Chapter 47 BETRAYALS BURNS
MONTY’S POV
The device in Ray's hand might as well be a death sentence.
"Ray…" my voice breaks in sorrow.
"Guards!" His command echoes through the packhouse. "Take Monty to the holding cells, restrain him with silver chains. He's under arrest for treason."
"What? No!" I back away as two wolves enter the office. "Ray, you can't do this! I'm your Beta! I'm Alicia's mate!"
"You were my Beta. Past tense." Ray won't even look at me now. "Search him thoroughly. Make sure there are no other devices. No other ways he's been communicating with our enemies."
The guards grab my arms. I struggle instinctively. "Alicia, please! Tell him! Tell him you believe me!"
She's crying. Silent tears running down her face. The mate bond between us is screaming with pain. With confusion. With doubt.
"I don't know what to believe anymore." Her voice is barely a whisper. "I want to believe you. Want to trust that you were just trying to help. But everyone keeps lying to me. Everyone keeps hiding things. How do I know this isn't just another manipulation?"
The words cut deeper than any blade.
"Because I love you!" I'm shouting now. Don't care who hears. "I've loved you for the longest time! I volunteered to be your mate knowing it would complicate everything! I completed the claiming with you two days ago and it was the best moment of my entire life! Why would I betray that? Why would I risk losing you?"
"Take him away." Ray turns his back on me. "And someone destroy that device. I don't want The Veritas listening to anything else we do."
The guards drag me toward the door. I'm still fighting. Still trying to reach Alicia through the bond. Still desperate to make them understand.
"Please! Just let me prove I'm not working with them! Let me…”
Before we reached the prison, the device in Ray's hand suddenly activates. The red light starts blinking rapidly. Then a smooth, cultured voice emerges from the tiny speaker. Terrifying in its calm certainty.
He ordered the guards to bring me back, before answering it.
"Hello, Alicia."
Everyone freezes. Stares at the device.
"This is Alpha Morrison. I believe we need to talk about your future."
Morrison. The name from Logan's files. The Veritas leader. The one orchestrating everything.
"How…" Ray starts.
"The device was never just a tracker." Morrison's voice is almost amused. "It's also a communication tool and was activated remotely when I felt it was time for us to speak directly."
"We have nothing to say to you." Ray's voice is hard. But I can hear the fear underneath, we all can.
"Oh, I think you do. Especially regarding the pregnancy. And the mate bonds. And the choice you're about to make regarding young Monty here."
Silence. How does Morrison know about all of this? How is he hearing us right now?
"You see, Monty isn't the spy you think he is." Morrison continues. "Oh, he made some poor choices. Met with Jake. Kept secrets. But he hasn't been actively working for us. That would be far too obvious."
"Then who…" Alicia starts.
"The real spy is much cleverer. Much better hidden. Someone you'd never suspect because their loyalty appears absolute." He pause. "Someone who's been feeding us information since before Alicia even arrived at Dark Night Pack. The person helped arrange her arrival in the first place."
My blood runs cold. If I'm not the spy, if Monty's not the real traitor, then who?
"I'll give you a hint." Morrison's voice takes on a playful tone. "They're in the room with you right now, listening to this conversation. Probably quite nervous that I'm about to reveal their identity."
Everyone looks at each other. Suspicion blooming fresh and poisonous.
"But I'm not going to tell you who they are. Not yet." Morrison laughs. "That would spoil the fun. Instead, I'm going to give you a choice, Alicia."
"What choice?" Her voice shakes.
"Come to me willingly, tonight, alone. And I'll tell you everything. Who the real spy is. What we actually want with your child. The truth about the Moon's Fury ritual." His voice drops. "Or refuse, and I'll activate the tracker. Bring my forces to your location. Take you by force. And kill everyone you love in the process."
"You're bluffing." Ray's voice lacks conviction.
"Am I? Test me. Keep Monty imprisoned. Keep searching for the spy among your mates. Waste time on internal conflicts while my soldiers get closer." A pause. "Or trust that I'm offering you a real choice. Come talk. Hear the truth. Then decide what you want to do with that information."
"If I come," Alicia's voice is steady despite her tears, "you'll let everyone else go? Leave Dark Night Pack alone?"
"If you come willingly, I'll leave your mates unharmed for now. I'll even tell you which one is working for me. I believe you will like that because knowledge is power, after all." Morrison's voice is almost kind. "All I'm asking for is a conversation. One hour of your time. Then you're free to return to your mates with the truth I'm offering."
"Don't do it." Ray's voice is desperate. "It's a trap. He's lying."
"Maybe but maybe not." Morrison sounds unbothered. "But the choice is hers. As all choices about her future should be. Isn't that what you've been fighting for? Her autonomy? Her right to make her own decisions?"
The words hang heavy. Because he's right. We've been making decisions for Alicia, about Alicia, without her input for weeks.
"Where and when?" She asks quietly.
"Alicia, no!" I shout from the guards' grip. "Don't trust him!"
"The old cabin at Crystal Lake. Midnight. Come alone or the offer expires." Morrison's voice is final. "Oh, and Monty? Your mother sends her regards. She's quite comfortable here with us. Has been for the last two weeks."
My world stops. "Please don’t hurt her."
"Ask yourself why the care facility's calls have been so brief lately and professional.” He laughs. "It’s because we have control of everything and we may end her anytime we want and nobody can question us." He paused. “I just want you to know this or be reminded.”
The device goes dead, and the red light stops blinking.
I sink to my knees, the guards' grip the only thing keeping me upright.
They will end my mother’s life. The Veritas has my mother. And I didn't even know what to do.
I played right into their hands.
And now Alicia has to choose to risk herself to meet Morrison or stay safe and let him bring war to our doorstep.
Either way, The Veritas wins.