"Oh, but I already have," Lucian said, his voice a low, mocking drawl. "You see, Kaelen, you've been playing defense your whole life. You've never been able to go on the offensive. You'll never be able to stop me. Not when I have everything I need." His confidence was infuriating, and Ariana's heart raced with anxiety.
Ariana's mind raced. There was something Lucian wasn't telling them, something he was still hiding, but she couldn't figure it out yet. "What is it, Lucian?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides. "What are you really after?" She felt the need to challenge him, to uncover the truth.
Lucian's eyes glittered with malicious satisfaction. "Power. Control. And with Ariana's blood, I'll open a portal that will change everything. The world will bend to my will." The way he spoke made it sound like a twisted dream, and Ariana felt a chill run down her spine.
"You lied to us."
Kaelen's voice was deadly calm, yet his golden eyes burned with an intensity that could turn forests to ashes. The air inside the dimly lit cabin felt oppressive, as if the very walls were holding their breath in anticipation. The distant howling of the wind outside only served to amplify the tension that hung in the room.
Jarek, one of Kaelen's most trusted men, stood across from him, hands raised in a defensive gesture. His face, normally steadfast and loyal, was now shadowed with guilt, a stark contrast to the unwavering resolve Ariana had come to associate with him.
"I had no choice." Jarek's voice wavered, his gaze flickering toward Ariana, who stood frozen beside Kaelen. "Lucian… he has my mate. If I didn't do what he asked—" His words trailed off, the unspoken implication weighing heavily between them.
"You sold us out for your own weakness," Kaelen cut him off, stepping forward. His muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike, the raw power radiating from him palpable. "You led them to Ariana. You nearly got her killed." The accusation in his tone was unmistakable, a betrayal that cut deeper than any physical wound.
Ariana swallowed hard, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She had trusted Jarek, seen him as a loyal and steadfast member of Kaelen's pack. Now, that trust lay shattered at her feet, and she found herself grappling with a mix of emotions—anger, disappointment, and a tinge of understanding. She forced herself to stay still, unwilling to show any sign of weakness.
"It wasn't supposed to go this far," Jarek pleaded. "I was only supposed to stall you. But then… then they decided to take her tonight. I didn't know they'd move so fast." His words were laced with desperation, a futile attempt to justify his actions.
Kaelen's fists clenched at his sides, the tendons in his hands standing out in stark relief. He exhaled slowly, struggling to keep the violent rage simmering beneath his skin from exploding. If Ariana hadn't screamed when those men had dragged her from the cabin—if he had arrived even a second later—he didn't want to think about what would have happened. The mere thought sent a shiver of dread down his spine.
"You betrayed your Alpha," Kaelen said, his voice low and sharp, cutting through the tense silence. "You betrayed your pack. There is no coming back from this, Jarek." The finality in his words was like a death sentence.
Jarek's throat bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze downcast. "I know."
Ariana couldn't stand the weight of the moment any longer. "You were supposed to be our friend," she snapped, the hurt and betrayal evident in her voice. "I trusted you. And you handed me over to Lucian like I was some piece of property?" The words spilled out, laced with a raw emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.
Jarek flinched at her words, his expression etched with guilt and regret. "I didn't want to, Ariana. But if you had to choose between saving the person you love or betraying someone you care about, what would you have done?" The question hung in the air, a silent plea for understanding.
Ariana's breath caught in her throat. She knew what he was asking, the implication striking a chord deep within her. If it had been Kaelen—if Lucian had threatened to hurt him—would she have done the same? The thought made her heart ache with the weight of the decision.
Before she could respond, Kaelen's voice cut through the silence like a blade, commanding her attention.
"You should have told me. We could have saved your mate together. Instead, you let them take Ariana." The disappointment and anger in his words were palpable, a testament to the betrayal he felt.
Jarek exhaled shakily, his composure crumbling. "I'll accept whatever punishment you give me."
Kaelen's gaze was merciless, his golden eyes burning with an intensity that made Ariana's breath catch. "You don't get to decide that."
A tense beat passed, the air thick with uncertainty. Ariana didn't know what Kaelen would do—if he would kill Jarek right here and now. But then, Kaelen let out a slow breath and turned away, his decision made.
"You're no longer part of this pack," he said coldly, his words like a death knell. "If I see you again, I will kill you."
Jarek's shoulders slumped, the weight of his actions crushing him. He looked at Ariana one last time, something unspoken in his eyes, then turned and walked out into the darkness, leaving behind the remnants of a shattered trust.
Ariana released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her nerves still raw from the confrontation.
"You let him go?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Kaelen didn't answer right away. He ran a hand through his hair, his body still coiled with tension, the energy in the room crackling like a live wire.
"He's already dead," he muttered, his words tinged with a grim finality. "Lucian won't forgive him for failing."
Ariana shuddered, the implication sending a chill down her spine. She should feel relieved that Jarek was gone, that the threat he posed had been neutralized. But all she felt was a sinking weight in her chest, a sense of loss and betrayal that threatened to overwhelm her.
"Kaelen…" she hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if there are others? What if we're not safe anymore?"
Kaelen turned to her, his golden eyes unreadable, a storm of emotions swirling within their depths. And then, in a voice quiet but laced with a dangerous edge, he asked:
"Do you still trust me, Ariana?"