Chapter 26 The Red Legacy

• Sitting in the dim light of my chambers, I couldn’t escape the thoughts that had plagued me since that awful duel with Astrid. Accepting her challenge had been a terrible mistake; revealing my Lycan form in front of everyone had been even worse. Now, it seemed my every action had consequences, rippling out far beyond what I’d intended. I thought about Alpha Cedric’s warnings and how he’d tried to protect me, telling me to tread carefully, not to let my emotions rule me. And yet, one bitter taunt from Astrid had been enough to send me into a blind rage.
• My hands trembled, and I wrapped them tightly around myself, trying to stave off the creeping chill of regret. Somewhere deep down, Astrid’s words had wormed their way into my mind, infecting me with self-doubt. Could it be that she was right? That my mother’s death, my struggles, all the pain—had it all been because of me?
• Grey and Blue had insisted I remain in my chambers for days, assuring me they’d handle the fallout. Lea, my loyal assistant, stayed close, tending to my needs and even tasting my meals before I ate, which unsettled me more than it comforted me. “Why are you doing that?” I asked her after the third time she sampled my soup, watching her closely.