Chapter 13

The Breaking Point

The trek back to Darkfang Keep was a tense, silent march through the mist-shrouded woods. Aria held Rollan close, his small body a fragile shield against the fear gnawing at her heart. Caden led the way, his broad shoulders rigid, his blade still drawn, its edge stained with the blood of Victor’s rogues. Kael limped behind, his chest wound seeping through his torn shirt, his face pale but resolute. The air was heavy with unspoken accusations, the traitor’s shadow looming over every step.

Aria’s mind churned. Victor’s attack on the safehouse meant he was closer than she’d feared, his knowledge of Rollan’s mark a ticking bomb. The prophecy Rosalie had revealed—Rollan as either a savior or a destroyer—hung over her like a storm cloud. And Caden’s fragile trust, strained by her secrets, felt like it could snap at any moment. She glanced at Kael, his loyalty a question mark she couldn’t resolve. Was he truly her ally, or was his devotion to Caden a mask for betrayal?

The keep’s black stone walls came into view, its silver banners tattered from the night’s battle. Guards swarmed the entrance, their eyes darting between Caden, Aria, and the bloodied Kael. A healer rushed forward, taking Rosalie’s unconscious form from the group as Caden barked orders to secure the perimeter.

Inside the keep, the war room was a hive of activity—maps strewn across the table, warriors reporting on rogue movements, and tension thick enough to choke on. Caden turned to Aria, his icy blue eyes unreadable. “Take the boy to your chambers,” he said, his voice low. “Stay there until I call for you.”

Aria nodded, clutching Rollan tighter. “What about the traitor?”

Caden’s jaw tightened. “I’ll find them. No one betrays my pack and lives.”

As Aria turned to leave, Kael’s voice stopped her. “Alpha, let me help. I can interrogate the guards, check for signs—”

“No,” Caden cut him off, his tone sharp. “You’re wounded. And until I know who I can trust, you stay where I can see you.”

Kael’s eyes flickered with something—hurt, defiance, or guilt?—but he nodded, leaning against the wall for support. Aria’s heart twisted. She wanted to believe in him, but the spy’s words echoed: *You’ve got a traitor in your ranks.*

In her chambers, Aria laid Rollan on the bed, his mark still glowing faintly, a haunting reminder of the prophecy. She paced, her thoughts a tangle of fear and resolve. She couldn’t run again—not with Victor so close, not with Caden protecting Rollan despite his anger. But the traitor’s presence meant nowhere was safe.

A soft knock broke her thoughts. She opened the door to find a young servant, her eyes wide with fear. “Luna, a message for you. It was slipped under the gate.”

Aria’s blood ran cold as she took the crumpled parchment. No seal, just her name in Victor’s jagged scrawl. Her hands trembled as she unfolded it:

*“You can’t hide him forever, sister. The mark is mine to claim. Bring him to me at the old oak by dawn, or I’ll burn the keep and everyone in it. - V”*

Her knees buckled, and she gripped the bedpost to steady herself. Victor was relentless, his threat a blade at Rollan’s throat. She glanced at her son, sleeping peacefully, unaware of the danger closing in. She had to act—but how? Tell Caden and risk his wrath, or face Victor alone and risk everything?

Footsteps approached, heavy and deliberate. Caden entered without knocking, his presence filling the room. His eyes landed on Rollan, then the note in her hand. “What’s that?”

Aria hesitated, her heart pounding. “It’s from Victor,” she admitted, handing him the note. “He wants Rollan. He’s threatening the keep.”

Caden’s face darkened as he read, his hands crumpling the parchment. “He thinks he can threaten me? My son?” His voice was a low growl, but his eyes softened as they fell on Rollan. “No one takes him. Not Victor. Not anyone.”

Aria’s throat tightened. “Caden, there’s a traitor. Someone’s telling Victor everything—where I was, where Rollan was. We can’t trust anyone.”

His gaze snapped to hers, sharp and searching. “Including you?”

The words stung, but she held his stare. “I’ve told you everything. My secrets, my curse, my brother. I’m not the traitor, Caden. I love you, and I love our son. I’ll do anything to protect him.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of her words. Then Caden stepped closer, his hand brushing Rollan’s cheek, his voice low. “I don’t know if I can trust you, Aria. But I trust this.” He gestured to Rollan. “He’s mine. And I’ll kill Victor before he lays a hand on him.”

A shout from the corridor interrupted them. A guard burst in, his face pale. “Alpha, the traitor’s been found. It’s… it’s one of the council. Marcus. He’s been feeding Victor information for weeks.”

Caden’s eyes blazed with fury. “Bring him to me. Now.”

As the guard rushed out, Aria’s heart raced. Marcus, the council member who’d warned her about Victor at the dinner. Had he been playing her all along? With dawn approaching and Victor’s deadline looming, the keep was a powder keg, and Rollan was at its center. Aria looked at Caden, his resolve a lifeline she clung to. They’d face Victor together—but first, they had to unmask the traitor within.