Chapter 4: The Prisoner's Truth

The cell smelled of damp stone and rust.

Water dripped steadily from somewhere in the darkness, each drop echoing through the underground prison like a ticking clock. The air was cold enough to make me shiver, but I barely noticed.

I sat on the narrow wooden bench, still wearing my wedding dress.

The white fabric that had once made me feel beautiful was now stained with dirt from the prison floor. The long train lay crumpled beside me, and the tiny flowers woven into my hair had begun to wilt.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Hours ago, I had been a bride.

Now I was a prisoner.

I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes.

Everything had happened so fast.

Kael's smile.

His promise to meet me at the altar.

Selena bursting through the doors.

The accusations.

The handcuffs.

And the look in Kael's eyes.

He hadn't called me a liar.

But he hadn't defended me either.

That hurt more than anything.

A soft whimper came from deep inside me.

My wolf.

She had been unusually quiet since the ceremony.

"I know," I whispered.

She wasn't grieving the broken wedding.

She was grieving our mate.

The bond between us and Kael was still there, but it felt strained, like a rope pulled so tightly that it could snap at any moment.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor.

I looked up.

The iron door creaked open.

For one foolish second, hope flared inside me.

Kael.

It had to be Kael.

He had come to tell me it was all a mistake.

He had come because he believed me.

Instead, Beta Ronan walked in.

Hope disappeared as quickly as it had come.

He folded his arms across his chest.

"I expected you to be crying."

"I'm done crying."

His lips curved into a humorless smile.

"We'll see."

He placed a tray of untouched food on the small table.

"I don't want it."

"I wasn't asking."

He turned to leave but stopped at the door.

"You know," he said without looking at me, "you should've run."

I frowned.

"What?"

"If you were guilty, escaping would've been smarter."

"I'm not guilty."

He looked over his shoulder, studying me for a long moment.

Then, surprisingly, he said, "I know."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"I said..." He lowered his voice. "I know you didn't do it."

The words left me speechless.

"If you know I'm innocent, why didn't you tell them?"

"Because knowing something and proving it are two different things."

He stepped closer until only the bars separated us.

"Someone spent years planning this."

My pulse quickened.

"Years?"

"They knew exactly where to plant evidence."

"They knew exactly when Selena would return."

"They knew she'd arrive during your wedding."

Every word sent a chill through me.

"This wasn't revenge."

He paused.

"It was strategy."

I searched his face, trying to understand.

"Then help me."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

His expression darkened.

"Because I don't know who's behind it."

Silence settled between us.

"Does Kael know?" I asked quietly.

Ronan sighed.

"No."

"And you won't tell him?"

"I will."

"When I have proof."

Frustration bubbled inside me.

"By then it'll be too late!"

Before he could answer, hurried footsteps echoed outside the cell.

Another guard appeared.

"Beta Ronan."

"What is it?"

"The Alpha wants you upstairs immediately."

Ronan's face hardened.

"I'm coming."

He looked back at me one last time.

"Whatever happens..."

He hesitated.

"...don't trust anyone."

Even me.

He didn't say the last two words.

He didn't have to.

The heavy door slammed shut behind him.

I sat there, trying to make sense of everything.

If Ronan believed I was innocent...

Then why had he spoken against me during the ceremony?

Why had he let them chain me?

Nothing made sense anymore.

Hours passed.

The prison grew quieter.

The torches burned lower.

Just as exhaustion began pulling me toward sleep, another sound broke the silence.

A faint scraping noise.

I sat upright.

It came again.

Closer this time.

Someone was outside my cell.

A hooded figure stepped out of the shadows.

Their face was hidden beneath a black cloak.

Every instinct screamed at me to stay back.

The stranger pressed a finger to their lips.

"Don't make a sound."

My heart pounded.

"Who are you?"

Instead of answering, they slipped a small folded piece of paper through the bars.

"Read it after I'm gone."

Before I could stop them, they turned and disappeared into the darkness.

The entire encounter lasted only seconds.

Hands shaking, I picked up the note.

On the outside, written in neat handwriting, were five chilling words.

Trust no one...not even Kael.