Farewell, Alpha

I bought my mother's favorite white lilies, preparing to visit her grave one last time. I was dying, and I needed to tell her I wouldn't be coming anymore.

But before that, I went to Silvercrown Tower to retrieve something.

Before my mother passed away, she had visited a Moon Singer and commissioned two carved obsidian wolf totems. They were soul anchors. One was engraved with Silas's birth rune, and the other with mine.

They were meant to protect us, ensuring our souls would always be able to find each other.

Silas refused to take the one with his rune, and instead took mine. He said the little wolf figurine looked exactly like me—stubborn and a little clumsy. He kept it on the massive oak desk in his office.

I was terrified that after I died, Silas would throw it away like garbage. It was a gift from my mother. I had to take it back and have it buried with me.

When I walked into his office, Silas was watching the video of my nosebleed from that morning. Seeing me, he tossed his phone aside, his expression unreadable. He didn't ask how I was feeling.

I glanced at his desk. The spot where my obsidian totem usually sat was empty.

I frowned. "Where is my totem?"