

Title: Truth and Consequences
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #0.12
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Free online short story
Publisher: Kelley Armstrong website
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: “My hotel is listed on the cover,” Carter said.

Here I first created the character of Elena. If you’ve read Bitten, you may recognize some aspects of the story, which were briefly recounted there. The events were the impetus (or excuse) for Elena deciding to leave the Pack–a resolve which she must break at the start of Bitten.

On a theoretical level, the idea of removing all threats to Elena’s family and wolf pack makes complete sense. However, how this actually occurs and the impact that it has upon Elena’s psyche are completely at odds with the rationale which the Pack makes to justify these actions. In Savage, Jeremy is forced to cross this line, and now it is Elena’s turn and the consequences for this had a ginormous snowball effect.
Truth and Consequences is one of the most well-named short stories in the Women of the Otherworld series. There are always consequences for telling the truth – sometimes it’s a good thing, you tell someone how you feel and they return the feelings. Sometimes the truth will set you free. However, other times, it is not such a positive thing – the truth can do serious harm, and both Elena and Carter are forced to face up to this unforgiving reality.
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