Chapter 34: Shadows Among Us
The air around Selene thickened as the realization hit her like a crushing wave.
One of their own had committed this murder.
The warrior’s lifeless body lay before her, his throat slashed with a precise, practiced hand. But it wasn’t just the act of betrayal that sent a chill through her—it was the symbol carved into his chest.
The Silvercrest Pack’s sigil.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm as she traced the mark with trembling fingers.
Kalen stood rigid beside her, his face dark with fury. "This isn’t just a warning. It’s a message."
Tobias clenched his fists. "A traitor in our ranks. Someone who wears our crest but fights against us."
Daemon's expression was unreadable, but his golden eyes gleamed with something sharp. "Orion said one of us would betray you, Selene. It seems he wasn’t lying."
Selene exhaled slowly, steadying her emotions. "We can’t jump to conclusions yet. We need to think this through."
Kalen’s voice was tight. "This warrior was killed with precision. Whoever did this wasn’t just acting on a whim. They’re trained. They know how we fight."
Which meant the traitor wasn’t just a low-ranking pack member.
It was someone close to them.
Selene forced herself to meet the gazes of her most trusted warriors—Tobias, Daemon, Aiden, Mariana, Kalen.
The thought made her chest tighten.
Could one of them have done this?
She shoved the doubt down. No. She wouldn’t let Orion’s whispers poison her mind.
Instead, she focused on what she could control.
"We take this body back to the packhouse. We need to investigate before we act."
—
By the time they returned to the packhouse, the news had already spread. Warriors whispered in hushed voices, tension thick in the air.
Selene stood before them, raising her voice. "A traitor walks among us. But we will not let fear divide us."
She met the gazes of her warriors, making sure they saw her strength. "We will find them. And we will make them answer for their betrayal."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, but she could still feel the unease in the air.
Mariana stepped forward. "We should interrogate the patrol teams. See if anyone noticed unusual behavior."
Selene nodded. "Do it. I want reports by nightfall."
Aiden hesitated. "Selene… what if the traitor is someone we trust?"
Selene’s chest tightened, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Then we deal with it. No matter who it is."
\---
Hours passed, and the investigations continued. But no one had answers.
Until—
A scout rushed into the council chambers, his face pale. "Alpha, we found something in the western training grounds."
Selene and Kalen followed him to the site. And when she saw what lay there, her stomach dropped.
A dagger, buried in the dirt.
But not just any dagger.
One engraved with a name.
Daemon.
Her breath caught in her throat. "This can’t be…"
Kalen’s expression hardened. "It was found near the patrol routes. This weapon belongs to one of our own generals."
Selene turned to Daemon, who had just arrived. He looked at the dagger, his face unreadable.
"You recognize this?" Kalen asked.
Daemon exhaled, his golden eyes darkening. "It’s mine."
A ripple of tension passed through the warriors.
Selene’s heart pounded. "Daemon, explain."
He met her gaze, unwavering. "I lost this dagger two nights ago. I thought I misplaced it. But now I see it was stolen."
Tobias narrowed his eyes. "Convenient."
Selene forced herself to breathe. She’d known Daemon for years. He had fought beside her, protected her. But the evidence—it pointed to him.
Daemon’s jaw clenched. "You think I’d betray you, Selene?"
She hesitated. "I don’t want to believe it."
He stepped closer, his voice lower. "Then don’t. Someone is setting me up."
Selene searched his eyes. Was it possible? Or was he lying?
Before she could decide—
A sudden howl pierced the air.
Then another.
And another.
A warning call.
The pack was under attack.
\---
Selene and Kalen sprinted toward the eastern borders, where the howls originated. Warriors were already engaged in battle, fighting against figures cloaked in darkness.
The Forsaken.
Selene’s wolf roared inside her, eager for blood. "We hold the line!" she commanded.
She shifted mid-run, her silver-white wolf bursting free. She lunged into the fray, teeth sinking into the nearest Forsaken warrior.
Kalen was at her side, tearing through the enemy with brutal efficiency.
The battle was chaos—shadows slithered around them, Forsaken warriors vanishing and reappearing with unnatural speed.
Selene snarled, slashing through one opponent, only to feel a sharp pain in her side.
A blade—laced with dark magic.
She stumbled, but before her attacker could strike again, Daemon appeared, blocking the blow.
His golden eyes burned as he fought beside her. "I told you, I’m not the traitor!"
Selene gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay upright.
She didn’t know who to trust anymore.
But she knew one thing—if they didn’t survive this battle, none of it would matter.
With a growl, she surged forward, determined to end this fight before it was too late.
But as she fought, she couldn't help the questions that raked through her mind.
Who is the real traitor? Will she survive the Forsaken’s attack?