Chapter 38 THE ALPHA’S SECRET
RAY’S POV
My name on that list feels like a brand burning into my skin.
Everyone's staring at me. Waiting for an explanation. Waiting for me to deny it or confirm it or do something other than stand here like a statue.
“Tell me it isn't true, tell me you're not one of them.”
"It's not what you think." The words sound weak even to my own ears.
"Then explain it." Logan's voice is calm but his eyes are hard. "Because right now it looks like you've been Veritas for ten years. Working for the people who manufactured Alicia. Who killed Kai's family. Who've been manipulating all of us."
"I've never worked for them." my throat seem dry “But… I didn't stop them either.”
"Then explain." Alicia's voice cuts deeper than anyone else's. "Because I need to know if I can trust you. If any of the bonds I have are real or if everything has been part of their plan."
The hurt in her voice makes my chest ache. The mate bonds between us shivers with her doubt, her fear, her desperate need for honesty.
I owe her that much. Even if it destroys what little trust we have left.
But the truth Logan doesn't know is that my father was Veritas. He joined when he was twenty. Before I was born. Before he became Alpha. He believed in their mission. Thought they were protecting wolves from extinction. Guiding us toward a better future."
I was initiated when I was eight years old. The memory tastes bitter. It's what they do with children of members. Bring them in young. Teach them the ideology before they're old enough to question it. Make it seem normal
I know they'll judge if I tell them that my father is also a part of the Veritas.
I didn't know it was wrong at the time my father took me there. I didn't know they were manipulating bloodlines and arranging affairs and killing entire packs to keep secrets. I just knew my father was part of something important. Something that would make our pack stronger.
"I am not part of the Veritas. They only offered to help.” I collected the paper from Logan and crushed it. But, that was a lie. I can't expose my father. They must be a reason his name isn't on the paper.
"And you didn't walk away when you find out what they really are?" Alicia's voice shakes.
"I tried to. Told them I wanted nothing to do with them. That I'd build Dark Night Pack on my own terms." I laugh bitterly. "They said that was fine. But then they showed me something." At least I am telling the truth, I just left some part out.
I pull out my phone. Open the encrypted folder I've kept hidden for ten years. Turn the screen so they can see.
Financial records.
I left out the document that shows that my father embezzled from the Dark Night Pack for fifteen years. Took money meant for pack security, for territorial maintenance, for emergency funds. Funneled it into Veritas operations." I scroll through the pages. By the time he died, he'd stolen over two million dollars.
"When I became Alpha, we had nothing. No reserves. No backup. One bad winter or failed hunt and the entire pack would have starved." I close the phone. "The Veritas knew this. They offered me a deal. They'd cover the missing money. Provide resources to rebuild. Connect me with other packs for trade and alliances. In exchange, I'd remain affiliated with them. Not active. Not participating in operations. Just maintaining contact."
"And you agreed." Logan's voice holds no judgment. Just statement of fact.
"I agreed because the alternative was watching my pack disintegrate. Watching wolves I'd grown up with lose everything." I look at each of them. "I was seventeen years old and wanted to help my father. They offered me a lifeline and I took it."
"But you said you left them when you became Alpha." Alicia's voice is tight.
"I said I tried to leave. And I did. Stopped attending meetings. Stopped responding to messages. Tried to cut all ties." I pause. "That if I ever went fully against them, they would stop helping and would even destroy the Dark Night Pack's reputation."
Silence fills the room. Heavy. Suffocating.
"So for ten years you've been their hostage." Kai's voice is flat.
"More like their insurance policy. They gave me resources to build the pack strong. Made sure I succeeded as Alpha. Then sat back and waited." I meet his eyes. "They knew eventually they'd need me. Need my position. Need my access to Alicia when she appeared."
"And when she did appear?" Alicia asks quietly.
"They contacted me. Told me to watch for signs of True Luna awakening. Report anything unusual. Make sure she stayed in Dark Night territory where they could monitor her." I force myself not to look away from her. "But I didn't do it. I cut off all communication. Blocked their calls. Burned the encrypted phones they sent me."
"Why?" Logan sounds genuinely curious.
"Because by then I'd met her. Loved her. The bond between us was real even if it was corrupted." I finally look at Alicia. "Whatever plans they had, whatever they wanted me to do, I couldn't betray you. Couldn't be part of using you."
"But you didn't tell me." Her voice cracks. "You let me believe everything was genuine. That our bond was just fate instead of manufactured design."
