You have been meeting with them, haven't you?"
Luca faced Damon in the middle of the pack house with strong voice and grey eyes blazing. The room became quiet, the tension evident as the gathering wolves turned to face the two of us.
Damon said defensively, "I don't know what you're talking about." But his stance was too controlled, too stiff, which caused my stomach to turn over.
Luca snarled and stepped forward, not lying to me. For weeks, we have been monitoring their movements; they always seem to know precisely where to strike us. I believe we both know who; someone has been providing them information.
Damon's jaw stiffened and his hands closed at his sides. "You claim me to be traitor?" Following all I have done for this pack?"
"You believe that loyalty eliminates doubt? Luca responded angrily.
"This is not about your background, Damon. About your present behavior, this is about
Watching the conflict play out, I stood on the sidelines and felt my heart hammer. Damon's eyes flicked to mine, and for a minute I saw something I couldn't quite place—fear, rage, guilt.
You actually believe I would turn on the pack? Damon remarked, his voice rising. "After all the wars I have waged and all the sacrifices I have made? You're suspicious, Luca.
"Am I? "Luca disagreed. Then explain why you were seen close to the eastern border the same evening the enemy pack started its final assault.
Damon's quiet was deafening, his reluctance like a break in his armor.
His voice low, he murmured at last, "I had no choice."
The group burst into whispers, astonishment and incredulity coloring their voices.
"What do you mean, 'you didn't have a choice'? I asked, advancing stepping. Though my voice was more consistent than I felt, the betrayal sliced right through.
Damon's eyes locked with mine, and for a minute he resembled the lad I had grown up with—the one who had taught me how to fight, the one who had been by my side through every struggle.
But that lad disappeared, replaced by someone I hardly knew.
"They came up to me months ago," he remarked with tense voice. "They knew facts—about the pack, about myself. Should I fail to meet their needs, they threatened to ruin everything.
"What were their wants? "Luca questioned, his voice as frigid as ice.
"Information," Damon said. "Border patrol plans, supply lines, defense weak areas. They assured everyone none would be injured.
"Nobody would suffer? "I said again, my voice rising. "Damon, such strikes have killed wolves. Your falsehoods are driving our pack apart! The "
Damon stammered, but his stubbornness came back right away. "I was looking out for us. They would have come for us anyway, and without understanding what we were up against, we would not have had a chance.
And right now, how is it working for us? Luca captured.
Tension permeated the room, the resentment of the pack boiling just below the surface. But Damon's tale didn't set right with me for some reason.
"What was their offer to you? My voice softer now, I asked.
" What?" Damon replied, his brow wrinkling.
"They have to have given you something in return," I responded.
"What was it? The "
Though it was short, his uncertainty was enough. At last he responded, "They promised to leave my family and me alone." "To let us go should things sour."
Luca's deep and threatening growl matched the mark on my wrist, which burned weakly as if in response to the tension in the room.
For a promise, you sold us out? With a frightening voice, Luca said.
Damon remarked, his voice cracking: "They have my sister." "They have had her for many months. Should I refuse to comply, they said they would murder her.
His remarks had weight that felt like a gut strike. I looked at Luca; his jaw was tense, his countenance opaque.
"Why didn't you visit us? "My voice shook as I asked.
"Because I didn't think you would help me," Damon said. Not following everything that has transpired.
As we worked through his confession, the room became quiet. Luca turned to the seniors, his voice austere and forceful. "Damon stays in the holding cells while we determine what to do with him. Nobody is going to talk to him without my consent.
The elders nodded, their faces sad as two fighters moved forward to accompany Damon out. He did not object, but his eyes stayed on me as she was driven off.
Aria, he murmured softly, "I'm sorry."
Though I could not bring myself to reply, his words wounded.
Luca and I visited his office that evening; the events of the day hung thick between us.
"What ought we to do right now? My voice just above a whisper, I asked.
"We find out where his sister is kept," Luca remarked, his voice firm. And we call this our farewell.
I paused then said, "Do you believe Damon is speaking the truth? The "
Luca groaned and ran a hand over his hair. "Unknown." Still, we have to move quickly if there is even a possibility he is. The competing pack isn't going to wait for us to organize ourselves.
And in case he is lying? My chest tightened as I asked.
Then he had already decided on his side, Luca said with dark grey eyes.
The necklace around my neck started to shine softly while we were organizing our next action, its light creating lengthy shadows over the space. The mark on my wrist burned, and in my head a gentle voice surfaced.
The truth resides in blood and sacrifice. Trust will either save you or bring you destruction.
Heart thumping, I looked at Luca. "What would happen if we arrived late?'''
"We're not," he responded with great conviction. We are not able to be.
But the uncertainty stayed, weighty and silent as we got ready for the approaching storm.