The Whisper of Betrayal

Selene stood frozen in place, her breath shallow, her heart pounding against her ribs. The echo of Orion’s warning lingered in her mind like a curse.

"It means someone you trust will betray you."

The words clung to her, planting seeds of doubt she couldn’t shake.

She turned sharply, scanning the empty room. The shadows were still, undisturbed, as if Orion had never been there at all. But the chill in the air and the lingering scent of ancient magic told her otherwise.

He was real. And so was his warning.

Selene clenched her fists. Who could betray her?

Kalen? No. The thought was unthinkable. He was her mate, her anchor. If she doubted him, she doubted everything.

Tobias? He was reckless but loyal.

Daemon? He had been by her side since the beginning.

Adrian? Mariana?

Her mind swirled with paranoia, but she shoved it down. No. She wouldn’t let Orion manipulate her.

She needed to focus on what mattered—stopping the Forsaken before they could make their next move.

\---

By sunrise, the weight of Orion’s warning still pressed against Selene’s chest.

At the war table, Kalen, Tobias, Daemon, Adrian, and Mariana gathered, their expressions serious.

Kalen studied her closely. "You barely slept last night."

She hesitated, then decided to tell them. "Orion came to me."

The room stiffened.

Tobias slammed his fist against the table. "What? How? Our warriors were patrolling the borders!"

Selene shook her head. "He’s not bound by physical barriers. He moves through shadows, like mist."

Mariana exhaled. "Dark magic."

Daemon leaned forward. "What did he say?"

Selene hesitated. Saying it out loud would make it real.

"He warned me that someone I trust will betray me."

Silence.

The air grew tense as everyone glanced at each other.

Tobias scoffed. "And you believe him? He’s trying to get into your head."

Selene crossed her arms. "Maybe. But what if he’s right?"

Aiden frowned. "We can’t start doubting each other. That’s exactly what he wants."

Kalen reached for Selene’s hand. "We will be careful. But we won’t let fear tear us apart."

She nodded, forcing herself to breathe. "You’re right. We move forward."

But even as she said it, doubt gnawed at the back of her mind.

\---

That afternoon, Selene and Kalen led a group of warriors to scout the borders. They searched for any sign of the Forsaken but found nothing.

Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

And then—

A flicker of movement.

Selene turned sharply. "Did you see that?"

Kalen followed her gaze. "See what?"

The trees swayed, the leaves rustling unnaturally.

She stepped forward, her wolf stirring beneath her skin. Something was here.

And then, the scent hit her.

Blood.

She ran toward the scent, her heart hammering.

And what she saw made her breath catch.

A Silvercrest Pack warrior lay sprawled across the ground, his throat slashed, his eyes wide in shock.

Kalen cursed. "Damn it."

Daemon knelt beside the body, his face grim. "This was no rogue attack. This was an execution."

Selene’s stomach twisted. "The Forsaken did this."

But then she noticed something—a symbol carved into the warrior’s chest.

It wasn’t the Mark of the Forsaken.

It was a pack symbol.

Her pack.

The Silvercrest Pack.

Her breath hitched. What does this mean?

Kalen’s eyes darkened. "This wasn’t the Forsaken. This was one of our own."

The betrayal had already begun.

Who in the Silvercrest Pack has turned against them? How deep does the betrayal go?