CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48

Kael’s POV.

I stood in the dungeon, my heart pounding, my fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms.

The air was damp, filled with the smell of rust and mold, the torches flickering, casting weak light on the stone walls.

Elijah was tied to a pole, his wrists bound, his dark hair matted, his face bruised, but his eyes, those eyes I’d trusted, glinted with something dark, something cruel.

Brian’s words echoed, cutting deep: "Elijah’s from the Fang pack. He was a spy. He started the fire."

My chest ached, betrayal burning hotter than the unhealing wound on my side, still bloody under the bandage.

Elijah, my former Gamma, my friend, who’d fought beside me, laughed with me, vanished two years ago, leaving me to mourn him, thinking he was dead.

Now he was here, a traitor? My wolf, Zeus, roared, his rage surging, his loyalty shattered. I stared at Elijah, my eyes stinging, pain and anger mixing, my thoughts about Aria’s avoidance fading for a second as my focus locked on this betrayal.

"Is it true?" I asked, my voice low, rough, my eyes burning into his.

"What Brian said? You’re from the Fang pack? A spy?" My heart raced, my breath heavy, hoping he’d deny it, say it was a mistake, that he was still my Gamma that’ll fight with me.

My hands shook, my wound throbbing, my mind spinning with memories of his words, his smiles, now tainted.

Elijah’s lips curled, a jeering laugh escaping, sharp and mocking, his eyes glinting with hate.

"What do you think, Kael?" he said, his voice cold, his laugh cutting deeper.

My anger flared, Zeus growling, his rage hot, pushing me forward. I charged, my fist slamming into his face, the crack loud, his head snapping back, blood trickling from his lip.

He groaned, his body slumping against the pole, but his laugh returned, weaker but still cruel.

"Did you start the fire?" I asked, my voice loud, my fists clenching, my heart pounding.

The fire, the one that nearly killed me, the flames roaring, the smoke choking, flashed in my mind. I needed him to deny it, to give me something to hold onto, but his eyes met mine, his smile vicious.

"Yeah, I did," he said, his voice sharp, his words a knife.

"And it would’ve been perfect if it worked. If you’d died." His laugh was cold, his eyes burning with hate.

"I hated you, Kael... Every day in the Shadow Claw pack, I wanted to strangle you. To end your reign But I waited, played loyal, bided my time. Then, in the Fang pack, I saw my chance. I set the guest building on fire. I wanted you dead, and your so-called Luna, Celeste, too." His words were venom, his snarl vicious, his eyes locked on mine, daring me to react.

My heart stopped, my breath gone, rage flooding me, Zeus roaring, his claws itching. Celeste was Aria, my mate, the woman I loved, and he’d tried to kill her?

My vision blurred, my anger exploding, and I punched him again, my fist slamming his jaw, blood spraying, his groan loud.

His head lolled, his face bleeding, but his smile stayed, mocking me, breaking me. My chest heaved, my wound burning, my hands shaking with fury.

"Who sent you?" I asked, my voice a growl, my eyes burning into his. "Who told you to do this?"

Elijah’s eyes glinted, his voice cold, steady. "Whatever I do, I do on my own accord," he said, his words sharp, unyielding.

My anger surged, my hands fisting, my heart racing. I asked again, my voice louder, my body shaking. "Who sent you?"

But he repeated it, his voice colder, his eyes defiant. "Whatever I do, I do on my own accord."

My rage boiled, my claws elongating, sharp and ready, Zeus roaring, urging me to end him.

I asked a third time, trying to get the very truth I believed, my voice booming, the dungeon echoing.

"Who sent you?" And again, his answer was the same, his voice stern, his words a taunt.

"Whatever I do, I do on my own accord."

My control snapped, my claws swinging, aimed at his throat, ready to tear him apart for his betrayal, for trying to kill me, to kill Aria.

My heart pounded, my rage blinding, Zeus howling, his fury unstoppable. But Brian grabbed my arm, his grip tight, his voice urgent.

"Stop, Alpha!" he said, his eyes wide, his breath heavy.

I yanked against him, my claws inches from Elijah’s neck, his bloodied face still smirking, his eyes daring me.

"Let go!" I commanded, my voice a growl, my eyes burning into Brian’s, my body shaking with rage.

Zeus roared, his strength pushing me, wanting blood, wanting justice. Elijah’s betrayal, his hate, his attempt on Aria’s life, fueled me, my claws trembling, ready to strike.

Brian didn’t move, his grip steady, his voice firm. "Killing him here will cause trouble," he said, his eyes meeting mine, his face tense.

"He’s from the Fang pack. If you kill him in our dungeon, it’s war. We need to set things right with their Alpha first." His words were calm, logical, but my anger burned, my chest heaving, my heart racing.

I wanted Elijah dead, wanted his blood for what he’d done, but Brian’s warning sank in, the risk of war, the pack’s safety, pulling me back.

I let my arm drop, my claws retracting, my breath heavy, my eyes still on Elijah, his smirk fading, his face pale.

My heart ached, betrayal and rage mixing, Zeus whining, his anger softening to pain. I’d trusted Elijah, called him brother, and he’d wanted me dead, wanted Aria dead.

My chest tightened, my worry for her surging, her absence, her avoidance, still heavy. "Fine," I said, my voice low, rough, my hands clenching.

"Send for Alpha Nicholas. Now."

Brian hesitated, his eyes narrowing, his voice low. "Alpha, calling Nicholas here is an insult," he said, his hands dropping, his face tense.

"He’ll see it as disrespect, as us wanting war. We should go to him, show strength, keep Elijah alive as leverage." His words were careful, his loyalty clear, but my anger flared, my patience gone, my worry for Aria louder than his logic.

At this point, I’m sure Nicholas wouldn’t mind coming to the shadow claw pack.

I glared at him, my voice hard, my eyes burning.

"Make Alpha Nicholas come to me if he wants his guard alive," I said, my words sharp, my fist clenching tight, my heart racing with fury and fear.