Chapter 22 Seeds of Doubt
Derek stared at their joined hands. The warmth of Amanda's touch was the only thing keeping him grounded. Everything else felt like it was falling apart.
"You live with it by finding the truth," Amanda said softly. "And then you make them pay."
Derek's eyes lifted to hers. Something dark flickered there. Not anger, but something colder. More dangerous.
"If someone I trusted did this to me..." His voice was low, almost a growl. "I'll destroy them."
Amanda believed him.
The next three days were torture.
Derek changed. He became someone Amanda barely recognized. He watched everyone. Studied every conversation. Questioned every word spoken around him.
At breakfast, he said nothing while the elders discussed patrols. His gaze followed each speaker, searching for cracks, for lies.
In training, he partnered with different warriors every day, testing them, pushing them too far. Looking for weakness. For guilt.
And most of all, he watched Silas.
Amanda saw the shift and felt helpless. She wanted to tell him to stop, to breathe. But she understood. If someone you loved had betrayed you, wouldn't you tear your world apart trying to find who?
On the third day, Silas finally noticed.
Amanda was in the library when she heard voices in the hall. Sharp. Tense. She moved to the door and peered out.
Derek and Silas stood near the grand staircase. Silas looked hurt. Derek's face was unreadable.
"You've been different lately," Silas said. "Distant. You barely talk during training. You won't even look at me at meals."
"I've had a lot on my mind."
"It's more than that." Silas stepped closer. "Talk to me, Derek. What's going on?"
Derek's jaw tightened. He wanted to accuse him. Amanda could see it. But old friendship and doubt held him back.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm just focused on the pack."
"Don't lie to me." Silas's tone softened. "Is it the Luna? Is she causing problems?"
Derek's eyes flashed. "Amanda has nothing to do with this."
"Then what does?"
The silence stretched. Derek stared at his oldest friend, searching his face for even a flicker of deceit. There was none.
"I need to know I can trust you," Derek said finally.
Silas blinked. "What?"
"I need to know you're loyal. To me and to this pack."
"Of course I am!" Silas's voice cracked with disbelief. "I've stood by you for three years while others whispered behind your back. I defended you. Supported you. How can you even question that?"
"Because things are changing. And I need to know where everyone stands."
Silas's expression hardened. "I stand with you. I always have. But if you can't see that after everything..." He shook his head. "Then maybe the curse has taken more from you than just your wolf."
He turned and walked away. His footsteps echoed through the hall.
Derek stood frozen. His hands clenched at his sides.
Amanda stepped out from the doorway. "Derek."
He didn't turn. "You saw that."
"Yes."
"I couldn't accuse him. What if I'm wrong? What if I destroy the only friendship I have left over a prophecy that might not even be real?"
"But what if you're right?"
He let out a low breath. "I don't know what's worse. Being betrayed or becoming so paranoid that I lose the one person who never left me."
Amanda reached for his hand. "We'll figure it out. But you can't keep doing this to yourself."
"What choice do I have?"
Before she could answer, heavy footsteps approached. Victor's voice cut through the tension.
"Derek. My office. Now."
Victor shut the door as soon as they entered. His expression was unreadable.
"Sit."
Derek sat. Amanda stood beside him.
Victor stayed standing, arms crossed, eyes sharp. "I've been hearing reports. You're questioning pack members. Watching everyone like they're your enemies."
"I'm being cautious."
"You're being paranoid." Victor's voice was hard. "What's going on?"
Derek hesitated, then reached inside his jacket and pulled out Catherine's journal. He never went anywhere without it now.
"Amanda found this. It belonged to my mother."
Victor's expression shifted. Surprise, then pain. "Catherine's journal. I thought they were lost."
"They were hidden." Derek opened it to the prophecy. "She knew. About the curse. About Amanda. Everything."
Victor took the book and read silently. His hands trembled. When he finally looked up, his eyes were haunted.
"Your mother had the sight. I always dismissed it as superstition. But she was right about too many things to ignore."
Amanda leaned forward. "Then you believe the prophecy?"
"I believe Catherine saw something. Whether it's fate or warning, I can't say." He looked at Derek. "But she wanted to protect you."
"She wrote about a betrayer. Someone close. Someone I trust."