"I didn't know about the manufacturing until today. Logan's files are the first I've heard about the arranged affair. About your mother being Veritas. About any of it being planned." I take a step toward her. "I thought that our bond was just unfortunate bad luck. Not a conspiracy."
"But you knew you were Veritas affiliated. You knew they were watching us. And you said nothing."
"Because I was trying to protect you!" The words come out harder than I mean them to. "If I told you about my Veritas connection, you'd have questions I couldn't answer. You'd lose trust in me. Maybe run. And if you ran, they'd have sent others after you. Others who wouldn't care about your feelings or your choices."
"So you lied to protect me." Her voice sounded disappointed. "Just like Vincent. Just like Pascal. Just like everyone else who's been manipulating my life since birth."
The accusation hits like a physical blow.
The mate bond between us wavers. I can feel it. Feel her trust breaking. Feel the connection we've built straining under the weight of secrets and lies.
"Alicia, please. I know this looks bad. But everything I did was to protect Dark Night Pack. To protect you once you arrived. To keep The Veritas from having leverage over either of us."
"So they own you." Kai's voice is matter of fact.
"They think they do. But I've been preparing for this. Gathering my own evidence. Building alliances outside their network. Strengthening the pack so we could survive even if they released everything." I look at Alicia. "I've spent years trying to break free of them completely. To make us strong enough that their leverage wouldn't matter."
"And are we?" Alicia asks quietly. "Strong enough?"
"I don't know. Maybe. If we move carefully. If we expose them before they expose us." I pause. "But it's going to be brutal. They'll fight back. Use every resource they have to discredit us. Turn other packs against us. Make us look like the villains."
"Let them try." Kai's voice is cold. "I've got nothing to lose. My pack is already dead."
"I've got nothing to lose either." Logan adds. "Been exiled for ten years. My reputation can't get worse."
"Same." Monty's voice is steady. "I already broke with Ray by taking Alicia to Blood Moon territory without permission. Might as well go all the way."
They all look at Alicia. Waiting for her decision. Waiting to see if she'll forgive my deception or walk away from all of us.
Alicia straightens, wiping a streak of tears from her cheek. “The challenge starts in less than an hour to prepare for it. We'll deal with The Veritas after the challenge after I win."
She leaves. The door closes behind her with a soft click.
The four of us stand in silence. Brothers in bonds but divided by secrets.
"You should have told us." Monty's voice is quiet. "Should have told her. Before Logan found out. Before it could come out like this."
"I know."
They leave together. Closing the door behind them.
Leaving me alone with the weight of ten years of deception finally exposed.
I sink into a chair. Put my head in my hands. Feel the mate bond with Alicia wavering like a candle flame in wind.
She doubts me now. Doubts whether anything between us is real. Doubts whether she can trust me to have her back when it matters.
And I don't blame her.
Because I've been lying for ten years. Maybe not maliciously but lies by omission are still lies.
My phone vibrates. Unknown number. I almost didn’t answer.
Then I do.
"Alpha Ray." The voice is distorted. "We're disappointed. You were supposed to keep the girl stable. Keep her trusting you. Instead you let Logan expose your connection to us."
The Veritas. Calling directly. That's never happened before.
"I don't work for you. Never have."
"You worked for us the moment you accepted our resources. The moment you let us rebuild your pack." A pause. "And now you'll continue working for us. Or we release everything. Every theft your father committed. Every questionable decision you made. Every piece of evidence that proves Dark Night Pack is built on corruption."
"Do it. I don't care anymore."
"Liar. You care very much. You've spent ten years trying to protect your pack's reputation. You won't throw that away now." The voice takes on an amused tone. "Besides, we don't need to release anything. We just need to let Alicia keep doubting you. Keep pulling away. Keep wondering if your bond is real. Eventually she'll reject you. And when she does, when that corrupted bond breaks completely, she'll be vulnerable and desperate which is perfect for the Convergence."
My blood runs cold.
"You stay away from her."
"We don't need to get close. You're doing our work for us. Pushing her away with your secrets. Making her doubt everything. By the time we're ready to move, she won't trust any of you enough to accept help." Laughter. Cold and calculating. "Thank you, Alpha. You've been more useful than you know."
The line goes dead.
I sit in silence. Processing. Understanding.
They wanted my Veritas connection exposed. Wanted Alicia to doubt me. Wanted the bonds fracturing.
Because a True Luna without trust is easier to manipulate than one surrounded by loyal mates.
And I just gave them exactly what they wanted.