CHAPTER 02: THE BETRAYAL

Kaelen’s boots pounded against the marble as he tore down the corridor of the Moonfang estate, his chest burning with humiliation. She wouldn’t leave me without a reason. She can’t.

He shoved open Celera’s chamber doors.

And froze.

The scent hit him first, lust, sweat, betrayal. His wolf snarled inside him, recognizing not just her scent but another’s.

Lucian Nightbane.

There they were, tangled in silken sheets, Celera’s bare skin glowing against Lucian’s bronzed body. Her lips curved into a smile when she saw him. Not guilty. Not ashamed. Mocking.

“Kaelen, oh my god, she purred, not even bothering to cover herself. You’re early.”

Lucian stretched lazily, his gray eyes glinting with cruel amusement. “Or maybe you’re late, Moonfang. Seems your bride wasn’t waiting for you at the altar after all.”

Kaelen’s fists tightened until his claws burst free, gouging marks into the wooden doorframe. “Ce...His voice barely above a whisper. Celera? I thought you were kidnapped. What the hell is this?” His voice shook with rage.

Celera sat up, running her fingers through her hair as though nothing had happened. “Don’t be so dramatic. It isn't what you think. No....nothing happened, I'm sorry about the wedding. We can still marry tomorrow. Tonight was just… a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding? Kaelen growled. His wolf wanted to rip Lucian’s throat out right there. You betray me, on our wedding day and call it a misunderstanding?”

Lucian smirked. “Maybe the real misunderstanding is thinking she could ever be satisfied by you. You don’t exactly strike me as the… vigorous type.”

"Shut the fuck up!." Kaelen’s vision blurred red. He lunged forward, but Celera raised her hand, cool and dismissive.

“Stop acting like some wounded pup, she snapped. You’ll still have me as your Luna. What difference does it make if Lucian had some fun with me first?”

That was it?.

“You disgust me.” His voice was low, deadly, final.

Celera’s smirk faltered for the first time. “Kaelen...”

But he had already turned on his heel, storming out before his wolf broke free completely. The door slammed with such force that the frame cracked.

Unseen by either of them, a figure lingered in the shadows down the hall heard and saw everything. Adrian Nightbane, Celera’s younger brother. His stormy eyes followed Kaelen with interest, lips curling into a calculating smile.

>>>>>>>> SilverFang Enerprises

........Two days later ...........

The skyline of Silverfang Enterprises glittered through the glass walls of Kaelen’s office. He stood with his back to the city, whiskey untouched on the desk. His reflection in the window was a stranger jaw clenched, eyes bloodshot, tie loosened like a noose around his neck.

Celera chose him. Lucian. Over me.

The door clicked open.

“What the hell? You weren’t invited.” Kaelen’s voice was flat, cold.

Adrian Nightbane strolled in anyway, dressed immaculately in a dark suit, his air casual yet predatory. “You should lock your doors tighter, Moonfang. Enemies slip through cracks.”

Kaelen turned, fury sparking again. “You’ve got three seconds to explain before I launch you off this tower.”

Adrian raised a brow. “Straight to violence. Just like Grandfather Darius says, no patience. He walked closer, ignoring Kaelen’s glare. I didn’t come to fight. I came to offer… a solution.”

“There’s no solution to what your sister did.”

Adrian’s jaw twitched, but his voice stayed calm. “I know...women, no one knows what the are doing. Then don’t marry Celera. Marry someone else. From our family. If not… you’ll bring war between Moonfang and Nightbane. Neither of us can afford that.”

Kaelen laughed darkly, the sound hollow. “You expect me to chain myself to that slut?”

Adrian’s eyes snapped with fury. “Don’t you dare call my sister that again.”

“Slut, Kaelen repeated, stepping forward until they stood chest to chest. His wolf pressed against his skin, fangs itching to pierce. Do you think I’ll bind myself to a woman who spreads her legs for my rival hours before our wedding? Get out. Before I make good on my threat.”

Adrian didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned in, voice low and menacing. “You have one week. Either Celera… or another Nightbane. If not, Kaelen, your pack will bleed. This war is not a game your pack can win alone.”

Kaelen grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the glass. The skyscraper lights blinked below, a deadly drop waiting. “Say her name again and I’ll end you here.”

For a moment, Adrian’s bravado wavered. But then he smirked, even as Kaelen’s claws pressed into his shirt. “One week. Decide. Or we’ll decide for you.”

Kaelen shoved him away. Adrian straightened his suit, brushed off the wrinkles, and strolled to the door like nothing had happened.

“Tick-tock, Silverfang.”

The door shut with a soft click.

Kaelen exhaled sharply, fury pounding in his veins. He poured the whiskey finally, downing it in one burning swallow. One week. Over my dead body.

