Chapter 17

Zaiden’s POV

The council hall reeked of smoke and blood. My warriors stood tense in a circle, their eyes flicking between me, the bound rogue at the center, and my Beta Cole.

I stalked closer to the prisoner. “Who sent you?”

The wolf spat blood onto the floor but his voice trembled. “I was only a messenger.”

“Messenger for who?” My growl shook the rafters.

His cracked lips twisted. “Your Beta promised us more than this.”

The words hit like a blade. Gasps broke out. My wolves shifted uncomfortably, eyes darting toward Cole.

Cole bristled instantly, stepping forward. “That’s a lie!” His voice thundered. “You think I’d betray you, Alpha? I’ve stood by you through every battle, every scar! He’s throwing my name to save his worthless hide.”

Murmurs rose. Doubt crept like smoke.

The rogue smirked faintly. “Believe what you want. Fear the one who hides in your shadow.”

I wanted to rip his throat out, yet something in his tone unsettled me.

Before I could speak again, Karen’s voice slid into the room like cold wind. She leaned against the doorway, pale but unyielding.

“You’ll never find the traitor listening only to words,” she said, her voice steady. “Watch fear. The guilty one always flinches in the shadow of truth.”

Cole scoffed, glaring at her. “Convenient. The outsider speaks of guilt. Tell me, Alpha who brought more trouble to us than her arrival? The rogues knew too much after she came. Maybe she’s the rot, not me.”

Gasps rippled louder. My stomach tightened.

“Enough,” I barked, my voice snapping the room into silence. But I saw Karen flinch at Cole’s words… and it twisted something deep inside me.

The council dispersed uneasily, leaving me and Karen by the fire. She came to me with eyes burning.

“You hesitated,” she whispered.

“I didn’t,” I snapped too quickly.

“You did. For a moment, you thought maybe it was me.” Her voice cracked.

I clenched my fists. “Karen, don’t start this…”

She gave a bitter laugh. “Don’t start what? Telling the truth? Maybe my first mate was right to reject me. Maybe I’m cursed, unwanted…”

“Stop.” I grabbed her arm, my voice low and harsh. “You think I’ll let you compare me to him? You are mine.”

Her eyes searched mine, wet and desperate. “Am I? Because you defend everyone but me. You defend him.”

The words lodged in my throat. Fury and fear churned together until they exploded. “Maybe he’s right. Maybe you are the problem! Ever since you came, the pack’s been in chaos. Maybe your first mate saw something I was too blind to see.”

The instant the words left me, her face broke. Like I’d ripped her open with my claws.

Her voice shook, barely more than a whisper. “You don’t mean that.”

But I had said it. And silence was worse than denial.

She pulled free, eyes glassy with rage and grief, and stormed out into the night.

My wolf howled inside me, regret gnawing, but I didn’t follow. I couldn’t. 

*********

Karen’s POV

The night air slapped my face as I stormed from the hall, but it didn’t cool the fire raging inside me. Zaiden’s words echoed like a curse: Maybe your first mate was right.

I wanted to scream, to rip, to burn. My wolf surged against my skin, itching for destruction. Warriors training nearby froze as I lashed out, claws scraping wood, sending splinters flying.

One brave gamma approached. “Luna…”

“Don’t call me that!” I snarled, my voice raw. “Maybe I was never meant to be here.”

“Don't say that the Moon goddess specifically made you for our Alpha and she wouldn't do that if it wasn't for a purpose, he's just probably not himself and is caught up with a whole lot of issues, just give him some time he will come around.” Zaiden's Gamma said 

" What if I lose him, what if his Beta actually changes his mind about me.” I ask holding back the tears in my eyes. 

"These what ifs won't happen it's the Moon goddess choice not Cole's choice.” He said as he smiled at me.

"Thank you, your words meant a lot.” I said as I cleaned my dress and stood up to go to Zaiden's chamber.

" You welcome." He said as he bowed and left.

For days, I kept to myself, but I couldn’t ignore the signs. I caught Cole’s scent where it shouldn’t be lingering near the supply hut one night, too close to the eastern border another. Each time, I told myself I was paranoid. But when I overheard him mutter in council about the caves details only a rogue should know my blood went cold.

Still, no one else saw it. Cole was careful, too careful. And when whispers rose about me being the weak link, he fanned them. “The rogues knew too much after Karen came,” he said slyly, his eyes daring me to fight back.

I held my tongue, but inside, I swore: I would not be scapegoated again.

Zaiden finally called for a test. “We’ll send a patrol east, through the Black Ridge caves,” he announced. “No one outside this room hears of it.”

Cole’s jaw tightened, his hand twitching almost imperceptibly. My heart skipped. I saw it. Zaiden saw it too, though he refused to meet my eyes.

The next night, the patrol set out. I insisted on going. Zaiden didn’t argue. Cole, of course, volunteered too

The caves rose dark against the horizon, jagged like teeth. My wolf bristled. It was a trap I could feel it.

And then the woods erupted. Rogues poured from the trees, steel flashing, snarls cutting the air.

The fight was chaos blood, teeth, fire in my veins. But through it all, I saw the truth they were waiting for us. At that exact location. 

When the dust settled, a young rogue was dragged forward, bound and bleeding. He fell to his knees, shaking.

“Don’t kill me!” he cried. “I was told to be here! We were promised a safe passage!”

“By who?" Zaiden growled.

“Your Beta." He said as he shivered.

The clearing froze. Every warrior’s gaze shifted toward Cole.

Cole’s face twisted with outrage. “Lies! You’ll believe a rogue’s word over mine?” His voice thundered, but I caught it just for a heartbeat fear in his eyes.

I stepped forward, chest heaving, voice sharp. “Zaiden… he’s cracking. Just like I said. The guilty one always flinches.”

Silence pressed heavy on us all. The firelight flickered against Zaiden’s golden eyes as he stared at his beta his brother.