Chapter 22: Difficult Truths

Three days passed before I was ready to face Kaden. Three days of reviewing Elder Thorne’s evidence. Of preparing myself emotionally. Of deciding how to handle this impossible situation.

I invited him to neutral territory. A small cafe in a human town where no other wolves would overhear. Maya and Dax wanted to come, but I needed to do this alone.

Kaden arrived exactly on time. He looked nervous. Tired. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he wasn’t sleeping well either.

“Thank you for meeting me.” He sat down across from me, ordering coffee neither of us would drink.

“I found something out. About my parents. About their deaths.” I pulled out the file Elder Thorne had given me. “And it involves your father.”

His face went pale. “What do you mean?”

I showed him everything. The documents. The photos. The evidence suggests Alpha Marcus’s involvement in the conspiracy that killed my family.

Kaden read through it all in silence. His hands shook. His breathing became uneven. When he finally looked up, tears streamed down his face.

“I didn’t know. I swear to you, I had no idea.” His voice was broken. “My father told me your parents died in a rogue attack. That it was random violence. He never mentioned opposing their reforms or having any connection to them.”

“I believe you didn’t know. But that doesn’t change what he did.”

“No. It doesn’t.” Kaden wiped his eyes roughly. “God, Aria. I’m so sorry. My father, he killed your parents. Destroyed your family. And then years later, I rejected you. Hurt you all over again. My family has done nothing but cause you pain.”

“You’re not your father.”

“Aren’t I? I made choices just like he did. Put duty and power over what was right. Over you.” He stood abruptly, pacing. “Maybe darkness runs in my bloodline. Maybe I’m destined to hurt everyone I care about.”

“Stop.” I stood too, grabbing his arm. “You made mistakes. Bad ones. But you’re not a murderer. You’re not your father.”

“How can you even look at me? Knowing what my family did to yours?”

“Because you’re not him. Because you’ve spent months trying to make things right. Because holding you responsible for his crimes isn’t justice, it’s just more pain.” I forced him to meet my eyes. “I’m angry. Furious. But not at you. At him. At the system that let him get away with it.”

“What do we do now?” Kaden’s voice was small. Lost.

“We take this to the Council. Let them investigate properly. Build a case if there’s enough evidence.” I returned to my seat. “Your father is dead. We can’t punish him. But we can expose the truth. Make sure history knows what really happened.”

“And us? Is there still a use to salvage?”

I was quiet for a long moment. “I don’t know. This complicates everything. Makes it harder to separate you from your family’s legacy.”

“I understand. If you need to walk away completely, I’ll accept it.” He sat back down heavily. “You’d be justified. More than justified.”

“I’m not making any decisions today. I need time to process all of this.” I gathered the files. “But Kaden? Thank you for not defending him. For acknowledging the truth even though it hurts.”

“He was my father and I loved him. But he was also a murderer. Both things can be true.” Kaden’s voice was hollow. “I just wish I’d seen it sooner. Questioned his teachings. Maybe then I wouldn’t have made so many of the same mistakes.”

We parted ways after that. Both of us are carrying heavy burdens. Both of us are uncertain about the future.

The drive back to Crescent Ridge felt endless. My emotions were a mess. Anger at Alpha Marcus. Sadness for my parents. Confusion about Kaden. It all swirled together until I couldn’t tell one feeling from another.

Maya was waiting when I got home. One look at my face told her everything.

“How bad?” she asked gently.

“His father might have killed my parents. Kaden didn’t know. Took it hard.” I collapsed on the couch. “I don’t know what to do, Maya. How do I move forward from this?”

“One day at a time. That’s all any of us can do.” She sat beside me. “Do you still have feelings for him?”

“Yes. And I hate that I do. It would be easier if I could just hate him. Blame him by association and be done with it.”

“But you can’t. Because you know he’s not his father. That he’s trying to be better.”

“Exactly. And that makes everything so much harder.” I leaned against her. “Why can’t anything in my life be simple?”

“Because you’re not a simple person. You’re an Alpha. A leader. Someone who sees nuance and complexity.” Maya stroked my hair comfortingly. “Simple people get simple lives. Extraordinary people get extraordinary challenges.”

“I’d settle for ordinary right now.”

“No, you wouldn’t. You’d be bored in a week.”

She was probably right.

The next morning brought a summons from the Council. They wanted me to present Victor Kane’s case formally. To testify about what I’d found in his territory.

