Chapter 36 Face Of The Traitor
The moon rose full and silver over Nightfang territory, casting long, cold shadows across the estate.
Derek moved through his chambers with quiet precision. Checking his gear. The lingering ache from the attack days ago gnawed at him, but tonight he couldn't afford weakness. Tonight, everything ended.
Amanda lingered by the doorway. Dressed in dark, practical clothing. Her hair was pulled back tightly. The faint glow of her birthmark beneath her collar seemed to pulse with the tension in the air.
"Everyone's in position," she said. Her voice steady, but her heart thudded unevenly in her chest. "Owen has warriors hidden in the trees. Riley's ready with the signal horn. Victor and Moira are maintaining the wards."
Derek nodded. Checking the blade at his hip. Not that he expected to need it, but preparation mattered.
Amanda's throat tightened. Do I tell him? She glanced at him as he moved with calm, dangerous precision. If he knew what Father did... would he ever forgive me? Would he even believe I didn't know sooner? Lena was right. I look like I've been keeping secrets from the beginning.
She swallowed hard. The weight of the truth pressed on her chest. But maybe he deserves to know. Maybe this changes nothing... or maybe it ruins everything.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked aloud. Her voice steady, though her hands twitched at her sides.
Derek turned. Sharp, intense. "No." His gaze held hers. "But it's the only way. Silas needs to believe he's won. That I'm broken enough to turn on you. That's when he'll drop his guard."
Amanda's pulse quickened. And if I tell him now... will it ruin his focus? Or will he hate me for something I didn't choose?
"And if he doesn't? If he suspects the trap?" She tested her voice against the knot of guilt in her chest.
"Then we adapt." Derek stepped closer. His hands framed her face, grounding her. "But Amanda, no matter what happens tonight, know this. I trust you. I choose you. Nothing Silas or Lena says will change that."
Tears threatened, blurring her vision. He trusts me... and yet, how can I bear the thought of lying to him? She wanted to tell him. To speak the truth of her father's betrayal. But the words caught in her throat. The timing was wrong. It had to be.
"You look worried. What's wrong?" Derek asked.
"Everything is fine. Just worried about this if it turns out wrong."
"We will face this together. Just like everything else."
"Together," she murmured, though her mind churned with the secret she carried. Heavy and dangerous.
A knock sounded. Owen's voice called through the door. "It's time."
Amanda wiped her eyes quickly. Forcing her emotions into a calm mask. Derek steadied his breathing. The tension coiling like steel in his limbs.
They left the chambers silently. Moving through the estate like shadows. Unseen and unquestioned. Yet inside her, Amanda's heart beat with the burden of a truth she might never be able to share. At least, not tonight.
The Sacred Grove waited. Ancient and powerful. Ready for the truth to finally emerge.
Derek arrived first.
The clearing was exactly as he remembered. Moonlight filtered through the branches. The air hummed with old magic. This place had witnessed the beginning of his curse.
Tonight it would witness its end.
He stood in the center. Alone. Vulnerable. The perfect bait.
Around him, hidden in the shadows, his allies waited. Amanda crouched behind a thick tree trunk. Her gift coiled tight. Ready to strike. Owen and his warriors were scattered through the grove. Weapons ready. Eyes sharp.
Victor stood at the edge. Bearing witness. Alpha to Alpha.
And Moira. Her wards glowed faintly. Invisible to those who didn't know to look. But present. Powerful. Waiting to reveal the truth.
Footsteps approached. Measured. Calm. Confident.
Silas emerged from the trees. His posture relaxed. His face composed. Concern lingered in his eyes, but it was carefully crafted. Just enough to make Derek hesitate.
"Derek... you called for me?" Silas's voice was soft, almost tentative.
"I did." Derek's voice was hollow. Brittle with anger. "Because this is where it started. Where you destroyed my life."
Silas blinked. Feigning surprise. "Destroyed? Derek... I don't understand. What are you saying?"
"The binding ritual. The dark magic. Your betrayal." Derek's words cut through the air like steel.
Silas's expression shifted. Briefly startled. Then melted into concern. "Derek... listen. I would never... You're letting your imagination run wild. I've been by your side, through everything. How could you think I'd do this to you?"
"You think I'll believe that?" Derek's voice shook with fury. "Three years. My wolf trapped. My strength stolen. Everything I fought for... ruined. And all because of you."
Silas tilted his head. Stepping closer. Concern etched into every line of his face. "Derek... maybe you're just angry. Pain can twist memories. Make the worst seem true. I swear, I never wanted to hurt you."
Derek's fists clenched. His eyes, burning with betrayal, bore into Silas. "Stop pretending. I know the truth."
For a moment, Silas's mask faltered. His gaze hardened. The air shifted. The calm, concerned brother vanished. In his place stood something colder. Sharper. Deliberate.
"You... know?" His voice was quieter now. Almost a whisper. But the weight behind it was undeniable.
"Yes. I know everything." Derek's tone was low. Steady. Like the strike of a blade.
Silas let out a slow, bitter laugh. "I was hoping... I really hoped you'd never find out." He stepped closer. Eyes locking with Derek's. "But since you do... I suppose there's no point hiding it any longer."
Derek's heart pounded. "Silas... why?"
Silas's expression became a mask of cold calculation. His smile was thin. Almost triumphant. "Because you were weak. Too soft. Too concerned with honor. Too blinded by ideals." He shook his head slowly. "Nightfang needed strength. Someone willing to do what was necessary."
Derek's voice broke, but fury overpowered the grief. "You cursed me? Destroyed three years of my life... because you thought you knew better?"
"Yes." Silas was sharp. Unflinching. "I bound your wolf. I trapped you. I removed the obstacles that would have held me back. For three years, you've been broken while I prepared. I positioned myself to take what was mine."
Derek stepped forward. Rage consuming him. "And you called yourself my brother?"
Silas's smile widened. Cruel and unapologetic. "Brother? We were never brothers. We were Alpha and shadow. And shadows only exist to make the light shine brighter. Until the shadow decides it's time to step into the sun."
He stopped. Faced Derek directly. "Three years ago, when your wolf emerged, I saw what you could become. A force that would dominate every pack in the region. And I realized that if you succeeded, I'd spend my entire life as nothing more than your loyal dog."
"So you bound my wolf. Trapped me. Made sure I'd never become what I was meant to be."
"Exactly." Silas's smile was cold. "And it worked. For three years, you've been broken. Weak. A disgrace. While I've been building my own power base. Positioning myself to take your place."
Derek's jaw clenched. "And Amanda? What was her role in your plan?"
"She wasn't supposed to matter. Lucian sent her here as a throwaway. A daughter he wanted to be rid of. She was meant to be ignored. Dismissed. Just another failure in her pathetic life." Silas's expression darkened. "But then she started breaking the curse. Started making you hope again. Started ruining everything I'd built."
"So you tried to kill me. Frame her. Destroy us both."
"I tried to finish what I started three years ago." Silas's hands began to glow. Dark energy crackling around his fingers. "But you survived. And now you've figured out the truth. Which means I need to adapt."
Derek took a step back. "What are you doing?"
"Ending this. Once and for all." The dark magic intensified. Swirling. Building. "I won't let you reclaim what I've worked so hard to take. If I can't be Alpha through your fall, then I'll become Alpha through your death."