Chapter 145 Cole's Secret Meeting
POV: Luna
I couldn't sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Victoria's smile. Heard her words. Ask Cole who he really works for.
Was he a Council spy like he claimed? Or was that just another lie?
The documentation was supposed to arrive tomorrow. Until then, I was stuck in limbo.
Unable to trust. Unable to forgive. Unable to move forward.
Finally, around midnight, I gave up trying to sleep.
I got dressed and headed out. Maybe a walk would clear my head.
The Academy was quiet. Most students were asleep. Guards patrolled the hallways, extra security after the attack.
I made my way to the roof. My usual thinking spot.
But when I got there, I saw something.
Movement in the forest. Lights. Flickering between the trees.
My wolf senses kicked in. That was deep in the forbidden section. No one should be out there.
Unless they were hiding something.
I climbed down from the roof and headed toward the forest.
The wards had been reinforced after Victoria's attack. But I knew a way through. A weak spot I'd discovered during second year.
I slipped past the wards and into the trees.
The lights were ahead. Voices carrying on the wind.
I moved carefully, using every stealth technique I'd learned.
Then I saw them.
Cole. And members of the It-Girls' clan. At least six of them.
They were gathered in a clearing, talking in low voices.
I crept closer, straining to hear.
"—can't keep this up much longer," one of the girls was saying. "The Headmaster's investigating everything."
"I know," Cole replied. "But we're close. Just a few more days."
"Days until what?" another asked.
"Until phase three. The final stage of the plan."
My blood ran cold. Phase three. The note I'd found had mentioned that.
"Victoria's capture was a setback," the first girl said. "Without her—"
"We don't need her," Cole interrupted. "She was just the face of the operation. The real power is somewhere else."
"With who?"
"You'll find out when the time comes. For now, stick to the plan. Watch Eclipse. Report her movements. And whatever you do, don't let her suspect you're involved."
"Too late for that," I said, stepping into the clearing.
They all spun around. Cole's face went pale.
"Luna—"
"Don't. I heard everything."
"You don't understand—"
"I understand perfectly. You're still working with them. Still lying to me." My voice was shaking with anger. "The Council spy story was bull, wasn't it?"
"No! I am a Council spy! But I'm also—"
"Also what? A double agent? A triple agent? How many sides are you playing, Cole?"
The It-Girls were backing away. Clearly not prepared for confrontation.
"Stay where you are," I commanded, Eclipse power flaring.
They froze.
"Luna, please," Cole said. "Let me explain."
"You've had months to explain. You chose not to."
"Because I was protecting you!"
"By working with people who want to hurt me?"
"I'm working against them! I infiltrated the clan to take them down from the inside!"
"Then why are you here? Having secret meetings? Talking about phase three?"
"Because I'm gathering intelligence! Building a case!"
"Or you're playing both sides and I'm the idiot who keeps believing you."
Through our bond, I felt his desperation. His fear of losing me.
But I also felt something else. Calculation. Like he was trying to figure out how to spin this.
"I'm done," I said. "Done with the lies. Done with the manipulation. Done with you."
"Luna—"
"Stay away from me. Stay away from my pack. Or I will tell the Headmaster everything I just heard."
I turned to leave.
That's when Cole made his mistake.
He grabbed my arm. "Please. Don't go. I can explain everything. Just give me a chance."
I pulled away. "Let go of me."
"Luna—"
"I said let go!"
Eclipse power surged. Not controlled. Not measured.
Pure defensive instinct.
Cole was thrown backward, slamming into a tree.
The It-Girls screamed and ran.
I stood there, breathing hard, staring at Cole's crumpled form.
He groaned and sat up. "Luna. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have grabbed you."
"No. You shouldn't have."
"Please. Just let me explain. The real truth. All of it."
"Why should I believe anything you say?"
"Because I love you. That's the one thing that's never been a lie."
Through our bond, I felt it. The absolute truth of that statement.
He did love me. In his own twisted, manipulative way.
But love without trust was poison.
"Love isn't enough," I said quietly. "Not without honesty. Not without respect."
"Then I'll earn it back. However long it takes."
"Maybe. Or maybe we're just done. Either way, I need space. Time to think without you manipulating me."
I turned and walked away.
This time, he didn't follow.
I made it halfway back to the Academy before the adrenaline wore off and I started shaking.
I'd just used Eclipse power against someone I loved. Against my boyfriend.
Ex-boyfriend.
Whatever he was now.
I sank to my knees, overwhelmed.
That's how Liam found me.
"Luna?" He knelt beside me. "What happened?"
"I found Cole. Meeting with It-Girls in the forest. He was talking about phase three. Some plan they're still running."
