Chapter 10: Betrayed
822 Words
Craig's POV
The mark.
It couldn't be real.
For a long moment, I simply stared at the crimson crescent branded onto Sofia's wrist.
My pulse slowed.
Then quickened again.
No.
This wasn't possible.
That symbol had disappeared centuries ago.
"Alpha..."
Mason's voice broke the silence.
"What do we do?"
I carefully released Sofia's arm and pulled her behind me.
"No one speaks of this."
The room remained silent.
Every servant lowered their head.
Martha was the first to nod.
"As you command, Alpha."
I looked at each of them.
"If word of this leaves these walls..."
I didn't need to finish.
They understood.
When the last servant had left, Mason quietly closed the doors.
Only the three of us remained.
Sofia looked between us.
"Will someone please tell me what's happening?"
Her voice trembled.
"I deserve to know."
I wanted to tell her.
The truth.
But I couldn't.
Not yet.
"You need to rest."
Her eyes filled with hurt.
"So you're hiding things from me too?"
The question struck deeper than I expected.
"I'm trying to protect you."
She laughed bitterly.
"That's exactly what my Alpha used to say."
The words landed like a blade in my chest.
She turned away before I could answer.
For the first time since bringing her here...
She looked afraid of me again.
That night...
I stood alone on the highest balcony of the pack house.
The moon hung low above the forest.
Cold wind brushed against my face.
"You've been quiet."
Mason joined me.
"I've been thinking."
"About the mark?"
I nodded.
"It's supposed to be a legend."
"But?"
"But legends usually start somewhere."
Neither of us spoke for several moments.
Finally, Mason broke the silence.
"Do you think she's..."
"No."
I answered too quickly.
"I refuse to believe it."
Before he could question me further, hurried footsteps echoed behind us.
A warrior dropped to one knee.
"Alpha!"
"What is it?"
"We caught a spy."
Mason frowned.
"A spy?"
"He was hiding near the eastern wall."
"Bring him."
"Yes, Alpha."
Minutes later, two guards dragged a man into the courtyard below.
His clothes were dirty.
His face bruised.
But he was smiling.
That bothered me.
People who smiled after capture usually had nothing left to lose.
I descended into the courtyard.
The prisoner lifted his head.
"So..."
"The Devil Alpha himself."
"Who sent you?"
He laughed.
"You already know."
"I want to hear you say it."
The man's smile widened.
"The Crimson King."
Mason stiffened beside me.
"What does he want with Sofia?"
The prisoner looked directly at me.
"Her."
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
"Why?"
The man chuckled.
"You really don't know?"
I grabbed him by the throat.
"Answer me."
His smile never faded.
"You think the Moon Goddess gave you an omega?"
His laughter echoed through the courtyard.
"You've been fooled."
Every wolf present went silent.
"What are you talking about?"
"That girl..."
His grin widened.
"...was never meant to belong to you."
Rage surged through me.
"What does that mean?"
"You'll find out."
Blood suddenly trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Then more.
His body convulsed violently.
Mason stepped forward.
"Alpha, move!"
I threw the man aside.
A second later...
His body exploded into black flames.
The fire vanished almost instantly.
Leaving behind nothing but ash.
No scent.
No remains.
Nothing.
The courtyard fell silent.
One of my warriors whispered,
"What... was that?"
I already knew.
Dark magic.
Someone had silenced him.
Someone powerful.
Someone who didn't want him talking.
Sofia's POV
Sleep refused to come.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the mark.
Every time I touched my wrist...
It felt warm.
Almost alive.
A gentle knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly.
Martha entered carrying a tray.
"I brought you tea."
"You didn't have to."
She smiled.
"We take care of family here."
Family.
That word felt foreign.
She sat beside me.
"I've worked in this pack for over thirty years."
I looked at her.
"I watched Alpha Craig grow up."
"What was he like?"
Her smile softened.
"Lonely."
That wasn't the answer I expected.
"His father believed kindness made an Alpha weak."
She sighed.
"So Craig learned to hide it."
"But he never lost it."
I remembered the little girl from earlier.
The carved wooden wolf.
The elderly woman.
The way everyone smiled around him.
The monster I had imagined...
Didn't exist.
At least not here.
Martha stood.
"Try to sleep."
After she left, I walked toward the window.
The moonlight illuminated the forest below.
Everything looked peaceful.
Until movement caught my eye.
Someone stood among the trees.
Watching my window.
A tall figure wrapped in a black cloak.
I couldn't see their face.
Only their glowing crimson eyes.
My heart stopped.
The stranger slowly raised one hand...
And pointed directly at me.
Then...
They vanished into the darkness.
I stumbled backward.
My breathing became uneven.
"Craig..."
I whispered.
"I don't think we're alone."
- Writer
