The blade of betrayal cut deeper when it came from someone you trusted. And tonight, that blade was pointed straight at my heart.
"Why?" My voice cracked as I stared at the traitor standing before me, a ring glinting in their palm—the Alpha's ring. A thousand memories flashed in my mind, the fragments of trust we had built now shattered at my feet.
Their smirk was a knife twisting in my gut. "Why not?" they replied, each word dripping with venomous calm. "Your family's massacre… it wasn't random, you know."
My breath hitched. "What are you talking about?"
"Your Alpha," they said, stepping closer, their voice turning almost tender, "he knew. He always knew."
It felt like the ground beneath me gave way. The words slammed into me with the force of a charging wolf.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "You're lying."
They chuckled, dark and low. "Am I? Think about it. Blackwood didn't act alone that night. How do you think they knew where to strike?"
My fists clenched as fury and doubt battled within me. "Stop."
"Face it, Luna," they spat the title like a curse. "The Alpha isn't your savior. He's your executioner in disguise."
I lashed out before I could stop myself, shoving them hard against the stone wall. "Shut up!"
Their laugh echoed in the narrow chamber, cold and cruel. "Touch a nerve, did I? You should thank me. At least now, you know the truth."
The truth? My mind spun, torn between the conviction in their voice and the Alpha's unwavering loyalty.
"I'll expose you," I growled, my nails biting into my palms. "You'll pay for betraying the pack."
Their grin widened. "Expose me? And what then? What happens when they start asking questions about your family? About why Blackwood wanted them dead in the first place?"
I froze.
"That's right," they whispered, leaning close. "You're not the innocent victim you pretend to be. And neither is your precious Alpha."
Before I could react, they slipped past me, vanishing into the darkness of the hidden passage. My hands trembled as I stared at the ring they'd left behind, its gold band heavy with implications I couldn't yet face.
The fortress loomed over me as I returned, its cold stone walls now feeling more like a prison than a sanctuary. The Alpha was waiting in the study, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"Did you find anything?" he asked, his tone curt.
My throat tightened as I debated what to say. "Nothing… yet," I lied, my voice barely steady.
His eyes narrowed, the tension between us thickening like a storm cloud. "You're hiding something."
"Are you accusing me now?" I shot back, my words sharper than I intended.
His jaw tightened. "I'm trying to protect this pack. If you know something, you need to tell me."
The weight of his gaze was unbearable, but I couldn't bring myself to meet it. "I need time," I said, stepping past him. "You'll just have to trust me."
Later that night, trust became a fragile thread I wasn't sure would hold. As I stood on the fortress balcony, the cool wind biting at my skin, I replayed the traitor's words in my mind.
The Alpha's voice startled me from my thoughts. "You're distant."
I turned to find him standing there, his expression softer than before. "I'm tired," I said, avoiding his gaze.
He stepped closer, the space between us charged with unspoken tension. "I need you with me in this."
"And if I can't be?" I whispered.
His hand reached for mine, his touch hesitant but warm. "You can."
For a moment, the world felt still. But just as quickly, the silence was broken by a howl in the distance—Blackwood.
The attack came swift and brutal. Shadowed figures leapt from the treeline, their claws glinting under the moonlight. The Alpha and I fought side by side, our movements in perfect sync despite the growing chasm between us.
When the last Blackwood wolf fell, the Alpha turned to me, his chest heaving, his eyes blazing with determination. "This ends now."
"Wait—" I began, but he was already issuing orders to the guards.
As the pack prepared for war, I retreated to my room, my heart heavy with secrets I couldn't yet share.
That's when I found the letter.
Tucked beneath my father's old journal, its seal cracked with age. My fingers trembled as I unfolded the parchment, the words inside unraveling everything I thought I knew.
The mate bond isn't what it seems. Beware the price of destiny.
A single tear slid down my cheek as I stared at the cryptic message, my mind racing.
The Alpha's footsteps echoed in the corridor, drawing closer. I hid the letter just as the door opened, his presence filling the room.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
I forced a smile, even as my world crumbled. "Nothing," I lied again.
But the truth? The truth was a storm waiting to break.