Chapter 102: Betrayal I'm the Park

Melissa’s POV

The pack council room was packed with tension. The air felt heavy, and the typical camaraderie among the pack members had grown frigid. Everyone sat around the long oak table, their faces furrowed with worry. Damon stood at the head, his demeanour gloomy yet controlled.

I sat close to Liora, who was flipping through her notes with strained brows. She didn’t speak, but I could tell she was trying to piece together something worrisome.

“We can’t keep fighting in the dark like this,” Damon said, his powerful voice breaking through the silence. “The shadows know our every move. It’s as if they’re one step ahead of us.”

“Because they are,” Kael mumbled, his fists stiffening. “Someone’s feeding them information. Someone from inside the pack.”

Gasps and murmurs raced through the room.

“Kael,” Liora began carefully, “those are serious accusations. Are you sure?"

Kael's mouth clenched. "Enough to be sure. They always counter us when we plot an ambush. Every location we believe to be secure becomes a target. This is not an accident.

A shiver went down my back. A stab to the heart was the idea of treachery inside our group.

The muttering was silenced when Damon held out a hand. "We'll find the truth about this," he stated confidently. However, we must protect our strongholds in the interim. I'm placing guards in all of the important areas. Nobody ever travels alone.

"Who do you think will be in charge of the guards? An elder inquired.

Damon looked around the room. Liora and Kael will be in charge of the patrols. During your rounds, Melissa, I want you to be vigilant. Report anything that seems strange right away.

With a knot in my stomach, I nodded.

The anxiety only increased as the conference went on. I couldn't get rid of the suspicion that someone in the room was concealing something while the plans and assignments were being discussed.

With my senses sharpened, I went on patrol later that night. It was too quiet in the forest. There didn't even seem to be the crickets' typical chirping.

With a faint glimmer of light in my palms, I strolled along the well-traveled trail. I could still feel the Void hanging, like a predator waiting to strike, even if its presence had been muted since my last outburst.

I was suddenly drawn to a rustling sound. I glanced toward the sounds, my light flickering a little, my heart pounding.

"Who's there? I tried to speak steadily as I called.

The shadows appeared to move strangely, but there was no answer. I moved forward cautiously, my light becoming brighter.

Then I saw it, a creature of shadow, low to the ground, staring at me with its red eyes.

I went cold. It was supposed to be secure here. Just yesterday, Damon boosted the patrols here. How did it enter this deeply?

Its body writhed like smoke as it hissed. I gripped the lamp tighter, prepared to attack, but it scurried off and vanished into the trees before I could get a chance.

As I stood there, gasping for air, I tried to take in what I had just witnessed.

"Hey, Melissa! I was shocked to hear Liora's voice. Her face was pallid as she stepped out of the shadows. "I also witnessed it. It wasn't supposed to be here.

"I understand," I replied in a faltering tone. "This space was made clear. It must have been let in by someone.

Liora squinted her eyes. "This has happened before. There is a pattern to the attacks that I have been monitoring. The shadows consistently appear in areas that we have recently discussed in council sessions.

My blood froze. "You believe it to be a council member?"

After hesitating, Liora nodded. "There is no other explanation. They are collaborating with the Void, whatever they are. They are endangering all of us.

Like a heavy shroud, the weight of her words descended upon me. The pack was in greater danger than we had ever thought if there was indeed a traitor among us.

"Now what do we do? I inquired.

Liora's eyes were intense. "We remain vigilant. And until we are certain, we don't trust anyone.

As we continued our patrol, the darkness surrounding us felt more oppressive than ever, her words replayed in my head.

For an urgent meeting, the pack assembled in the vast hall. Standing in the middle with his arms folded and a serious expression on his face was Damon. Liora and I flanked him, our gazes scanning the room for any hint of guilt. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut.

“I’ve called this meeting because it’s clear someone in this pack is betraying us,” Damon said, his voice steady but laced with anger. Gasps and whispers spread through the group like wildfire.

“We don’t make accusations lightly,” Damon added, silencing the whispers with a harsh glare. But too much is known by the shadows. They have targeted locations that we consider secure. They are being fed information by someone here.

