Chapter 8

The word kept repeating itself in my mind long after the wounded guard collapsed into the Elder's chamber. Proof of who betrayed Keira’s parents. And that proof was buried beneath the pack house. It was proof that my father knew a lot more than he admitted. And I wasn't sure how we were going to take the information given to us. 

The room felt colder, and though the candle still burned along the walls, their flames leaned forward to Keira. It was as if the ancient fire recognized her long before the rest of us did. Her eyes were fixed on the guard, like she was ready to pull answers out of him with nothing but a stare. And though I wanted to watch her to make sure that the shock didn't break something raw in her, I found myself watching my father. Reading his reaction, trying to understand his body language.

He braced himself with one hand on the polished table. Every line of his face carved from control was not calm.

“What proof?” I asked before I could stop myself. “What is he talking about?”

The guard tried to answer, but he couldn't as blood came out from his lips instead. Lena pressed both hands on the wound. And I could tell that she was trying to control the bleeding. Brad was crouched beside her, tearing a strip from his shirt and handing it over without a word.

Isaiah’s gaze slid from the guard to my father. “They knew she would be here,” he said. “They knew she awakened, and they knew her name on the book. They have answers about her past, and they know about her family.”

Her fingers tightened at her sides, and I thought the movement through the bond before I even saw it. She wanted to go. Of course, I couldn't blame her. If anyone told me proof about my parents was hidden under the very home that raised me, I would have ripped the floor up with my bare hands.

But I knew that this was bait. They were trying to get her to stand against us. I hope that was true.

 “Enough. Bloodfang wolves do not dictate what happens inside my territory.” My father said, glaring at the guard.

Keira turned slowly. “Your territory? My family died here and there is proof under your house and you are telling me that this is your territory?”

“Yes, and you will do well to remember who your alpha is. I will not tolerate your nonsense. I have tolerated enough of it until now, but I will put a limit to it if I need to.” He said, glaring at her.

“You will not threaten her,” I snapped, turning my attention to him.

“You are testing my patience, Derek.” He said, not bothering to look at me as his face hardened. I knew that this was not what he expected from me as a reaction, but I could not care less. That was my Luna. And I was not going to allow anyone to cross her. Not after everything that you have endured.

“I’m asking questions you should have answered already.” I said, raising an eyebrow at him, knowing well that he was taking the threat.

His hand slammed the table. The Oracle Record jumped at the impact, but the bloodline chart stayed open, Aurelia Vale burning between us like an accusation. “You forget your place,” he growled. “And this is not the first time that I've said this tonight. Unless you need me to remind you of your limits, I will suggest that you step back.”

“If there is proof under this pack house, I need to see it,” she whispered, stopping the argument before it escalated.

“You will not go near those lower chambers,” my father snapped. “You have no right to think that you can look through our pack.”

“So there are lower chambers,” Isaiah said, voice sharp. “Everything that has been told is true?”

“You will keep your mouth shut unless spoken to.” Father snapped, letting out a little growl.

Isaiah’s smile was thin. “That would be easier if you stopped confirming everything by accident. You know you are actually allowing yourself to be questioned by answering questions without even being asked.”

Brad rose, restless. “If Bloodfang is at the border, we should be preparing warriors, not arguing.”

“Warriors are already moving,” my father said. “I am still Alpha. And you are all going to be following my rule, do you understand me?”

His words filled the room with weight. Most bowed their heads, Lena lowered hers, the wounded guard groaned, but Keira did not bow. Neither did I. I knew that the bond was stronger than his command and he seemed to understand something was wrong.

He stepped closer, voice dropping to a private knife though everyone heard it. “I will deal with your defiance later. And trust me when I say that I'm not going to let it slide.”

“Why? Because I am not falling for your lies?” I asked, licking him dead in the eye, challenging him in a way that no wolf would his alpha.

His eyes burned. “You are my son. My heir. Your duty is to Silver Moon, to your blood, to the title you were born to carry. Yet the moment some ancient bond tugs at your chest, you forget everything I built into you.”

“She is part of Silver Moon too,” I said. “And as far as we all know, she has always been part of our pack. Omega or not, it is our duty to keep her safe. At least that is what we all knew. Unless there is a treason that you are trying to hide.”

“Watch your tone,” he warned.

“No.” The word left me before caution could stop it. Brad froze. Isaiah’s smile vanished. Elder Selene drew a sharp breath. My father’s aura surged, crashing against me like a wave. My wolf braced beneath it, but the bond burned brighter, wrapping silver heat around my ribs. It hurt. But it held. For the first time, my father’s command did not force me down.

“You think this bond makes you stronger than me?” he spat. “Do you really believe that she is going to keep you safe?”

“No,” I said. “I think it makes me responsible.”

“Responsible? For her?” His disgust was plain.

“Yes. For her. Because we hurt her. Because I hurt her. Because whether you like it or not, she is bound to us now, and I won’t let Bloodfang use her pain to drag her into a trap. I don't care what it is that you're going to tell me not to do, I am going to defend her.”

“If war comes for her,” I said, stepping forward, bond burning, wolf rising, “it will have to pass through me first.”

Silence crashed over the chamber. My father’s expression shifted from rage to something colder, disappointment, betrayal, a threat waiting to be delivered. Then the wounded guard grabbed Brad’s wrist and forced out another word.

“Alpha…” he rasped. “There is something else that you need to know…”

Everyone turned, but Lena shook her head. “Don’t speak. You are still weak and your body needs to…”

The guard ignored her, eyes rolling toward my father. “The eastern gate wasn’t broken.”

My blood went cold. Isaiah stepped away from the window. “What?”

“It was opened…”