Before he could sit, his phone buzzed. A name lit up the screen.

Grand Alpha Darius.

Kaelen’s stomach tightened. His grandfather never called unless the matter was life or death.

“Come home. Now. Darius’s voice was thunder through the speaker. It’s urgent.”

The line went dead.

Kaelen’s pulse roared. He grabbed his coat, storming out of his office. Whatever awaited him at the Silverfang estate, he knew one thing, this war had already begun.

The Moonfang Hall was heavy with silence. The great oak doors closed behind Kaelen with a groan, echoing through the chamber lit by golden fire. At the head of the table sat Grand Alpha Darius, his silver hair like a crown of steel, his eyes sharp with unyielding command.

“Kaelen, Darius’s voice thundered immediately. Your father is dead. You are heir. The bloodline is yours to carry.”

Kaelen stiffened, fists clenching. “I never asked for this throne.”

Darius slammed his cane on the floor, the sound splitting the silence. “You don’t ask for it. You take it. You must unite Moonfang and Nightbane. If not Celera, then another of their blood. I’ve fought fifty wars with them. I will not fight a fifty-first.”

Kaelen’s voice was low, defiant as he scoffed. “So straightforward, She doesn’t love me. I don’t love her.”

“Love? Darius’s lip curled. Love is irrelevant. Duty is eternal.”

The words struck like chains around Kaelen’s neck. His mother, Lady Elara, stepped forward, her hands trembling. “Father, he is still young. He deserves to make a right cho...”

“Silence, Elara! Darius’s roar cut her down. The Alpha does not live for himself. He lives for the pack. Do you wish your son to be weak?”

Kaelen’s jaw flexed, but he said nothing. The firelight flickered across his face, shadows carving the war between rebellion and duty in his eyes.

Darius leaned forward, voice grave. “Time is short. Rival packs grow stronger each day. Without Nightbane at our side, we are prey.”

Kaelen’s stomach twisted. His grandfather’s words were law. Yet something inside him burned against the path being forced upon him.

"She cheated on me, on the day of our goddam wedding, incase you didn't get the memo." He raised his eyebrows at his grandfather

"I go the info just fine, which is why if not Celera, it should be someone else from the nightbane household. They've got seven beautiful girls."

Kaelen glared at his grandfather. "But, Celera is my mate."

"You've got limited time to make a decision boy." He concluded dismissively

......................

That night, alone in his bedroom, Kaelen stared at the city skyline. His hand tightened around his phone until his knuckles whitened. With a quick breath, he typed:

Meet me. Tomorrow.

And sent it... The weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders.

The Meeting..........

The next day, Adrian stood in Kaelen’s sleek skyscraper office, the glass walls framing the horizon. His shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal the curve of his chest, golden hair catching the sunlight. He looked like temptation carved into flesh, though his eyes were wary.

“You asked me here, Adrian said, folding his arms. Why?”

Kaelen’s gaze lingered too long, then dropped to the desk, as if ashamed of the thought burning in him. “If I must marry someone from your pack… He looked up, steel in his eyes. Then marry me instead.”

Adrian blinked, stunned, before a sharp laugh broke from his throat. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“I’m serious.”

“You can’t be. She’s my sister.”

“She betrayed me, Kaelen growled. She disgusts me. And you, you are nothing like her.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “You don’t know what you’re saying. If the packs hear this… they’ll rip us both apart.”

Kaelen stepped closer, his voice low, almost pleading. “You think I care about whispers? I care about loyalty. Strength. And you… His gaze dropped to Adrian’s lips, then quickly snapped away. You have both.”

Adrian’s breath hitched for a fraction, but he masked it with fury. “Don’t mistake desperation for love, Kaelen. You’re chasing shadows.”

Kaelen’s voice hardened. “This is not desperation. This is survival. With you, I could...”

“Enough! Adrian snapped, shoving his chair back. You’re out of your damn mind.” His voice broke, a flicker of something hidden in it. Forget this ever happened.”

He stormed out, leaving Kaelen alone with his pounding heart.

The next morning, as Kaelen adjusted his tie before a board meeting, the office doors burst open.

He heard her voice....Celera.

“Kaelen, please… forgive me. I was wrong. I love you.”

Kaelen froze, then narrowed his eyes. His wolf stirred, his senses sharpening. He didn’t just hear her words, he heard her thoughts.

He doesn’t know. If I fake it well enough, he’ll still marry me. Then we could destroy him and Lucian takes everything. His power.

Kaelen’s lips curled into a cold, merciless smile. “You lieing slut, Celera.”

Her eyes widened. “W-What?”

“I can hear every filthy thought in your head.” He leaned down.

"I don't know what you're talking about. But i'm here to see you"...