CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The desert sun dips below the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the village as we gather around the bonfire. I stand in the center, a circle of accusing eyes upon me. The crackle of the flames is a harsh whisper against the hushed murmurs of my packmates. My heart beats a frantic rhythm, but I hold my head high.
"Betrayal," Alpha Ryan's voice booms, "is not taken lightly." He looks down at me from his elevated position, his gaze heavy with disappointment and something else I can't quite place. Is it... regret?
"I haven't betrayed you," I shoot back, my voice more steady than I feel. Sparks fly up into the night sky like tiny stars fleeing the scene.
"Explain then," he challenges, "your actions with the rogue, Jake."
My eyes flick to where Jake stands on the fringe
