Chapter 46: Depths of Betrayal

The shadow rose from the water, massive and swift, cutting through the fog like a knife. My stomach dropped. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. Then I realized it wasn’t just an attacker. It was something unexpected. Someone I thought I could trust… someone from our own side.

“Elliot!” I screamed, panic and disbelief crashing over me like the waves beneath our boat. He spun, dark eyes narrowing. “What the”

“Stay low!” he barked, lunging forward, but I could see the hesitation flicker in his gaze. The figure rising from the water had his stance, his build but there was something off. Malice. Calculated intent. Betrayal.

I froze, heart hammering. My mind raced. Could it really be…?

Marcus’s voice came sharp over comms. “Who’s there?” His tone was tense, precise, but he didn’t recognize the shadow immediately. Liam’s grip tightened on the wheel, body coiled like a spring.

I took a step forward, squinting through the thick fog. And then it hit me. The water glistened around him as he climbed partially onto our boat. The face was familiar but twisted in an expression I had never expected. It was Adrian. My sister’s mate.

I staggered back, eyes wide. “Adrian… what, why?” My voice cracked, disbelief spilling through every word.

Elliot moved instantly, placing himself between Adrian and me, my sister crouched behind me, eyes darting between the three of us. “He’s not supposed to be here,” Elliot growled, jaw tight. “Something’s wrong. Trust me, he’s compromised.”

Marcus cursed under his breath. “This isn’t possible. Liam, get ready. This is about to get messy.”

Liam’s jaw tightened. “He’s..he’s my best friend… how can he?” His voice trailed off as confusion and disbelief fought with his instinct to act.

I shook my head. “No. Not now. Not when we’re so close.” My pulse pounded in my ears. The fog seemed to thicken around us, and every step felt like it could be the last.

Adrian’s eyes flicked toward my sister first, and I could see the cold calculation in them. He wasn’t attacking recklessly he was testing, probing, waiting for the perfect moment. My stomach twisted.

“Step back,” Elliot said sharply. “Now.”

But I couldn’t. My sister was too close to the edge of the boat, too vulnerable. “No,” I said, firm, voice trembling despite myself. “Not without her safe.”

Elliot’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second. “Fine. But be careful. He’s not the man you know anymore.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. Every ounce of my focus went into keeping my sister calm and alert. Her small hand gripped mine tightly, grounding me even as the fog and betrayal threatened to consume every thought.

Adrian smirked, as if sensing our hesitation. “Surprised to see me?” His voice was deceptively calm. “You shouldn’t be.”

“Why?” I demanded. “Why betray everyone? Why?”

He laughed, low and bitter. “Because some lines… are meant to be crossed.”

I stared at him, trying to process what I was seeing. The man who had been a protective presence in our lives my sister’s mate was now standing on the edge of our boat with intent to destroy us.

Elliot moved faster than I could track. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Adrian, pushing him back toward the water, their struggle intense and brutal. The splash rocked the boat, and I grabbed my sister to steady her, her terrified eyes locked onto mine.

Marcus shouted over the chaos, guiding our movements. “Cover the rear! Don’t let him push the boat toward the pier!”

Liam’s hands were steady on the wheel, though I could feel the tension radiating off him. Every second was crucial. Every misstep could send Adrian or us into the freezing water.

I realized then that the betrayal wasn’t just personal it was strategic. Someone had used Adrian as a pawn to corner us, divide us, and exploit our weaknesses.

I clenched my fists, refusing to feel helpless. “Adrian… listen to me,” I shouted, stepping toward him carefully. “This isn’t you. Fight it. Whatever they’ve done, you’re better than this.”

His eyes flickered just for a second. That hesitation was enough. Elliot slammed him sideways, the impact sending both of them staggering. Adrian hissed, furious, but I could see the conflict in his movements, the uncertainty in his stance.

“This isn’t over,” he spat, regaining his composure. “They’ll come. And next time, you won’t be ready.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Then we’ll be ready,” I said, voice shaking but determined.

The water roared beneath us as the fog swirled. Shadows shifted along the pier, revealing glimpses of other attackers but the immediate threat of Adrian was clear. My sister leaned against me, trembling, but alive. Liam’s hands were steady on the wheel, guiding us away from the pier, Elliot and Marcus coordinating every move.

I realized in that moment that trust had been tested in ways I never imagined. Betrayal could come from the people you counted on most. But our survival wasn’t just about avoiding physical threats it was about staying united, trusting instincts, and never losing focus.

As the boat surged forward, cutting through the fog, a faint red glow appeared on the horizon. It wasn’t fire, it wasn’t a flare. It was something else something far more dangerous and deliberate.

I felt my pulse spike. My stomach clenched. And in the silence that followed, I knew that the real test of trust, loyalty, and courage was only just beginning.