THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE

Chapter nine: The first betrayal

Three days passed without another attack.

Seraphina began learning the rules of Nightfang.

She learned which corridors belonged to the warriors.

Which rooms were forbidden.

Where the training grounds were.

And, most importantly, where Kael disappeared whenever he wanted to be alone.

The western balcony.

Every evening, he stood there watching the mountains.

Seraphina eventually joined him.

Neither spoke at first.

Then she asked,

"Why do you come here?"

Kael looked at the horizon.

"My mother loved this view."

Seraphina went still.

"You never talk about her."

"There's nothing to say."

"That's not true."

He looked at her.

"She died when I was twelve."

Seraphina's expression softened.

"I'm sorry."

Kael looked away.

"My father changed after she died."

"How?"

"He became obsessed with power."

"And the Vales?"

"He believed your family was responsible for her death."

"Were they?"

Kael was silent.

"I don't know."

Seraphina frowned.

"How can you not know?"

"Because I was never given the truth."

She looked at him.

"You were just a child."

"Yes."

For the first time, Seraphina understood that Kael wasn't born ruthless.

Something had made him that way.

"Did you love your mother?"

His eyes softened.

"More than anything."

Seraphina smiled faintly.

"I think I would have loved mine."

"You still can."

She looked at him.

"What?"

"If she's alive."

Hope flickered inside her chest.

Then Kael's hand closed around hers.

The mate bond responded immediately.

Warmth spread through both of them.

Kael stared at their joined hands.

Seraphina didn't pull away.

For one brief moment, the walls between them disappeared.

Then...

"Alpha!"

They separated.

Rhea hurried onto the balcony.

"What?"

"We found someone inside the fortress."

Kael's expression hardened.

"Who?"

"One of the attackers."

Seraphina frowned.

"Impossible."

"That's what we thought."

Kael followed Rhea.

Seraphina went after them.

They reached a lower corridor.

A warrior stood beside a bound man wearing a Nightfang uniform.

Kael stared at him.

"Who are you?"

The man remained silent.

Rhea grabbed his shoulder.

"Answer the Alpha."

The man looked at Seraphina.

Then smiled.

"You're finally awake."

Seraphina froze.

"Who are you?"

The man's smile widened.

"Someone your mother trusted."

Kael stepped forward.

"What did you say?"

"She sent me to find her daughter."

Seraphina's heart raced.

"Where is she?"

The man looked at Kael.

"Ask him."

Kael's eyes turned dangerous.

"Enough."

The man laughed.

"You still haven't told her."

"Tell me what?"

The man leaned forward.

"Your mother wasn't captured by the Hollow Moon."

Seraphina stared.

"Then what happened?"

The man looked directly at Kael.

"She was betrayed by someone inside Nightfang."

Silence.

Kael's face hardened.

"Who?"

The man smiled.

"You're standing beside him."

Seraphina looked at Kael.

Her heart dropped.

"No."

Kael's eyes widened.

"Seraphina, don't listen to him."

The man laughed.

"Ask him about the sanctuary."

Seraphina's voice trembled.

"What sanctuary?"

Kael said nothing.

Her heart began pounding.

"Kael."

Still nothing.

The man's smile disappeared.

"Your mother wasn't hiding from the Hollow Moon."

He paused.

"She was hiding from Kael."

Seraphina stepped backward.

Kael moved toward her.

"Seraphina."

"Don't."

"I can explain."

"Then explain!"

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"You told me you saved her."

"I did."

"Then why was she hiding from you?"

Kael's face twisted with pain.

"Because I couldn't protect her."

The man laughed.

"You didn't protect her."

Kael turned toward him.

"Shut up."

"You took her."

Kael's eyes flashed.

"I saved her life."

"You took her child."

Seraphina froze.

"What?"

The man looked at her.

"Your mother begged him not to separate you."

Kael's face went pale.

"That's enough."

"She told him the truth."

Kael grabbed the man's throat.

"What truth?"

The man smiled.

"That you were the only person capable of stopping her."

Seraphina stared at Kael.

"What does that mean?"

Kael released the man.

He looked at Seraphina.

And for the first time, there was no anger in his eyes.

Only guilt.

"I was ordered to take you."

Her heart broke.

"You took me?"

"You were a baby."

"You took me from my mother?"

"I didn't know where else to put you."

"You knew she wanted me."

"Yes."

"Then why?"

Kael's voice cracked.

"Because if I left you with her, my father would have killed you both."

Seraphina couldn't breathe.

The truth hurt.

But somehow, she believed him.

The man suddenly laughed.

"You still don't understand."

Everyone turned.

His eyes were glowing red.

Kael's expression changed.

"Get back!"

The man's body convulsed.

Black veins spread across his neck.

Then he smiled.

"The Hollow Moon is already inside the fortress."

His body went limp.

Seraphina stared.

"What just happened?"

Kael didn't answer.

He looked toward the walls.

Then toward the ceiling.

"Someone has been feeding them information."

Rhea drew her sword.

"An insider."

Kael nodded.

Seraphina felt a chill.

"Who?"

Kael looked at every warrior in the corridor.

"We find them before they find her."

A scream suddenly echoed from above.

Seraphina's blood ran cold.

They ran.

And when they reached the eastern tower, the door to Seraphina's room stood wide open.

Her bed had been torn apart.

Her belongings were scattered across the floor.

On the wall, written in blood, were four words:

YOUR MOTHER IS WAITING.