"Alastair, you know that any human you choose from that building would just be a lure. It's hard to believe Caris wouldn't comprehend the significance of this child beyond satisfying her hunger. Are you prepared to take that risk for her sake?" I asked, my voice tinged with urgency as I stepped closer to Toran, fighting the urge to grab his shirt. "Yes! I am willing to risk a human's life!" I declared, desperation creeping into my words. "Whether it's a child or a newborn, if it means bringing Caris back to us. If...if even for a fleeting moment, the baby can provide clarity for her and give me the chance to reason with her, I'll do whatever it takes." Only when I voiced my thoughts did I fully grasp the depth of my determination. It was a harsh plan, but desperation had pushed me to such lengths. Valene, an infant when she was adopted by Alastair Wade, the Alpha of Shadow Veil, from the Caring Arms Orphanage, had her life predetermined. As a Golden Blood and a Vassal to the late Alpha and his daughter Harlyn, she found solace in serving them. But everything changed when Ares Barbosa and his pack arrived at Shadow Veil. For Valene and those she held dear, the consequences were unimaginable, challenging the very fabric of their lives at nearly nineteen years old.
