Chapter 3: The Betrayer Among Us
1541 Words
The words carved into the tree seemed to stare back at Liam.
THE LUNAR BLOOD HAS AWAKENED.
No one spoke.
Even the forest seemed to hold its breath.
Liam slowly turned toward Kael. “What is Lunar Blood?”
Kael’s expression remained unreadable, but his shoulders had gone rigid.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying again.”
“I said I don't know.”
“Then why are you looking at that message like it just confirmed your worst fear?”
Kael stepped toward him.
“Because whoever left it knows about you.”
Liam folded his arms. “That still doesn't tell me what I am.”
Kael's eyes hardened.
“You're an Omega who has become a target. Until we understand why, you stay inside the Alpha's mansion.”
Liam almost laughed.
“Your mansion?”
“Yes.”
“You rejected me yesterday.”
Kael flinched.
Liam saw it.
“So don't suddenly act like you have the right to decide where I live.”
Kael moved closer.
“I rejected the bond because I thought it would keep you safe.”
“And did it?”
Silence.
“No,” Liam answered for him.
His voice softened despite himself.
“Someone carved a message about my blood into a tree.”
Kael looked away.
Liam noticed the way his hands tightened into fists.
For all his authority, the Alpha looked like a man fighting something inside himself.
Then Kael said quietly, “Come with me.”
This time, Liam followed.
Not because Kael had ordered him.
Because somewhere inside him, despite everything, he still trusted the wolf who smelled like home.
By sunset, guards surrounded the healing house.
Two warriors stood outside the door.
Another pair watched the windows.
Kael had doubled the protection around Liam without announcing why.
Liam noticed.
So did Elias.
“You've got guards everywhere,” Elias said.
Liam looked through the window.
“I know.”
“Kael ordered it?”
Liam nodded.
Elias frowned.
“Why?”
Liam hesitated.
He couldn't tell him about the bond.
Not yet.
“Because of the attacks.”
Elias didn't look convinced.
“You're hiding something.”
“So are you.”
Elias blinked.
Liam pointed at his torn jacket.
“You said you were attacked at the northern border. That doesn't explain why you have a cut on your back.”
Elias became quiet.
“There were tracks.”
“What kind?”
“Wolf tracks.”
“From the attackers?”
“No.”
Elias lowered his voice.
“They were leading away from the bodies.”
Liam's pulse quickened.
“Where?”
“Toward the old mountains.”
Before Liam could ask anything else, someone knocked.
Ronan entered.
“Kael wants Liam at the training grounds.”
Elias immediately stood.
“I'll come.”
Ronan nodded.
The three of them left together.
The training grounds were nearly empty.
Kael stood near the weapons racks with several maps spread across a wooden table.
When Liam approached, Kael looked up.
“Elias.”
The hunter stopped.
“Alpha.”
“Leave us.”
Elias glanced at Liam.
Liam gave him a small nod.
Elias walked away.
Kael waited until he was out of earshot.
“You asked me what Lunar Blood was.”
“Yes.”
Kael stared at the map.
“My father spent the last year of his life investigating it.”
Liam's heart beat faster.
“What happened to your father?”
Kael's face changed.
“My father died twelve years ago.”
“I know.”
“He wasn't killed by another pack.”
Liam went still.
“What?”
Kael's fingers pressed against the edge of the table.
“He was murdered.”
The word settled heavily between them.
“Who killed him?”
“We never found out.”
Kael's eyes lifted.
“But before he died, he became obsessed with an ancient bloodline.”
“The Lunar Blood.”
Kael nodded.
“He believed someone in Blackridge carried it.”
Liam touched his collarbone.
“My family?”
“I don't know.”
“You think it's me.”
Kael didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
A sharp sound came from the forest.
Ronan appeared between the trees.
“Kael.”
The Alpha turned.
“We found something.”
They followed Ronan into the woods.
The entrance to a hidden cave was concealed behind thick vines and rocks.
Inside, the air smelled of dust and iron.
Several wooden crates sat against the walls.
Ronan opened one.
Weapons.
Another contained maps.
Liam stepped closer to a table.
There were drawings scattered across it.
The same crescent symbol that appeared on his skin.
