THE BETRAYAL UNFOLDS

Isolde had slipped out of her chambers to get some air, she walked through the dimly lit corridors of the castle. The halls were quiet, save for the occasional flickering of torches and the distant murmur of voices. It wasn’t until she neared the main hall that she recognized one of the voices, it was Lutheran's. Her steps slowed.

The other voice belonged to Soren.

Isolde hesitated, torn between stepping forward or retreating to her chambers. But something in their tones made her pause, a deep, serious edge that sent a chill crawling down her spine. She took a careful step closer, pressing herself into the shadows just beyond the doorway. At first, they praised her for her fighting skills and how quickly she had learned to hone her skills. She was happy, but soon the conversation shifted to something else.

What plans were they talking about? She was even more interested at this moment because whatever the plan was about, it seemed to involve her. However, Lutheran seem to notice the presence of someone. He stiffened.

He felt a sudden, faint chill run down his spine. His eyes darted around the courtyard, scanning the shadows. For a moment, he sensed something was off. It felt like someone was there, watching him, but he couldn't see anyone. He squinted, his eyes narrowing as he tried to pinpoint what was bothering him. But there was nothing.

Isolde stayed glued to the wall, she held her breath and tried to avoid making a sound so that she would not be seen. Lutheran shook his head slightly and exhaled, maybe it was the weight of the conversation making him uneasy.

He turned back to Soren, his expression dark with conflict. Are we abandoning the plan then?” Soren’s voice was sharp, filled with frustration.

There was a long silence before Lutheran answered, his voice was lower. “I… I don’t know.”

Isolde frowned. Plan? What plan?

Soren scoffed. “You don’t know? We have worked for years to bring this moment to life, Lutheran. And now, because of one woman, you’re ready to throw it all away?”

A heavy silence filled the room. Isolde’s fingers tightened against the stone wall as her heartbeat quickened. What were they talking about?

Lutheran exhaled, he sounded tired, almost conflicted. “It’s not that simple, Soren.”

“Oh, it’s very simple,” Soren snapped. “This was never supposed to be about feelings. We were meant to use her.” A shiver ran down Isolde’s spine. Use her?

She felt her breath catch in her throat.

Lutheran’s voice dropped lower, almost hesitant. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. At first, she was a means to an end, a way to get back at Kaelen, but things have changed. I love her.”

The words should have comforted her, but they didn’t. Because hidden within them was an admission far more damning. The ground beneath her feet felt unsteady.

Soren let out a bitter laugh. “Love?” His tone was laced with disbelief. “Do you honestly believe she won’t turn on you the moment she realizes the truth? You think she won’t run back to Kaelen?”

Lutheran growled. “She despises Kaelen, she would never—”

“She would never? Don't get too emotional, Lutheran.” Soren’s voice was cutting. “You forget that she once loved him enough to sacrifice everything. Do you really think she won’t one day wake up and realize that you were just a replacement for him?”

Isolde’s entire body tensed at the cruel irony of those words. Just hours ago, she had been the one drowning in the fear of being nothing more than a replacement for Lutheran’s lost love.

Now, she realized it was she who had been the pawn all along.

Her training, her strength, the way he had encouraged her, praised her, guided her, it had never been for her. It had been for his revenge, for Kaelen’s downfall. And worse still, for the conquest of her own pack.

Soren wasn’t finished. His voice turned cold and calculating. “The plan was simple. We break Kaelen, make him watch as we turn his mate into his worst nightmare, and then we take everything from him, his land, his people and his pack.”

Lutheran’s jaw clenched. “That was before.”

“Before what?” Soren hissed. “Before you decide to let your heart rule your head? You think love will make her forget that she was nothing more than a weapon in your hands when she eventually finds out? That we planned to make her destroy the very people she was once willing to die for?”

“I can’t do this anymore.” Soren frowned. “What are you saying Lutheran?”

Lutheran clenched his jaw, then forced the words out. “I can’t go ahead with using Isolde to bring down Kaelen.” The silence that followed was heavy.

Soren’s face darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. “Have you suddenly forgotten what they did to you? You want to let it go just like that?”

Lutheran exhaled, dragging a hand through his dark hair. His voice was low, but the weight in it was undeniable. “At first, that was the plan, but I’ve fallen in love with her.” Isolde didn’t wait to hear more.

She stepped back, her heart was hammering in her chest, a cold numbness spreading through her limbs.

She had come to this place, believing it was where she had found herself. Believing that Lutheran had seen something in her that no one else had. But now, she saw the truth, he hadn’t seen her. He had only envisioned Kaelen’s downfall.

She turned and walked away, her steps were careful and silent. Every movement felt like a betrayal to herself because it meant accepting that everything had been a lie. Lutheran loved her now. But could she ever believe that? Would she ever be able to trust that love, knowing what it had started as?

As she reached the darkened halls of the cabin, a single question burned in her mind: What will I do now?

“Are you sure about this?” Soren asked, his voice was dangerously low, laced with disbelief. Lutheran met his gaze steadily. “Yes.”

A muscle feathered in Soren’s jaw as he took a step forward. “So you’re telling me we’re throwing away everything we worked for? Everything we planned, just because you developed feelings for the bait?”

Lutheran’s golden eyes burned with a warning, but Soren was too angry to stop.

“She’s still Kaelen’s mate,” he spat. “Do you know what that means, Lutheran? It means that one day she could wake up and decide she wants him back. And where will that leave you? Where will that leave the pack?”

Lutheran’s gaze turned to steel. “That won’t happen.”

“And how are you so sure?” Soren sneered. “Because she kissed you? Because she lay in your bed? You think that means her bond with Kaelen has been erased? That whatever tie she had to him is gone?”

Lutheran growled low in his throat, a warning vibrating in the air. “I will not let you speak of her like that,” he said coldly. Soren held his gaze. “Then open your eyes, Lutheran.”

Lutheran inhaled deeply, then spoke with absolute finality.

“The important thing is that Kaelen will still be brought down.” Soren let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. “And what about the pack? What about our plans?”

“What about them?” Lutheran shot back. Soren’s expression hardened. “We were supposed to take over his pack to expand your territory. To strengthen our hold.”

Lutheran didn’t answer immediately. Soren’s voice dropped, and his next words were quiet but deadly serious.

“If you refuse to take his pack, someone else will. Someone who might become a bigger threat to us than Kaelen ever was.”