Chapter 2

The Alpha King’s words echoed in my head as I sat in the cold, damp cell of the dungeon.

My body ached from being thrown into the cage, and my mind raced with questions. Why did the king call me a traitor?

I couldn’t wait for Damien to return he told me he was going to find out what was going on.

My heart leaped when I heard footsteps descending the stone steps.

It was Damien.

He stood before my cell, his face was covered with fury and something deeper—betrayal.

“Damien,” I whispered, scrambling to my feet.

“Tell me the truth,” he demanded. “If you do, maybe I can convince them to spare you.”

I blinked, confusion washing over me. “The truth about what?”

His eyes darkened, and he stepped closer to the bars. “Don’t play innocent with me, Rae. I know what you did at the warrior’s welcome back party.”

I stared at him, looking more confused than I was before.

“I don’t know what you’re—“

Damien let out a dry laugh, and his next words shocked me. “Why are you pretending like you didn’t strike a deal with Lannister?”

“What?” I gasped, my stomach twisting. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

His hand slammed against the bars, the sound echoing through the dungeon. “Don’t lie to me!”

“I’m not lying!” I cried, tears springing to my eyes.

“They have evidence,” he spat. “One of the knights said he saw you in the garden during the warrior’s party, handing over my father’s battle plans to a Lannister informant.”

The words hit me like a punch to the chest. I stumbled back, my breath catching. ‘The garden... the box.’

Kayla.

My mind traveled back to that night. Kayla had told me Damien needed me to deliver the box to a man in the garden. I didn’t question her because I trusted her.

“I didn’t know what was in the box,” I said, my voice trembling. “Kayla told me you needed me to deliver it—”

“Enough!” Damien cut me off, his tone like ice. “You have no right to speak.”

I stared at him, my vision blurring with tears. “Please, Damien, I didn’t—”

“I can’t believe you would do this,” he said, his voice breaking for just a moment before hardening again. “I defended you. I treated you like a queen. And this is how you repay me?”

“No! It’s not what you think!” I pleaded, my hands gripping the bars.

His expression was cold. “You’ve disappointed me, Rae. I thought you were different. But now... now I see the truth.”

His words cut deeper than any blade.

“You need to prepare for your punishment,” he said, take a step backward.“There’s no place for traitors here.”

“Damien!” I cried, but he turned and left without another word.

I collapsed onto the cold floor, my body shaking with sobs. The man who had once been my protector, my love, now looked at me as though I were nothing.

Hours later, the sound of footsteps broke the silence again. I looked up, hoping against hope that Damien had come back. But it wasn’t him.

It was Kayla.

She stood in front of my cell, her arms crossed and a triumphant smirk on her face.

“Look at you,” she said. “The mighty Rae brought to her knees. You deserve every bit of this.”

“Kayla...” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “You set me up.”

Her smirk widened. “Of course I did. Did you really think I’d let you take Damien away from me? Not in a million years. I’m so glad you are so naive, Rae. So easy to manipulate.”

I clenched my fists. “You’re not going to get away with this.”

“I already have,” she said, her tone unapologetic. “You’re nothing but an orphan whore, Rae, and very soon you will be banished from this pack and everybody will forget you ever existed.”

With that, she turned and left, her laughter echoing down the corridor.

The next morning, the guards came for me. They dragged me out of the cell, their grip bruising as they hauled me through the palace.

As we passed Damien in the hallway, my heart ached for him to look at me the way he once had—with love, with trust. But when our eyes met, all I saw was disgust.

I wanted to scream, to beg him to believe me, but the words caught in my throat.

As they dragged me toward my fate, I realized that I was truly alone and the man who loved me was gone.