Chapter 182 Betrayal Revealed
POV: Luna
Two days after the Headmaster's revelation, we were still processing.
Eclipse bloodline. Divine origin. Prophesied. Hunted.
It was too much. Too overwhelming.
"You okay?" Nova asked during combat training.
"Define okay."
"Fair point."
We were drilling defensive formations. Preparing for the inevitable next attack.
Because there was always a next attack.
"Luna!" Aria called. "We've got movement! Eastern perimeter!"
"Again? They just attacked two days ago!"
"They're desperate. Escalating."
We mobilized. Full defensive positions. Everyone to their assigned locations.
I reached the eastern perimeter with my pack. Found rogues. At least thirty.
But they weren't attacking. Just positioning. Waiting.
"What are they doing?" Liam asked.
"Testing us. Or waiting for something."
Through my mark, I felt it. A familiar presence. Watching. Directing.
"Cole's here," I said. "Controlling them again."
"I thought we destroyed his crystal. Cut off his connection to your power."
"We did. But he found another way. Probably using artifacts. Or Alpha Reed's resources."
"Then we find him. Stop him at the source."
"Agreed. Aria, Sienna, hold the line here. Liam and I will track Cole."
"Be careful," Aria warned.
We headed into the forest. Following the magical signature.
Found Cole in a clearing. Surrounded by magical equipment. Artifacts. Power sources.
And he wasn't alone.
Members of the It-Girls clan. The ones who'd escaped after Victoria's capture. All working together.
"Cole!" I called out.
He turned. Smiled. "Luna. Right on time."
"What are you doing?"
"Preparing. For the final confrontation. The one that ends this. One way or another."
"It doesn't have to be this way. You can stop. Walk away."
"No. I really can't. I've come too far. Sacrificed too much. This is my purpose. My destiny."
"Your destiny is death or imprisonment. Those are your only options."
"Or I succeed. Reshape reality. Create true freedom. Those are my options."
The It-Girls moved into position. Surrounding us.
"You set a trap," Liam realized.
"Of course. You're predictable, Luna. You always come when I call. Always try to talk me down. Always believe there's good in me."
"Because there is! I've seen it! The Cole I knew—"
"Never existed. That was a role. A character. Designed to get close to you. To study you. To understand your weaknesses."
"I don't believe that."
"You don't want to believe it. There's a difference."
He raised his hand. Dark magic swirled.
Then he directed it. Not at me. At something behind me.
At the wards protecting Silverwood.
The magic hit the barrier. Weakened it. Created vulnerabilities.
"What are you doing?" I shouted.
"Opening the door. Letting my allies in. The rogues you're so worried about? They're about to flood campus. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."
"I can stop you!"
I attacked. Eclipse power flooding through me.
But Cole was ready. He blocked. Countered. Fought back.
And he was good. Too good.
"You've been training," I realized.
"Obviously. You think I stayed powerless? Helpless? The architects gave me new abilities. Enhanced me. Made me stronger than I ever was."
He attacked again. Faster. More powerful.
Liam engaged. Trying to flank him.
But the It-Girls interfered. Blocked him. Kept him away from Cole.
Through the pack bonds, I felt my friends at the perimeter. Felt them struggling against the rogues.
Felt the wards failing.
Cole was sabotaging us. Actively. Intentionally.
And we couldn't stop him.
"Why?" I asked. "Why betray everyone? Why hurt innocent people?"
"Because the system is broken. And broken things must be destroyed before they can be rebuilt."
"That's genocide! That's insane!"
"That's revolution."
He sent another pulse of dark magic toward the wards.
They cracked. Shattered in places.
Rogues poured through. Dozens. Hundreds.
"No!" I screamed.
Through the pack bonds, I reached out. Wards are failing! Rogues incoming! All defensive positions!
My friends responded. Fighting desperately.
But there were too many rogues. Too much chaos.
"You're killing them!" I shouted at Cole. "Students! Your former classmates!"
"Casualties of war. Necessary sacrifices."
"You're a monster!"
"I'm a visionary."
Liam broke free from the It-Girls. Attacked Cole directly.
They fought viciously. No holding back.
But Cole had artifacts. Enhancements. Advantages.
He was winning.
"Liam!" I tried to help.
But the It-Girls blocked me. Attacked me. Kept me away.
"Your mate is brave," Cole said. "But bravery isn't enough. Not against preparation. Not against destiny."
"You're not destiny! You're just a traitor!"
"I'm the architect of a new world. And you, Luna, are the foundation. Whether you want to be or not."
He raised his hand. Dark magic condensed. Formed into a weapon.
Then he struck.
Not at Liam. At me.
The spell hit my mark directly. Burned into it. Connected to it.
Pain exploded through me. I screamed.
Through the mark, I felt Cole's presence. Invasive. Violating. Wrong.
"What did you do?" I gasped.
"I planted a seed. A connection. When the time comes, I'll activate it. And your mark will become my tool. Your power will become my weapon."
"I'll fight you!"
"You can try. But you're already losing. Your friends are being overwhelmed. Your school is falling. Your precious princess is in danger."
He was right. Through the pack bonds, I felt everyone struggling. Failing.
"And the best part?" Cole continued. "You can't stop fighting me to help them. Because if you do, I'll just sabotage the defenses more. Create more openings. Let more rogues through."
"So I'm stuck here. While everyone I love dies."
"Exactly. Your loyalty is your weakness. Your love is your prison. And I'm using both against you."
Through the mate bond, I felt Liam's rage. His desperation to help.
But he was occupied too. Fighting the It-Girls. Unable to reach Cole.
We were trapped. Separated. Helpless.
Then I felt it. Through the Guardian Bond.
Selene. Her power surging.
She was at the perimeter. Fighting. Using her royal aura to protect students.
The barrier expanded. Strengthened. Pushed back rogues.
"The princess is strong," Cole observed. "Stronger than expected. Good. That makes her more valuable."
"Stay away from her!"
"Or what? You'll stop me? You can barely stand."
He was right. The connection he'd planted in my mark was draining me. Weakening me.
I was losing.
"Liam!" I called. "Get out of here! Warn the others!"
"I'm not leaving you!"
"You have to! Someone needs to protect Selene! Someone needs to coordinate the defense!"
"Luna—"
"Go! That's an order!"
Through the mate bond, I felt his conflict. His refusal to abandon me.
"Please," I whispered. "Trust me. I'll be okay. But they need you more."
Finally, he ran. Heading back to campus. To help our pack.
Leaving me alone with Cole and the It-Girls.
"Brave sacrifice," Cole said. "Stupid. But brave."
"If you're going to kill me, just do it."
"Kill you? Why would I kill my most valuable asset? No, Luna. I'm going to keep you alive. Keep you suffering. Keep you watching as everything you love burns."
He gestured. The It-Girls grabbed me. Held me immobile.
"And when the time is right. When I've gathered enough power. Enough artifacts. Enough pieces. I'll activate that connection in your mark. And you'll help me break the seal. Open the otherworld. Reshape reality."
"I'll fight you with everything I have."
"I'm counting on it. Resistance makes the magic stronger. Your determination will fuel the very ritual you're trying to prevent."
He walked away. Left me there. Restrained by the It-Girls. Unable to help.
Forced to watch through the pack bonds as my friends fought desperately.
As students died. As rogues overwhelmed defenses. As Silverwood fell apart.
And Cole's final words echoed.
"Your mark will be your undoing, Luna. Everything you are. Everything you represent. It'll all be used against you."
He vanished into the forest. Leaving me with that threat. That promise.
That certainty.
And I had no idea how to stop it.