled me . " He crosses his arms . " You disobeyed me , Freya . You called the wolves to howl without the Alpha's consent . " " You lost that right the day you let another woman rule my house . " His expression hardens . " Izel has no hold over me ." " She has every hold . Even now , you defend her ." " Because this fighting helps no one , " he snaps . " The pack is tense enough . You want division in the pack ? You'll get blood . " I rise to my feet , careful not to wake Ivy . " Better blood than silence . " He stares at me , and for a moment , I see not the Alpha but the man who once loved me . His voice softens . " You think I don't know what I've done by betraying our marriage ? " " Then why keep doing it ? " He looks down , exhaling hard . " I don't know ." I almost laugh . " You're pathetic , Kade . I hate myself for ever loving me . " " Freya- " " Don't say my name like you still have the right to ." The silence that follows is painful . Only Ivy's breathing breaks it . Finally , he says , quieter , " I think I should apologise for what I did to you . You were weakened , and I - I got swayed ." I blink at him , startled by his disgusting honesty . " You think you should apologise ? What makes 2/3 21:36 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 22 Better Blood Than Silence you think you deserve my forgiveness ? " : " I'm your mate . We're bound by more than vows and actions and our children ," His voice cracks just slightly . Finished " Oh ," I say . " I thought you'd forgotten ." I glare at him . " So what now ? You're afraid the pack is siding with me , so you come to fix things and cast Izel aside like how you cast me aside ? " He closes the distance between us and touches my arm . The bond flows through , taking my breath with it . " That night on the full moon near the stream ... I felt something when Emris nuzzled Nyx ," he whispers , his gaze watching me intently . He swallows . " He howled helplessly , and he was struggling to guide me . I haven't - I haven't heard him very clearly for a long time , Freya . He was always veiled , obstructed in some way . I knew it was wrong . That I wasn't fully myself in my human form . I felt like a puppet , but since that night , and especially after the Midnight Howl , I can see things more ... clearly ." My heart races , and I find myself leaning into him . I wet my lips , gazing at that face - so familiar , so beautiful . Those piercing onyx eyes I loved admiring . Those thick brows I loved kissing . Now I hate it . I hate the control it has over me . I shrug him off and step back sharply . " You do not deserve my forgiveness , Kade . Nothing you say will change what you did to me . Nothing will take back every cruel thing you said to me . I will claim Silver Severance on the Blood Moon , and I will end our bond . That is what you deserve ." His lips part , his brows creasing in guilt . He gulps again and looks away , no longer having the strength to meet my eyes . Ivy stirs then , mumbling in her sleep . I walk to her and kneel , pulling a blanket over her small body . The movement breaks whatever fragile thread held us . I glance back at Kade . He's still standing there , frozen , like he has been handed a mirror and sees himself for what he truly is for the first time . His throat works again , but he doesn't argue . He just leaves . Send Gifts 。 3/3