"Did he explain?"
"He tried. Said he's gathering intelligence. Building a case. But I don't know what to believe anymore."
"Then don't believe anything until you have proof."
"The documentation's supposed to arrive tomorrow. From the Council."
"Then wait for that. Make your decision with all the facts."
He helped me stand.
"Come on. Let's get you inside."
We walked back together. At the entrance, he stopped.
"Luna. Whatever happens with Cole. Whatever the truth is. Know that you have people who support you. Who won't lie to you."
"I know."
"Good."
He kissed my forehead and left.
I went to my room. Nova was asleep, snoring softly.
I changed and climbed into bed.
Tomorrow would bring answers. Truth. Resolution.
But tonight, I was just tired.
Tired of being lied to. Tired of being manipulated. Tired of not knowing who to trust.
I closed my eyes and let exhaustion take me.
In my dreams, I saw the otherworld.
The sealed door was there. Pulsing with energy.
And someone was on the other side. Trying to get through.
Someone powerful. Ancient. Dangerous.
And they knew my name.
When I woke, sunlight was streaming through the window.
Nova was already gone. Probably at breakfast.
I got up and got ready, bracing myself for whatever the day would bring.
The documentation from the Council arrived during morning classes.
The Headmaster summoned me to his office to review it.
Cole was there. Looking nervous.
"The Council confirms Mr. Cole's story," the Headmaster said. "He was sent here to infiltrate Victoria's clan. Everything he did was under their orders."
"Everything?" I asked.
"Dating me? Bonding with me? Lying to me?"
The Headmaster looked uncomfortable. "The Council's methods are sometimes... unconventional. But yes. He was following orders."
I looked at Cole. "So none of it was real. You were just doing your job."
"That's not true. The mission was real. But my feelings for you were real too. I fell in love with you despite the job. Because of who you are."
"And the meeting last night? In the forest?"
"Part of the investigation. I was confronting clan members who escaped Victoria's arrest. Trying to find out who's really running things."
"So you weren't planning phase three. You were investigating it."
"Exactly."
I wanted to believe him. The documentation seemed legitimate.
But something still felt wrong.
"Who's running the clan?" I asked. "If not Victoria, then who?"
Cole hesitated. "I don't know yet. But I'm close to finding out."
"How close?"
"Very close. I just need a few more days."
The Headmaster cleared his throat. "Given the circumstances, I'm lifting Mr. Cole's house arrest. But he will continue to report to me daily. And Miss Eclipse, if you feel uncomfortable—"
"I do. I want him to stay away from me. And my pack."
"Cole?" the Headmaster asked.
"I understand. I'll keep my distance."
We were dismissed.
Outside, my friends were waiting.
"What did the Council say?" Nova asked.
I told them everything.
When I finished, Aria said, "Do you believe him now?"
"I don't know. The documentation looks real. But something still feels off."
"Trust your instincts," Sienna advised.
"My instincts are confused."
"Then give it time," Lyric suggested. "Watch him. See if his actions match his words."
That was smart.
Over the next few days, I watched Cole.
He kept his distance like promised. But I saw him meeting with different students. Having quiet conversations.
Was he investigating? Or recruiting?
I couldn't tell.
Then, three days after our confrontation in the forest, I saw him again.
Same spot. Same time. Meeting the same It-Girls.
I followed. Carefully. Quietly.
This time, I got close enough to hear clearly.
"—can't wait much longer," one girl was saying. "The full moon is in two days. We need to move."
"I know," Cole replied. "But Eclipse is suspicious. She's watching me."
"Then lose her. Do whatever it takes."
"I'm trying. But she's smart. Careful."
"Not careful enough. She still doesn't know the real plan."
"And she won't. Not until it's too late."
My heart sank.
This wasn't investigation. This was conspiracy.
Cole was still working with them. Still planning something.
And I was still the target.
I started to back away. To leave before they noticed.
But I stepped on a branch.
It snapped. Loud in the quiet forest.
Everyone turned.
Cole's eyes met mine.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then he said, "Run."
I didn't need to be told twice.
I ran.
Behind me, I heard footsteps. Multiple people chasing.
I shifted mid-run, my wolf form faster.
But they were fast too.
I burst out of the forest and onto campus.
Safety. Witnesses. They wouldn't attack here.
I was wrong.
Dark magic hit me from behind.
I went down hard, skidding across the grass.
The It-Girls surrounded me. At least eight of them.
And Cole was with them.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I really am. But this is bigger than us."
"Cole, don't—"
But he raised his hand. Dark magic swirled.
The last thing I saw before everything went black was his face.
Conflicted. Pained. But determined.
Then nothing.