His stomach twisted.
“Who made these?”
Ronan shook his head.
“We don't know.”
Kael picked up one of the papers.
His eyes narrowed.
Liam saw something written near the bottom.
He moved closer.
His own name stared back at him.
LIAM MOON.
His blood ran cold.
“You knew,” Liam whispered.
Kael looked at him.
“I didn't.”
“You knew someone was looking for me.”
“I suspected.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
A quiet laugh came from the cave entrance.
They turned.
Darian Voss stood there.
The head warrior's arms were crossed over his chest.
“You shouldn't have come here,” Darian said.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Darian glanced at the table.
Then at Liam.
“Because some truths are better left buried.”
Liam noticed something around Darian's finger.
A black-stone ring.
A strange silver symbol had been carved into it.
The same symbol was drawn on the maps.
Liam's breath caught.
“Where did you get that ring?”
Darian's expression changed for half a second.
Then he smiled.
“Family heirloom.”
Kael stepped forward.
“Take it off.”
Darian's smile disappeared.
“Alpha?”
“You heard me.”
Darian slowly removed the ring.
Before he could place it on the table, he lunged.
Kael reacted instantly.
Steel flashed.
Ronan shouted.
Darian's knife struck Kael's shoulder before Kael knocked him backward.
Liam froze.
Darian sprang to his feet and shifted halfway, claws tearing through his fingers.
Kael slammed him against the cave wall.
“Why are you doing this?”
Darian laughed.
“Because your father should have known better.”
Kael went still.
“What did you say?”
Darian's eyes moved to Liam.
“Ask your mate what happened to his family.”
Liam's heart slammed against his ribs.
Kael's grip tightened.
“You're coming with us.”
Darian smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“Your father discovered the truth.”
Darian's eyes settled on Liam.
“And the truth was never supposed to survive.”
Suddenly, a howl erupted from outside.
Another followed.
Then dozens.
Ronan rushed to the entrance.
“Eastern gate!”
Kael released Darian.
“What's happening?”
“Someone breached the territory.”
Kael looked toward Liam.
“Stay here.”
Liam shook his head.
“No.”
“Liam.”
“I said no.”
Kael stepped closer.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Kael whispered, “Please.”
The single word stopped Liam.
He had never heard Kael sound like that.
Not like an Alpha.
Like a man afraid of losing someone.
Kael turned to Ronan.
“Take the eastern side.”
Ronan nodded.
Kael looked at Darian.
“You stay with me.”
Darian bowed his head.
“As you command.”
They rushed from the cave.
Blackridge had descended into chaos.
Wolves ran through the territory as alarms echoed from every direction.
Kael barked orders while Ronan gathered warriors.
Liam stayed close.
Then Darian disappeared.
Liam noticed.
“Kael.”
The Alpha turned.
Before Liam could speak, something flashed behind Kael.
A knife.
“Kael!”
Liam moved.
The blade struck him instead.
Pain exploded through his side.
He staggered.
Kael caught him before he hit the ground.
“LIAM!”
Across the clearing, Darian stood holding the bloodied knife.
His face was calm.
Almost pleased.
Kael lowered Liam carefully.
“You.”
Darian smiled.
Then he ran.
Ronan chased after him, but Darian vanished between the trees.
Kael knelt beside Liam.
Blood soaked through his clothes.
“Stay with me.”
Liam struggled to breathe.
His vision blurred.
“The betrayer–”
“I know.”
“No–”
Liam grabbed Kael's wrist.
“Not just Darian.”
Kael stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
Liam's birthmark suddenly burned.
The forest disappeared.
He saw an old stone shrine.
A young Kael stood beside his father.
Liam's father stood opposite them.
Something black moved behind the men.
Then a blade flashed.
Kael's father fell.
Liam gasped.
The vision vanished.
Kael shook his shoulder.
“Liam!”
Liam opened his eyes.
He looked into Kael's terrified face.
“Your father–”
“What about him?”
Liam tried to speak.
But darkness swallowed him.
Far beyond the trees, a howl rose from the direction of the ancient Lunar Shrine.
Kael's black wolf mark burned beneath his shirt.
And something inside the mountains answered.
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