Chapter 75: A Test of Loyalty

Mariana’s POV

The air in the war room was thick with tension. I stood beside Alexander, my pulse still racing from the encounter last night. I had come face-to-face with a traitor—and let them slip away.

Now, we had no choice but to act.

Alexander’s voice was cold steel as he addressed the gathered council. “Someone within these walls is working against the pack.” His eyes swept across the room, daring anyone to challenge him. “Last night, my Luna overheard whispers of betrayal. And when she was discovered, the traitor tried to silence her.”

Murmurs rippled through the room, some voices laced with outrage—others with carefully veiled skepticism.

“We must be cautious,” Elder Jonas said, his weathered face unreadable. “Accusations without proof could divide us further.”

I clenched my fists. “They already have.”

Jonas turned his sharp gaze toward me, but I didn’t waver. “I smelled them,” I continued. “I heard them. They spoke of moving against Alexander.” I looked around the room. “You all claim loyalty, but someone in this very chamber is plotting to destroy what we’ve built.”

Silence.

Then—

“I agree with the Alpha.” A woman’s voice rang out.

Eva.

She stepped forward, her arms crossed. “We’ve ignored the cracks in the council long enough. If we don’t root out the rot now, it’ll spread.”

Garrick nodded. “We should start interrogations immediately.”

Alexander’s expression remained unreadable. “That’s exactly what they’ll expect. If we push too hard now, they’ll retreat into the shadows.” He leaned forward, his tone shifting. “Instead, we set a trap.”

My breath caught. This was Julius’ plan.

Jonas frowned. “And what do you propose?”

Alexander’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “A test of loyalty.”

I felt the shift in the room—the unease, the flicker of fear in some faces.

Good.

Because after today, no one would be able to hide.