The hearing was scheduled for two weeks from now. I spent that time preparing. Going over evidence. Practising my testimony. Making sure everything was airtight.

Diana, the new interim Alpha of Northern Pines, called regularly with updates. She was implementing reforms. Treating the omegas with respect. Building a better pack culture.

“Thank you for believing in me,” she said during one call. “I won’t let you down.”

“Just take care of your wolves. That’s all that matters.”

Kaden called too. Not often. Just checking in. Making sure I was okay. Never pressuring me for answers about us.

“The Council is investigating my father’s papers,” he told me. “Going through everything. If he was involved in your parents’ deaths, they’ll find proof.”

“How are you handling it?”

“Badly. But I’m handling it.” He paused. “Aria, whatever they find, whatever happens, I want you to know something. I’m proud of who you’ve become. The Alpha you are. The person you’ve grown into. And I’m sorry my family caused you so much pain.”

“Kaden…”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just needed you to hear it.” He hung up before I could respond.

The two weeks passed quickly. Soon I was travelling back to Council headquarters. Back to formal hearings and political games.

Victor’s trial lasted three days. I testified on day two. Presented all the evidence. Told the stories of wolves he’d hurt.

The Council deliberated for six hours. When they emerged, Elder Marcus looked grim.

“Victor Kane, you’ve been found guilty of systematic abuse of pack members. Of violating the sacred trust between Alpha and pack. Of bringing dishonour to your position.”

Victor stood silently, his face blank.

“Your punishment is as follows. You are stripped of your Alpha title permanently. You are exiled from all pack territories. You will live as a lone wolf with no pack rights or protections.” Elder Marcus’s voice was hard. “May the Moon Goddess have mercy on you, because we will not.”

Guards led Victor away. He didn’t look back. Didn’t protest. Just accepted his fate.

Diana was confirmed as permanent Alpha of Northern Pines. She thanked me with tears in her eyes.

“You gave my pack a second chance. We won’t waste it.”

After the trial, Elder Marcus pulled me aside. “You did well. The testimony was clear and compelling. You’re becoming an excellent investigator.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“There’s something else. About your parents’ case.” He led me to a private office. “We’ve been investigating Alpha Marcus’s involvement. And we found something significant.”

My heart raced. “What?”

He showed me documents. Financial records showing payments from Marcus to known assassins. Dated three weeks before my parents’ deaths.

“This is proof. Real, solid proof that he ordered the murders.” Elder Marcus’s expression was sorrowful. “I’m sorry, Aria. I know this doesn’t bring them back. But at least now we know the truth.”

“What happens now?”

“We’ll make an official announcement. Clear your parents’ names. Expose what really happened.” He hesitated. “This will affect Kaden. His father’s reputation. Shadowpine’s standing in the community.”

“He knows. I told him everything already. He’s prepared for the fallout.”

“Good. Because it will be significant.” Elder Marcus handed me the files. “These are yours. Your family’s history. The truth you’ve been searching for.”

I held the files carefully. They felt heavy. Final. This was it. The answers I’d wanted for twenty years.

Part of me felt relief. Justice, even delayed, still mattered.

But another part felt only sadness. Because knowing the truth didn’t bring my parents back. Didn’t undo the years I’d spent as an orphan. Didn’t erase the pain.

It just gave me something new to carry.

I called Kaden that night. “The Council found proof. Your father definitely ordered the murders.”

Silence on the other end. Then a shaky breath. “I see.”

“They’re making a public announcement tomorrow. Your pack will be affected. I wanted you to hear it from me first.”

“Thank you. For that consideration.” His voice was thick with emotion. “Aria, I know this doesn’t fix anything. But I’m going to spend the rest of my life making up for what my family did to yours. I don’t know how yet. But I will.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do. Not because I think it’ll make you love me again. Just because it’s right. Because your parents deserved better. You deserved better.” He paused. “Goodnight, Aria. I hope someday you find peace with all this.”

He hung up. Leaving me alone with my thoughts and my parents’ files.

I opened them slowly. Read about their lives. Their dreams. Their vision for a better pack system.

They’d died trying to make the world fairer. More just.

The least I could do was continue their work.

Even if it meant carrying pain. Even if it meant complicated feelings about the boy I’d loved. Even if justice came too late to save them.

Some legacies were worth the cost.

Mine was just beginning.