With a determined look in his eyes, Kael took a step forward. “I found evidence during a patrol last night,” he added, bringing out a shredded scrap of fabric stained with a dark substance. “This was near the boundary line, right where the shadows breached. They were working with whoever left it.

Shocked voices arose from the pack.

"This is ridiculous! One of Damon's most trusted advisors, Marcus, came forward, looking pallid. "One of us cannot be accused without evidence."

Damon snapped, "At this time, we're not making any accusations." But we'll figure out who's to blame. Melissa.

With my heart racing, I took a step forward. Despite the confusion in my head, I spoke steadily as I said, "My light can reveal traces of the Void." "It will be evident if someone here has been moved by its power."

Marcus was not the only one who shifted uneasily. A few members of the flock looked at each other anxiously.

"Come forward," said Damon. "One by one."

The pack members moved inside my light's circle one by one. The illumination was constant and pure for most. Marcus, however, was surrounded by sharp shadows as my light suddenly flickered as he intervened.

The room emitted a collective gasp.

"That is untrue! Marcus stepped back and yelled. "This is an error!"

The light, however, was truthful. As though attracted to him, it darkened and pulsed.

With a thunderous voice, Kael screamed, "Explain yourself."

Marcus's expression fell flat. He stumbled, "I—I didn't have a choice." The Void assured me that my family would be spared. I didn't provide them any information that would seriously harm the pack

"You deceived us! Liora clinched her hands and snapped.

"I apologize! Marcus begged, his eyes welling with tears. "I never intended it to get this far!"

There was a commotion in the room. Voices rose, some expressing astonishment and betrayal, others calling for retribution. Marcus collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

He looked right at me and said, "Please, Melissa, you of all people should understand." You have sensed the might of the Void. It's terrifying, you know. I was merely attempting to keep my family safe.

His remarks were like a kick to the stomach. Yes, I did comprehend. The allure of the Void was irresistible, and its promises were alluring. But we had all been put in jeopardy by his activities.

"What ought we to do? Kael inquired in a menacingly low voice.

Damon's eyes blazed with rage, but his face was unreadable. "Betrayal isn't the only issue here. He poses a danger to the whole pack.

The group started fighting once more. Some wanted Marcus put to death, while others wanted him exiled. As the tension in the room increased, my light wavered.

"Enough! My voice rang out as I yelled. There was silence in the room.

Marcus gave me a desperate expression as he glanced up at me. “Please, Melissa,” he whispered. “Don’t let them kill me.”

I hesitated, my hands trembling. The voice of the Void was cool and smooth as it whispered in the back of my consciousness. "Take him out." Display your strength to them. Prove to them that you are in charge.

"No," I shook my head and whispered to myself.

"What? Damon asked, looking directly at me.

This time, I said more loudly, "I'm not listening to it." The murmurs of the Void were forced to back off as my light surged brighter.

The group glanced at me for a choice, but Marcus's shoulders slumped in relief.

Eventually, I said, "We need time." "We can't make this decision out of rage."

Damon nodded slowly, but his jaw was tense, as I could tell. He told Kael to take him to the holding cells. "In the morning, we will determine his fate."

Taking Marcus by the arm, Kael pulled him in the direction of the exit.

Marcus yelled, "Melissa," his voice cracking. "I'm grateful."

I didn't answer. I sensed the Void stirring more strongly than before as my light flickered once more.

I had trouble sleeping that night. Around me, my light pulsed dimly, creating shadows on my room's walls. The voices from the Void had become louder and more persistent.

"You're too tender," it growled. They won't ever have faith in you. This power is uncontrollable.

I tried to ignore it by closing my eyes. However, I wasn't in my room when I opened them again. I stood in a pitch-black emptiness.

"Melissa."

The Moon Goddess was standing in front of me, her silver light softly shimmering, when I turned around.

With a soft yet forceful tone, she remarked, "Your light burns bright." But before the end, you will be consumed by the Void. You have to be ready for anything.

She was

gone before I could reply, and I was alone in the dark.

The icy, ruthless laughter of the Void reverberated all around me.

After that, I awoke.