Victor's gaze turned cold. "Who?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out. Whoever did the binding had to be at the ritual hunt."
"Silas was there," Amanda said quietly.
Victor's eyes snapped to her. "You think Silas cursed him?"
"I think we can't rule anyone out."
"Silas has been loyal through everything."
"That's exactly what makes him the perfect betrayer," Amanda said. "Who would ever suspect the best friend?"
Victor was silent for a long moment. Then he lowered himself into his chair. "If you're right... if someone within our ranks performed the binding..." He met Derek's eyes. "You can't confront them yet. If you do, they'll run. Or strike again."
"So what do I do?" Derek's voice was rough. "Pretend everything's fine while I lose my mind?"
"You keep working with Amanda. In secret. I'll investigate quietly. If I find proof..." His tone turned lethal. "We deal with them permanently."
That night, Amanda and Derek met in the hidden room behind the library. It was the only place they could talk freely.
Amanda had laid out cushions and candles. Catherine's journal rested open on a small table beside her scattered notes.
Derek paced the room. His nerves were wound tight.
"You need to sit. I can't work if you're pacing."
"I can't stop thinking. What if it really is him?"
"Then we'll find out. But I need your focus. If I can get deep enough into the curse, I might sense who cast it."
That made him stop. "You can do that?"
"Maybe. Every curse carries a signature."
He sat across from her. "Then let's try."
Amanda placed her hands over his chest. "This will hurt."
"It always does."
She drew a breath and let her gift flow.
Her birthmark flared with golden light. Warmth spread through her fingers. The energy reached for the curse. Thick, dark, and tangled. It wrapped around Derek's wolf like chains of shadow.
She pushed against it. The light brightened.
Derek gasped, gripping her wrists, holding on.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't stop."
Amanda poured everything she had into the binding. She imagined the links breaking one by one. And then something gave.
The air cracked with power.
Derek screamed. His body arched. His eyes flashed silver. Bright and wild.
Amanda froze. "Derek... your eyes."
For one heartbeat, she saw his wolf. Alive, furious, unchained.
Then the silver faded, leaving him gasping, drenched in sweat.
"Did you see that?" he breathed. "I felt him. For a moment, I felt him."
Amanda's heart pounded. "We're making progress."
Derek cupped her face. "You're doing it. You're breaking the curse."
"We're doing it. Together."
The air between them hummed. Charged and intimate. Derek leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers.
"Amanda, I..."
A sound outside made them freeze.
Footsteps. Drawing closer.
They pulled apart. Amanda dimmed the glow of her birthmark. Derek stood, tense and alert.
The footsteps passed the library, then faded.
They exhaled.
"That was close," Amanda whispered.
"Too close. Someone's watching us."
"Then we'll be more careful."
"Or faster." Derek's voice was grim. "Before whoever did this finds out what we're doing."
Amanda nodded, but unease twisted in her gut. Because if the person who cursed him realized she was breaking it, they wouldn't stop at sending warnings.
The next morning, Victor summoned them again.
He stood behind his desk, holding a sealed letter marked with a crimson crest. A wolf wreathed in flame.
"It arrived at dawn. From Silvermoon pack."
Derek broke the seal. As he read, his face darkened.
"What is it?" Amanda asked.
"A challenge. Elias Hale is demanding Nightfang cede the northern borders. If we refuse, he calls for combat trials."
Victor's fists clenched. "That bastard. He knows you can't shift. He's exploiting your weakness."
Amanda frowned. "Combat trials?"
"Single combat between Alphas or their chosen champions," Derek said. "Winner claims the land."
"Then you can't fight him." Victor's voice was sharp. "Not without your wolf."
"Then I'll choose a champion."
"Who?" Victor asked. "Who in this pack can beat Elias Hale?"
Silence.
Amanda swallowed. "We could negotiate. Give up the land. Buy time."
"No." Derek's voice was hard as iron. "We won't show weakness. Not now."
Victor's eyes narrowed. "Then what?"
"I'll stall. Claim I need time to prepare my champion. Meanwhile, Amanda and I work until the curse breaks."
Victor's expression darkened. "And if you fail?"
Derek's gaze was steady. "Then I fight anyway. And hope that's enough."