THE ALPHA'S SILENT BETRAYAL

Chapter 6: Sunfire

Devlin’s POV

The suffocating silence followed me all the way to my room. The argument with Jason had left me rattled. I was so used to swallowing the anger that had been nipping at me since the night of the council meeting that standing up for myself had felt almost exhilarating. But the moment of triumph faded as the truth of my situation settled in. The annulment had already been signed, and my time as Luna of the Red Moon Pack was slipping away.

I leaned against the door and closed my eyes as a shiver of unease moved down my spine. The satisfaction I had felt after confronting Jason was already fading, replaced by a hollow sense of dread. I had spent years being the convenient Alpha’s mate, swallowing every insult thrown my way. It was one thing to finally break through that barrier and say what I wanted to say. It was another to realize I would still be treated the same way.

My phone rang.

I opened my eyes and saw Dad’s name flashing across the screen.

“Hello, Dad.”

“Devlin?” His voice was warm. “How are you, sweetheart?”

“I’m fine, Dad.”

“You don’t sound fine. Your father can always tell.”

“Apparently.”

He chuckled, but it died quickly. “Helena told me about the trouble between you and Jason yesterday. Are you in trouble, Devlin?”

I stared at the ceiling. “No. Jason and I are just having some issues.”

“Come home if you need to.”

“I can’t, Dad. I’m still Luna.”

There was a pause before he spoke again. “You have spent too much of your life trying to prove that you belong somewhere, Devlin. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. No matter how or why this ends, don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.”

My throat tightened. “I won’t, Dad. I promise.”

I kept the phone against my ear for a few seconds after the call ended. Maybe it was part of growing up, but no matter how hard I tried, Dad was the only person who never made me feel like I had to prove that I belonged. Perhaps that was why his words hurt so much.

Because I knew they were true.

I pushed away from the door and headed for the Luna office. The pack had decided to treat me like a temporary Luna, but I refused to start behaving like one until my official tenure was over.

I spent the next few hours going through financial statements, gathering what records I could, and memorizing patrol routes. Families still depended on the Luna’s office despite everything happening around us. Injured warriors still needed supplies. Petty disputes still needed to be settled. The council might be preparing to decide my fate, but I refused to abandon my responsibilities before I was officially removed.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Lance stepped inside with a handful of reports. “Luna.”

I looked up at him. “There are rumors going around about something that happened this morning.”

I paused over the documents in my hands. “About the council?”

“About the annulment pressure.” He placed the reports on my desk. “The elders are pushing the bloodline charter, and Jason’s parents are supporting them. I don’t know what Alpha Jason is going to do, Luna, but you need to be careful. They’re playing a dangerous game.”

I studied him. “How dangerous?”

“The council delegates are arriving earlier than expected for the Solstice Gala. Isabelle has been meeting their representatives in private all week.”

My fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

“Whatever terms they’re negotiating, they’re making sure the Red Moon Pack remains under the council’s mandates.”

My stomach twisted. It wasn’t just about Jason. The situation was bigger than him.

“Thank you, Lance. For telling me the truth.”

“You have always been honest with me.”

He hesitated at the door. “Luna…”

I looked at him.

“Wearing the same crest doesn’t make someone loyal.”

Then he left, and the door clicked shut behind him.

I stared at the reports again until something caught my attention. They showed increased activity around the pack’s northern gate. Patrols had been diverted without my knowledge, and several council-aligned packs had moved closer to the Sovereign Territories.

That wasn’t normal.

The council had no reason to increase its activity this close to King Kaelen’s lands. I leaned back in my chair, my thoughts racing.

What were they expecting? Why did the Solstice Gala matter so much to them?

It felt like a setup. A confrontation, perhaps even something much worse.

I needed air.

I left the office and walked toward the gardens. The evening wind brushed against my skin, and for the first time all day, my thoughts began to settle.

Then the heat returned.

I stopped walking as warmth spread beneath my skin, starting from my chest and racing down my back. A sharp breath escaped me. My heart hammered as the sensation grew stronger with every beat, and a strange golden glow pulsed beneath my fingertips.

I pulled my hand away from my chest.

The mark was still there. The Sun Crest glowed against my skin like an ancient symbol that had been waiting beneath the surface all along.

My breathing hitched. “What are you?”

The heat surged again.

I blinked, and massive golden eyes stared back at me. Then I saw large, wild paws pounding against the ground.

Power ripped through me so violently that my legs gave way. I gasped and grabbed the nearest tree for support as the vision vanished.

I was back in the garden, surrounded by trees and evening air, my hands shaking as I pressed my palm against my heart.

Everyone had believed I was wolfless and useless for twenty-three years.

They had been wrong.

My wolf wasn’t missing.

She had been waiting.

The warmth surged through me again, stronger than before.

I looked up sharply.

This time, I wasn’t alone.