The morning after the rogue attack, the pack was restless. The festival, meant to unite and uplift them, had instead ended in tension and suspicion. Selene could feel the unease hanging in the air like a heavy fog. Even Kael seemed more withdrawn, his usual sharp focus now clouded by something unspoken.
Damon, however, remained his usual self, leaning against a tree as the pack gathered near the den. "So," he said casually, "are we going to talk about the giant wolf-shaped elephant in the room, or should we keep pretending everything's fine?"
Kael shot him a warning look. "Now's not the time, Damon."
"Really? Because it seems like the perfect time," Damon said, his tone light but his gaze serious. "Someone's been feeding information to Magnus. There's no way he could've breached the perimeter otherwise."
A murmur rippled through the group, suspicion flickering in their eyes as they glanced at one another.
Selene's stomach twisted. "You think there's a traitor?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "It's possible."
"More like certain," Damon muttered.
Rylan, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward, his arms crossed. "You don't think it's one of us, do you?"
"Who else would it be?" Damon shot back. "Magnus knew exactly where to strike. Someone told him."
The pack bristled, and Selene could feel the tension rising.
"Enough," Kael said sharply, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "We don't know anything for sure yet. I'll deal with this, but until then, I expect everyone to focus on keeping the territory secure."
The pack reluctantly dispersed, though the unease lingered in the air.
---
Selene followed Kael as he retreated to a quieter part of the forest. She could see the strain in his expression, the way his shoulders remained tense even when they were alone.
"You don't really think one of them would betray you, do you?" she asked softly.
Kael hesitated, running a hand through his silver hair. "I don't want to believe it," he admitted. "But Damon's right—Magnus shouldn't have been able to get that close."
"Do you have any idea who it could be?"
Kael shook his head. "No. And that's the problem. If someone in the pack is working with Magnus, it's only a matter of time before they strike again."
Selene's chest tightened. She hated seeing Kael like this—so burdened, so unsure. "You'll figure it out," she said, her voice filled with quiet determination. "You always do."
His gaze softened as he looked at her. "I hope you're right."
---
The answer came sooner than either of them expected.
That night, as the pack gathered for a routine patrol briefing, a young wolf named Luka stumbled into the clearing, his face pale and his breathing labored.
"Luka," Kael said, stepping forward. "What happened?"
"They… they found me," Luka gasped, clutching his side. His shirt was torn, and blood seeped from a deep gash.
"Who found you?" Kael asked, his tone urgent.
"Magnus's wolves," Luka said, his voice trembling. "I was scouting near the southern border, and they ambushed me. Said they had a message for you."
Kael's expression darkened. "What message?"
Luka hesitated, his gaze flickering to Selene. "They know about her," he said finally. "Magnus knows she's your mate."
A ripple of shock went through the pack, and Selene felt the weight of their stares.
Damon stepped forward, his usual humor replaced by a rare seriousness. "How did they know that?"
Luka's face went pale. "I don't know. They just… knew."
Kael's blue eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the clearing was silent. Then, his gaze shifted to Rylan, who was standing near the edge of the group, his expression unreadable.
"Rylan," Kael said, his voice calm but cold. "Where were you during the attack last night?"
Rylan's eyes widened. "You think I had something to do with this?"
"I'm asking a question," Kael said evenly.
Rylan bristled, his fists clenching. "I was patrolling near the eastern border. Ask anyone—I was there all night."
"Then why did Luka's scent lead straight to your patrol zone?" Damon asked, his tone cutting.
Rylan's face darkened. "Are you accusing me of working with Magnus?"
"I'm not accusing anyone," Kael said, though his voice was laced with warning. "But if you have nothing to hide, you won't mind answering a few questions."
Rylan snarled, his muscles tensing. "You want to blame someone? Blame her!" He jabbed a finger at Selene. "None of this started until she showed up."
Selene flinched, her heart sinking as the pack's attention shifted to her.
"That's enough," Kael growled, stepping between them. "Selene has nothing to do with this."
"She's a liability," Rylan spat. "You're so busy protecting her that you're putting the rest of us at risk!"
Before Selene could respond, Kael's growl deepened, and he took a step toward Rylan. "If you have a problem with my decisions, you can take it up with me," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But you will not disrespect her. Do you understand?"
Rylan held his ground for a moment, his jaw tight, before finally backing down. "Fine," he muttered. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
Kael watched him go, his fists still clenched at his sides.
---
Later that night, Selene found Kael standing at the edge of the clearing, staring into the trees.
"Kael," she said softly, approaching him.
He turned, his expression weary. "I'm sorry about earlier. Rylan was out of line."
"You don't have to apologize for him," she said. "But… what if he's right?"
Kael frowned. "About what?"
"About me," she said, her voice trembling. "What if I'm putting the pack in danger just by being here?"
Kael stepped closer, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "Don't say that," he said firmly. "This isn't your fault, Selene. None of it."
"But—"
"No," he interrupted, his voice softening. "You're not a liability. You're my mate. And that means I'll do whatever it takes to protect you—no matter what anyone else thinks."
Selene's heart ached at the raw conviction in his voice. "I just don't want to be the reason you lose everything."
"You're not," he said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. "You're the reason I keep fighting."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of their bond heavy between them. Then Kael stepped back, his expression hardening once again.
"I'll handle Rylan," he said. "But I need you to stay close to Damon while I sort this out."
Selene nodded, though unease still lingered in her chest.
As Kael disappeared into the shadows, she couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get much worse.