Chapter 8

The Mark of Betrayal

The war room’s heavy silence lingered as Aria stood alone, the echo of Caden’s departing footsteps fading into the distant clamor of battle. The keep vibrated with the chaos outside—howls, clashing steel, and the acrid scent of smoke seeping through the cracks in the stone walls. Her confession had torn open a wound between her and Caden, but there was no time to dwell on his anger. Rollan was out there, marked by Victor’s malice, and every second she hesitated brought her brother closer to her son.

Aria’s fingers tightened around the Luna necklace, its cold silver grounding her racing thoughts. She couldn’t stay here, locked away like a prisoner. Caden might have ordered her to remain, but Rollan’s safety was worth defying him. She moved to the door, pausing to listen for guards. The corridor was eerily quiet, the bulk of the pack’s forces drawn to the northern perimeter where Victor’s rogues were attacking.

Slipping into the hallway, she kept to the shadows, her bare feet silent against the cold stone. The keep felt like a maze, its towering walls closing in as she navigated toward the eastern exit—the same route she’d taken to reach Rosalie’s cottage. If Victor’s spy had found Rollan, Rosalie might have moved him, but Aria had to be sure. She couldn’t trust anyone else to protect her son.

As she reached the servants’ passage, a figure stepped into her path, blocking the narrow corridor. Kael. His arm was bandaged from the fight with the spy, but his eyes were sharp, burning with a mix of frustration and concern.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” he said, his voice low but firm. “Caden told you to stay put.”

Aria straightened, her chin lifting defiantly. “I can’t. My son’s in danger, Kael. I have to find him.”

Kael’s jaw clenched, his gaze flickering over her face. “You told him, didn’t you? About the boy. About your bloodline.”

She nodded, her throat tight. “He knows everything. Or… almost everything. He doesn’t know how much I...” She stopped, swallowing the words. How much she cared for him, how much she wished she could undo the pain her curse had caused.

Kael stepped closer, his voice softening. “You’re walking into a trap, Aria. Victor’s not just attacking the keep, he’s drawing you out. That spy wasn’t working alone. I found his trail, and it leads back to Victor’s rogues. They know about Rollan, and they’re using him to get to you.”

Her heart lurched. “Then I have to go. If Victor’s after Rollan, I can’t just hide here and wait.”

Kael grabbed her arm, his grip gentle but unyielding. “You’re not thinking straight. Caden’s out there fighting for his pack, for your son, even if he doesn’t fully understand it yet. If you run off now, you’ll make it easier for Victor to find you both.”

Aria’s eyes burned with tears, but she pulled free. “I can’t lose him, Kael. He’s all I have.”

“You’re wrong,” Kael said, his voice raw. “You have Caden. You have me. But you’re tearing yourself apart trying to carry this alone.”

For a moment, she saw the man from three years ago again, the one who’d watched her in the bar, who’d carried a quiet longing she’d been too lost in Caden to notice. But now wasn’t the time for regrets or what-ifs. “I don’t have time to argue,” she said, stepping past him. “Help me or get out of my way.”

Kael hesitated, then cursed under his breath. “Fine. But I’m coming with you. If Victor’s men are tracking you, you’ll need someone who knows these woods.”

She nodded, relief mixing with her fear. “Thank you.”

They slipped out through the eastern tunnel, emerging into the dark, rain-soaked woods. The storm had broken, and thunder rumbled overhead as they moved swiftly, Kael’s senses guiding them through the tangled undergrowth. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and blood, a reminder of the battle raging closer to the keep.

As they neared the Silver River, Aria’s heart sank. The cottage was dark, its door hanging ajar, just as she’d left it. But something felt wrong—too still, too quiet. Kael held up a hand, signaling her to stop as he scanned the clearing.

“Stay here,” he whispered, drawing a blade from his belt. “I’ll check inside.”

Before she could protest, he moved forward, his steps silent. Aria’s pulse thundered as she waited, her eyes darting to every shadow. Then she saw it—a faint glow, like a flicker of firelight, coming from the trees beyond the cottage. Her stomach dropped. Victor.

“Kael!” she hissed, but he was already inside. She crept toward the glow, her hands trembling as she clutched Rollan’s blanket, still tucked into her dress. The light grew brighter, revealing a small circle of rogues, Victor’s men—gathered around a fire. In the center stood a figure she’d know anywhere: her brother.

Victor’s golden eyes glinted in the firelight, his long brown hair tied back, his smile cruel and triumphant. “Hello, sister,” he called, his voice carrying through the rain. “I knew you’d come.”

Aria froze, her blood turning to ice. “Where’s my son?” she demanded, stepping into the open despite every instinct screaming to run.

Victor laughed, a low, chilling sound. “Safe. For now. But you’ve made things messy, Aria. Hiding behind Caden’s mark, playing Luna while you keep his heir from him. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”

“You don’t care about Rollan,” she spat, her voice shaking with fury. “You just want to hurt Caden. To take his place.”

Victor’s smile widened. “And you’ve given me the perfect weapon. A child with the Alpha’s blood, marked by my sigil. He’ll be my leverage or my sacrifice.”

Aria’s knees buckled, but she forced herself to stand tall. “You’ll have to kill me first.”

“Oh, I plan to,” Victor said, stepping closer. “But first, I’ll let Caden do it for me. He’s on his way, you know. My spy made sure of it.”

Before Aria could respond, a roar split the night. Caden burst into the clearing, his eyes blazing with fury, his blade drawn. Behind him, pack warriors flanked his sides, their wolves snarling. Victor’s rogues tensed, ready for a fight.

“Aria!” Caden’s voice was a growl, his gaze locking onto her. “Get back!”

But Victor’s laughter cut through the tension. “Tell him, Aria. Tell him how you’ve betrayed him. How you’ve hidden his son. Or shall I?”

Aria’s heart stopped. The truth was out, and the battlefield was set. With Caden’s rage, Victor’s malice, and Rollan’s life hanging in the balance, she had to choose—fight for her son, or beg for Caden’s mercy.