Chapter 11

Fractured Trust

The rain had slowed to a drizzle as Aria followed Caden through the dense woods, Rollan cradled tightly against her chest. His small, steady breaths were a fragile comfort against the storm of uncertainty raging within her. Caden led the way, his broad frame cutting through the undergrowth with purpose, his blade still drawn and glistening with rogue blood. Kael trailed behind, supporting a groggy Rosalie, who leaned heavily on his uninjured arm. The group moved in tense silence, the weight of Aria’s revelations hanging like a shroud.

The keep loomed in the distance, its black stone walls a stark silhouette against the storm clouds. Aria’s heart pounded as they approached, her mind racing with questions. Would Caden truly protect Rollan, or was his promise driven by duty rather than love? Could she trust him with the full truth about the prophecy, about the mark that made her son a target? And what of Kael, whose loyalty seemed torn between his Alpha and the secrets he now carried?

Caden halted at the edge of the tree line, his icy blue eyes scanning the keep’s perimeter. “The rogues retreated, but they’ll regroup,” he said, his voice low and clipped. “Victor’s not done. He’s playing a longer game.”

Aria’s stomach twisted. “He wants Rollan,” she said softly, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. “The mark on his arm… it’s not just a sigil. It’s tied to a prophecy. Rosalie says it could break my curse—or destroy everything.”

Caden’s gaze snapped to her, sharp and unyielding. “You’re still holding back. What else don’t I know?”

Rosalie, her voice weak but steady, spoke before Aria could. “The prophecy is ancient, Alpha. It speaks of a child born of cursed blood, marked by the moon and fang. He could restore balance to the packs or become a weapon for someone like Victor to wield absolute power.”

Caden’s jaw tightened, his eyes flicking to Rollan’s sleeping form. “And you kept this from me too?” His tone was laced with betrayal, cutting deeper than any blade.

“I didn’t know until tonight,” Aria said, tears stinging her eyes. “I swear, Caden. I’ve been trying to protect him. To protect *you*.”

“Protect me?” he growled, stepping closer. “You stripped me of my wolf, hid my son, and brought your brother’s war to my doorstep. How is that protection?”

Aria flinched, but she held his gaze. “I love you, Caden. I didn’t mean to, but I do. That night at the Gala… it wasn’t just a mistake. It was real. And Rollan, he’s proof of that.”

The words hung in the air, raw and unguarded. Caden’s expression wavered, a flicker of something softer breaking through his anger. But before he could respond, Kael’s voice cut through the tension.

“Alpha, we need to move,” he said, his tone urgent. “The guards are signaling from the keep. Something’s wrong.”

Caden’s eyes lingered on Aria for a moment longer, then he turned, gesturing for them to follow. “Stay close. All of you.”

As they entered the keep, the atmosphere was thick with unease. Guards stood at every corner, their faces grim. A young warrior approached Caden, bowing quickly. “Alpha, we caught one of Victor’s spies in the armory. He’s talking—says Victor’s planning another attack at dawn.”

Caden’s expression darkened. “Take me to him.”

Aria’s heart sank. Another attack. Victor was relentless, and every move he made tightened the noose around Rollan. She followed Caden, clutching her son, as they descended into the keep’s lower levels, where the air grew colder and the walls dripped with moisture.

The spy was chained in a small, torch-lit cell, his face bruised but defiant. Aria recognized him, the same guard who’d attacked Kael in the woods, his eyes gleaming with the same cruelty as Victor’s.

“Speak,” Caden ordered, his voice like a blade.

The spy smirked, blood staining his teeth. “Victor knows everything, Alpha. The boy, the prophecy, your wolfless state. He’s coming for the child, and he’ll burn this keep to the ground to get him.”

Caden’s fist slammed into the wall, the stone cracking under the force. “Where is he?”

The spy laughed, a chilling sound. “Closer than you think. You’ve got a traitor in your ranks, Alpha. Someone feeding Victor every move you make.”

Aria’s blood ran cold. A traitor. Her eyes darted to Kael, whose face was unreadable, his hand tightening on his blade. Could it be him? No—she refused to believe it. Kael had risked his life for her, for Rollan. But doubt gnawed at her, fueled by the spy’s words.

Caden turned to Kael, his eyes narrowing. “Find out who it is. Now. I want every guard, every servant questioned. No one leaves this keep until we know.”

Kael nodded, but his gaze flicked to Aria, a silent question in his eyes. She looked away, guilt and fear twisting in her gut. Had her secrets caused this? Had her presence in the keep invited betrayal?

As Caden interrogated the spy, Aria slipped away, finding Rosalie in the healer’s quarters. The older woman was bandaged but awake, her eyes sharp despite her injuries. “Aria,” she whispered, “you can’t stay here. Victor’s too close, and the traitor… they know too much.”

“What do I do?” Aria asked, her voice trembling as she rocked Rollan. “Caden’s protecting him, but he doesn’t trust me. And the prophecy—”

Rosalie gripped her hand. “Take Rollan and run. I’ll stay, cover for you. There’s a safehouse beyond the eastern ridge. I’ll send word when it’s safe to return.”

Aria hesitated, torn between fleeing and facing the storm she’d created. But as another howl echoed from the keep’s walls, she knew Rosalie was right. Victor was coming, and the traitor was watching. For Rollan’s sake, she had to act.

With a final glance at Caden’s towering figure in the cell, Aria made her choice. She would run—but not forever. She’d return to face Caden, to fight for their son, and to prove her love, no matter the cost.