2

The letter trembled in Alessia’s hand, the ink blurring where her tears fell. Kael’s words were a venomous snake, coiled and ready to strike even from the grave. He hadn’t just betrayed her—he had ensured her ruin. The evidence was meticulously detailed: forged documents with her signature, coded messages to the rival pack signed with her nickname, even a recorded conversation where her voice, twisted and edited, spoke of treason. It was a masterpiece of deception, a final act of cruelty designed to destroy her.

The door to the cabin creaked open, and Liam stepped inside, his expression tense. "Alessia? I heard you running. What’s wrong?"

She looked up, her vision swimming, the letter clutched to her chest like a dying bird. "He framed me," she whispered, the words barely audible. "Kael… he didn’t just betray us. He made sure everyone would think it was me."

Liam’s eyes widened, and he crossed the room in three strides, gently prying the letter from her grasp. As he read, his face hardened, his jaw tightening with each line. "This is… insane," he breathed, his voice low and dangerous. "He’s trying to burn you down with him."

"He’s succeeded," Alessia said hollowly, sinking onto the edge of the bed. The weight of it all was crushing. The pack wouldn’t believe her. How could they? The evidence was damning. The Luna who had stood beside their Alpha, who had shared his bed and his life, was a traitor. The irony was bitter enough to choke her.

Liam knelt in front of her, his hands resting on her knees, his gaze steady and unwavering. "No, he hasn’t. Not while I’m here. We’ll fight this, Alessia. We’ll find a way to prove the truth."

"His threats, Liam," she said, her voice cracking. "He said he had failsafes. People loyal to him who would ensure the evidence came out if anything happened to him. They’re probably already moving."

"Then we move faster," Liam said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "The council meets in the morning. We can’t let them see this. Not yet."

"What do we do? Burn it?" Alessia asked, desperation clawing at her throat.

Liam shook his head. "Burning it won’t make it go away. If Kael planned this, there are copies. We need to understand his game, anticipate his next move." He stood, pacing the room, his mind clearly working. "Who else knew about his dealings? Who was close to him?"

Alessia thought for a moment, her mind racing through the faces of the pack. "His inner circle. Damon, his head enforcer. And… and Elara."

Liam stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing. "Elara? The she-wolf who offered you comfort earlier?"

Alessia nodded, a fresh wave of nausea washing over her. "She was always… around. Bringing him reports, staying late to ‘discuss pack matters.’ I thought it was just… you know." She couldn’t bring herself to say it, the shame still too raw.

"We can’t assume anything," Liam said, his voice firm. "But we can’t trust anyone either. Not yet." He walked to the window, peering out into the rainy darkness. "First light, we go to the council. Not with this," he said, gesturing to the letter, "but with a different story. One that buys us time."

"What story?"

"That Kael’s death was more complicated than a rogue attack. That we suspect foul play from within. It’s the truth, just not the whole truth. It will put the pack on high alert, make them cautious. It might make Kael’s allies hesitate."

It was a dangerous gamble, but Alessia saw the logic in it. They needed to control the narrative, even if just for a little while. "And the letter?"

"We hide it," Liam said, his eyes scanning the room. "Somewhere no one would think to look."

Alessia’s gaze fell on the floorboards beneath the bed, the same place she had found the box. She knelt, her fingers tracing the edges of the loose board. "Here," she said, lifting it to reveal a small, dark space. "He hid his secrets here. It’s fitting his final one should be too."

Together, they placed the letter and the box back into the darkness, the weight of their shared secret settling over them like a shroud. When they stood, the space between them felt charged, unspoken words hanging in the air.

"You should get some rest," Liam said, his voice softer now. "We have a long day tomorrow."

Alessia nodded, but she knew sleep wouldn’t come. Her mind was too full, her heart too heavy. "Liam," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you. For believing me."

He reached out, his fingers gently brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "I’ll always believe you, Alessia. Always."

The touch was electric, a spark of warmth in the cold, suffocating darkness. For a moment, they just stood there, the rain tapping against the windows, the world outside fading away. Then, Liam stepped back, the spell broken.

"Lock the door," he said, his tone all business again. "I’ll be right outside if you need anything."

Alessia watched him go, the space he left behind feeling both empty and full. She locked the door, her mind replaying his words, his touch. He was more than just a Beta, more than just a friend. He was her anchor in a storm that threatened to pull her under.

She climbed into bed, the sheets still smelling faintly of Kael, a scent that now filled her with rage instead of sadness. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, the letter’s words echoing in her mind. *You are mine. And if I can’t have you, no one will.*

But Kael was wrong. She wasn’t his. She had never been. And as she closed her eyes, a new determination took root. He had tried to destroy her, but he had only awakened her. The Luna’s revenge would not be whispered in the shadows; it would be roared from the mountaintops. And she would not be alone.