chapter 12

Chapter 12: “The Ones Who Betray You First”

Kieran’s POV…

Demon was still coughing on the floor, trying to drag himself upright. For a second, I was just staring at him, breathing hard, chest tight. And then—

Clap. Clap. Clap.

I froze. The slow, sarcastic clapping came from behind me. I turned around, and for a second, I didn’t even believe what I was seeing.

“Catherine?” I said her name without meaning to. Whispered it, like I’d seen a ghost.

She stood there in the open doorway like she owned the place, her blonde hair tied back the way she used to do it when she wanted to show off her cheekbones. Same smug look. Same eyes that used to promise forever.

She walked toward me like this was casual—like she wasn’t someone who’d walked out on me, on everything. Her heels clicked against the wood and she didn’t stop until she was right in front of me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, but my voice came out quieter than I meant it to.

Catherine smiled, slow and fake. “Still fighting like wildcats, I see,” she said, glancing toward Demon, then back at me like this was a joke.

I stared at her. My brain was short-circuiting. “Seriously, Catherine—why are you here?”

She let out a soft laugh and walked past me, not even bothering to answer. She went straight to Demon, who was still on the ground but finally sitting up. She knelt beside him like she actually cared, brushing something off his shoulder.

“I already told you,” she said over her shoulder, “I started a new life. You don’t get to ask me where I go or who I see.”

But the way she touched him. The way she looked at him. It clicked.

I took a step forward. “Are you with him?”

Demon chuckled, still wincing from where I’d hit him. “Wow. He finally gets it.”

I turned to Catherine again, my voice breaking a little. “Is that why you left me? For him?”

She didn’t even blink. “Why else would I leave? You’re weak, Kieran. Everyone sees it.”

I blinked like she’d smacked me. “What?”

“You’re not the Alpha everyone thought you’d be,” she said, standing up and crossing her arms. “The werewolves are already starting to shift. You know that, right? They’re looking at him now. Talking about voting Demon in as the new Alpha. Of the whole clan.”

My mouth opened, then shut again.

Catherine smirked. “You really thought just finding your ‘mate’ would make everything okay? That’s adorable.”

My fists clenched. “You don’t even know her.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have to. What matters is that you’ve made yourself look like a joke. Demon at least knows how to lead. People follow power, not fairy tales.”

“She’s not a fairy tale,” I snapped. “She’s real. Ava is real.”

“Yeah? And what are you gonna do when the rest of the pack finds out she’s human?” Catherine laughed, sharp and cruel. “You think they’re gonna bow to her? Call her Luna?”

“She’s my mate,” I said again, but it felt like I was trying to convince myself now.

Demon got to his feet, still rubbing his ribs, and gave me a look like he was watching something entertaining. “You still don’t get it,” he said. “Even standing in front of me, hearing it out loud, and you still don’t see what’s happening.”

“I see enough,” I growled. “I see you playing dirty. I see her making excuses for it.”

“She’s just saying what everyone’s already thinking,” Demon said, brushing past Catherine and stepping toward me. “You think you’re special ‘cause you found some human girl you imprinted on?”

“You know she's my mate,” I said.

“Even if it is,” he said, “so what? You think the werewolf council’s gonna let a human be Luna? You think anyone’s gonna follow her?”

I didn’t answer.

“Exactly,” Catherine cut in, her arms folded tight. “You’re chasing some fantasy like a kid. And it’s pathetic.”

That was it.

The growl ripped from my throat before I could stop it. My wolf was surging forward, breaking through the surface. I lunged, more instinct than thought, but before I could even get to them, I felt something burn across my chest.

Pain shot through me. I collapsed, gasping.

Silver.

It was wrapped around me before I could shift back. Cold, biting chains across my arms and shoulders, my whole body seizing. I hit the floor hard.

I blinked up, gasping, trying to process what just happened. One of Demon’s guys stood over me, tightening the silver chain. Another was already locking the ends. I could barely breathe.

“Cheap move,” I said, voice hoarse.

“You make it too easy,” Demon said.

I tried to shift again, but the pain was too sharp. The chain burned into my skin, grounding me. Forcing my wolf to retreat.

Catherine stepped toward me, crouching down like she had something important to say. She leaned in real close, tilting her head.

“You really thought she could stand beside you?” she whispered. “That some human girl could survive in our world?”

I didn’t answer. I was still trying to get my breath back.

She smiled and lifted my chin with her hand, like I was some helpless thing.

“Well,” she said, “if you want to be with a human mate… then you can rot with her. Forever.”

Her voice was calm. Ice cold.

I flinched back, and she let go like I’d bored her. Then she stood and turned back toward Demon.

He walked over slowly, grinning like he already won.

“And just so you know,” Demon said, “I’m not just taking your title.”

I looked up at him, jaw clenched.

He bent closer.

“I’m taking her too.”

My heart stopped for a second.

He grinned wider. “And when I do, I’m gonna make her into whatever I want her to be. That’s what humans are good for, right? Being owned. Being taught their place.”

I tried to move—anything. But the chains held. The silver burned. My limbs refused to cooperate.

I was stuck there. On the floor. Watching him.

He looked down at me like I was nothing.

And then—he kissed her.

Right in front of me.

Catherine leaned into it like it meant something.

And I just stared.