Chapter 2

Chapter 2

ISOLDE

I planned to talk to Draven, but while I walked down the street, I saw Kane go into his house with a big bag. I had not seen him for days, and I needed answers about everything—Larkin, the Second Lunas, and especially Draven. My heart beat fast as I walked to his porch and knocked on the door.

"Isolde!" Kane sounded surprised when he opened the door. "You are still here?"

"Where else would I be?" I snapped, losing my patience.

Kane looked around nervously before he spoke. "Do you know what the other Alphas are doing to these women? What Draven has done?" I asked, my words sharp.

"Calm down, Isolde. Come in." He opened the door wider and let me inside.

Anger and sadness grew inside me, and memories of Draven's lying made me want to let Nova take control. I tried to stay calm, but my wolf wanted revenge.

"I know things are bad, but Isolde, we must be sensible. There is a war nearby," Kane said with a worried voice.

"Sensible? You call this sensible?" I shouted, my voice shaking with anger. "There is always a choice."

"I am begging you to think before you do anything. There is more at risk than you know."

His eyes begged me, but I was too angry to care. I wanted to hurt him and then find Draven to do the same.

"I will tell you something, but you have to promise to keep it a secret," Kane said, stepping closer.

I crossed my arms and tried to hide my feelings. "Tell me."

"The Dark Wolves are led by many Alphas. They are attacking the South to find those who took their sisters. I arranged a meeting with one of their generals. If it goes well, we could stop this war. Once the threat is gone, we can handle our own Alphas."

I stayed quiet, thinking about his words. I wanted to kill Draven, but the threat from the North was real. Stopping the war had to happen first.

"When is this meeting?" I asked.

"Tonight. I am leaving soon." Kane went to his bookshelf, opened a small box, and gave me a sealed envelope. "Take this. If something happens to me, promise you will protect Astrid and our child."

"Your child?" I was shocked. How could I know so little about my own pack?

"Yes. I am sorry I did not tell you sooner. Please, just promise me."

"Kane, I... I promise." I took the envelope, feeling confused.

"I am sorry for everything. I have to protect my family. Watch yourself, and do not trust anyone, not even our pack." He grabbed his bag and put some papers inside.

"Why would I need to be afraid of my own pack?" I asked, feeling lost.

"You are strong, Isolde. People are jealous and want you, but they do not really care about you. Your wolf gives our pack strength. They will not lose that, even if they have to betray you."

"I do not understand," I whispered.

"Mates become stronger when they mark each other. Alphas get stronger the more they mark." He looked away, feeling ashamed.

"Are you saying they want these women enslaved for power? They want that for me?" I shook my head, not wanting to believe it.

"Not everyone, but many do. Stay out of it for now. A lot of things need to be fixed." Kane wiped his face, showing how tired he was.

"I will not tell anyone, Kane. I swear. If something goes wrong, I will protect your family. Go, meet this general, and make a peace deal." I stepped aside to let him get his things.

I watched him leave, feeling the weight of his news. I had to let him go and try to help our packs in the South. I also needed to finish what I started with Draven.

When I reached the fire, I saw the red-haired woman laughing with our pack members. Nova wanted me to get rid of her.

The woman's smile turned toward my sister, making me very angry again. I was about to let Nova take over when I saw the mark on her neck and the baby bump on her belly.

Draven never rejected her. He did the exact opposite.

I felt like I was going to collapse. Nova, my inner wolf, became quiet and let me handle it. She can be a wild beast, but she would not hurt an unborn child.

"There she is! Are you happy our Alpha is in the medical room because of your betrayal?" the red-haired woman yelled as I walked toward her, making everyone look at me.

"I did not know about you or any of this." I tried to speak calmly, not knowing how to handle it. My whole life was a lie!

"Do not act like you had no idea. I am tired of this game you are making my mate play. I am the true Luna of this pack, and now everyone knows it," she said.

While I was suffering because I rejected my lying husband, she was here telling lies.

"No! I did not know anything about this. He lied to me! He said he rejected you." My voice shook as I felt anger growing inside.

"You knew about his fated mate?" My sister, Thalia, sounded shocked. "So it is true. I cannot believe you lied to us all this time. I am ashamed to call you my sister." She made sure everyone heard her.

My hands turned into fists, and I tried to stop Nova from hurting Thalia. "Yes! I knew about his fated mate, but Draven told me he rejected her." I tried to explain, but everyone seemed to think I was the one lying.

"Oh please, Isolde." The red-haired woman waved her hand. "You want us to believe that Draven lied about rejecting his fated mate and you, of all people, did not realize it. I thought you were a powerful Luna." Her voice was mean. "It is clear you made Draven hide me like I was not worthy. Your jealousy made us all weak, and I will not allow it anymore."

"Allow it? I do not owe you an explanation. You mean nothing to me, and I will not take this. When I see Draven, I will make him reject me, and then I will destroy him." My eyes turned black, and Nova’s voice sounded strong.

Draven’s fated mate stepped behind Thalia and put a hand on her belly. The crowd was scared, which only made me want to scream more.

"I will not let this happen! She is not our Luna, and Draven is not our Alpha!" Nova said, but nobody listened.

Alpha Larkin stepped forward, making things worse. "I think you should try to calm your sister, for the pack's sake. I told Alpha Draven she is here, but he is still in the medical room suffering from what she did earlier."