Chapter 7

The Weight of Truth

The chaos of Darkfang Keep swallowed Aria as she stumbled through the torch-lit corridors, her cloak damp with dew and Kael’s warning ringing in her ears. The guard’s words—“The boy’s already marked” clawed at her mind, each syllable a fresh wound. Rollan was in danger, and Victor’s shadow loomed larger than ever. She had to find Caden. She had to tell him the truth, even if it meant risking everything.

The keep was a storm of movement—guards barking orders, wolves snarling as they patrolled the perimeter, servants scurrying with wide-eyed fear. The rogue attack had left the western gate in ruins, and the air reeked of blood and smoke. Aria’s heart pounded as she pushed through the throng, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone floors. She’d left the enchanted cloak behind in the woods, its protection useless now that Victor’s spy had seen her.

She found Caden in the war room, surrounded by his council. Maps were strewn across the table, marked with red ink to show Victor’s movements. His broad shoulders were tense, his icy blue eyes scanning the room with lethal focus. When he saw Aria, his gaze hardened, and the room fell silent.

“Luna,” he said, his voice clipped. “Why are you here? I told you to stay in your chambers.”

The council members exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Aria’s throat tightened, but she forced herself to step forward, her hands trembling at her sides. “I need to speak with you. Alone.”

Caden’s jaw ticked, but he waved a hand, dismissing the council. “Out. Now.”

The men filed out, leaving Aria and Caden alone in the cavernous room. The heavy oak doors shut with a thud, sealing them in with the weight of her secrets. Caden crossed his arms, his presence dominating the space. “Speak. And don’t waste my time.”

Aria’s mouth went dry. She wanted to run, to hide, but Rollan’s face flashed in her mind, his amber eyes, his tiny hands clutching her fingers. She had no choice. “Caden… there’s something I’ve been hiding. Something you need to know.”

His eyes narrowed, suspicion sharpening his features. “I told you I don’t tolerate lies, Aria. What is it?”

She took a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “Three years ago, at the Gala on Wolfcrest Avenue… we met. You don’t remember because you were drunk, grieving your parents. But I was there. I was the woman you… you spent the night with.”

Caden’s expression didn’t change, but his hands tightened into fists. “Go on.”

“I didn’t know who you were at first,” she continued, her voice trembling. “Not until after. But that night… it changed everything. I got pregnant, Caden. I have a son. *Your* son.”

The air in the room seemed to vanish. Caden’s face went still, his eyes burning with something dangerous—shock, betrayal, or both. “A son,” he repeated, his voice low and deadly. “And you kept this from me? For *three years*?”

“I had to,” Aria said, tears welling in her eyes. “My bloodline… it’s cursed. When we were together, I didn’t know, but I… I took your wolf. It’s why you’ve felt different, why you’ve been struggling. I didn’t mean to, Caden. I swear.”

He took a step toward her, his presence overwhelming. “You stole my wolf?” His voice was a growl now, raw with fury. “And you bore my child, hid him, and now you stand here wearing my mark, pretending to be my Luna?”

“I was protecting him!” Aria cried, her voice breaking. “Victor—my brother, he’s the one who killed your parents. He’s after Rollan, our son, because he’s your heir. If he finds him, he’ll use him to destroy you, to take Darkfang Crest. I came here to keep Rollan safe, to stay close enough to protect him without you knowing.”

Caden’s eyes flashed gold, a flicker of the wolf that was no longer there. “Victor Hale is your brother?” The words were a snarl, and he grabbed her arm, his grip bruising but controlled. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time, playing me for a fool while your brother plots against my pack?”

“I’m not with him!” Aria pleaded, tears streaming down her face. “I hate him, Caden. He’s a monster. I’ve been running from him my whole life. But he knows about Rollan now. He’s coming for us.”

Caden released her, stepping back as if her touch burned. His chest heaved, his eyes searching her face for any hint of deception. “Where is the boy?”

“With Rosalie, a healer. She’s hiding him, but Victor’s spy was at the cottage. He said Rollan’s been *marked*. I don’t know what it means, but we have to find him before Victor does.”

Caden’s silence was deafening. He turned away, his hands gripping the edge of the table so hard the wood creaked. “You’ve brought a war to my doorstep, Aria. A war and a son I didn’t know I had.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I thought I could keep him safe. I thought I could keep you safe.”

He spun back to her, his face a mask of controlled rage. “You thought wrong. But if what you say is true, if this boy is mine, I’ll protect him. Not for you—for him. For my blood.”

Aria nodded, her heart aching with a mix of relief and dread. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Caden said coldly. “If I find out you’re lying about any of this, or if your brother gets to my son before I do, you’ll wish you’d never stepped foot in this keep.”

Before she could respond, a sharp knock interrupted them. A guard burst in, his face pale. “Alpha, the rogues have breached the northern perimeter. They’re moving fast, Victor Hale’s leading them.”

Caden’s eyes locked onto Aria’s, and for the first time, she saw something beyond anger—resolve. “Stay here,” he ordered. “If you move, I’ll chain you to this room myself.”

He strode out, leaving Aria alone with the echo of his words and the crushing weight of her confession. Victor was here, and Rollan was out there, marked by a danger she didn’t understand. She sank to the floor, her hands covering her face as the sounds of war grew louder outside.

But she couldn’t stay still. Not when her son needed her. Slipping the Luna necklace from her pocket, she clasped it around her neck, its weight a reminder of the role she had to play. She would find Rollan. She would face Victor. And if it came to it, she would beg Caden for forgiveness or fight him to protect their son.

The war had begun, and Aria’s secrets were no longer hers to keep.