Episode 9: The Traitor’s Shadow
648 Words
Kael ended the call, his expression unreadable.
Elder Rowan immediately sensed something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Kael slipped his phone into his pocket.
“Damian captured one of Lucien’s spies.”
“That’s good news,” Rowan said.
Kael shook his head.
“Not exactly.”
He looked at Lyra.
“The spy claimed there’s a traitor inside Blackthorne Castle.”
Lyra frowned.
“A traitor?”
“Someone close enough to know our movements.”
Rowan’s face darkened.
“If that’s true, Lucien has been one step ahead of us all along.”
⸻
Back at Blackthorne Castle…
Damian stood in the dungeon, staring at the prisoner chained to a stone wall.
The rogue spy laughed despite the blood running from a cut above his eye.
“You’ll never find the traitor.”
Damian stepped closer.
“Who is it?”
The spy smirked.
“You trust too easily, Beta.”
Damian grabbed him by the collar.
“Answer me!”
Instead, the spy whispered,
“Tell your Alpha… the next full moon will belong to Lucien.”
Before Damian could react, the spy bit down on something hidden between his teeth.
A second later, he collapsed.
Dead.
Damian cursed under his breath.
⸻
Meanwhile, Kael insisted on taking Lyra back to the castle.
“I can protect you there.”
Lyra folded her arms.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“And if I don’t want to go?”
Kael met her gaze.
“Then Lucien will keep hunting you.”
His voice wasn’t controlling.
It was honest.
Lyra looked away.
Everything in her life had changed in less than two days.
The café.
Her apartment.
Her quiet routine.
None of it felt real anymore.
Finally, she sighed.
“Fine.”
“But only until I get answers.”
Kael gave a small nod.
“You have my word.”
⸻
As dawn approached, a black SUV stopped before the towering gates of Blackthorne Castle.
Lyra stepped out slowly.
The castle was breathtaking—ancient stone walls rose toward the sky, surrounded by forests that stretched for miles. Guards dressed in black stood at attention, bowing as Kael walked past.
But when they saw Lyra…
Every warrior froze.
One by one, they lowered their heads.
“Welcome, My Lady.”
Lyra looked around in confusion.
“Why are they bowing to me?”
Kael answered quietly.
“They recognize your bloodline.”
She swallowed hard.
“I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”
“No,” Kael replied.
“But your family did.”
⸻
As they entered the grand hall, a beautiful woman descended the staircase.
She had long dark hair, elegant features, and sharp green eyes.
She wore a fitted crimson dress that marked her status within the pack.
The moment she saw Lyra walking beside Kael, her smile disappeared.
She looked directly at Kael.
“Who is she?”
Before Kael could answer, Damian stepped forward.
“Selene…”
Selene ignored him.
Her eyes never left Lyra.
Then she noticed the crescent pendant around Lyra’s neck.
Her expression changed from curiosity…
…to hatred.
“So,” she said coldly.
“The rumors are true.”
She looked Lyra up and down before turning to Kael.
“This is the woman you would choose over your own pack?”
Kael’s voice was calm but firm.
“I didn’t choose her.”
“The Moon did.”
Selene’s jaw tightened.
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Hidden beneath the sleeve of her dress, she clenched a small silver crystal.
A crystal that glowed with the same crimson light Lucien’s rogues carried.
She whispered under her breath,
“Everything is going according to plan.”
Far from being just a jealous rival…
Selene was hiding a dangerous secret.
And no one in Blackthorne Castle suspected her.
- Writer
