The Wolf's Betrayal

E DAYS

AR

back toward the campfire. The shadowy figure I had seen in the trees had va

range of perception, someone . . . something stayed my tongue. I wanted to ask him if he had seen the figure

e camp, there, leaning against a tree,

ul, and remote. I felt drawn to him like a gravitational

re," he said in a monotone. "I told you I wasn't going," I shot back, meeting his stare head not. Kael's jaw clenched

ut our very esteemed alpha." Kael squinted now, and for a moment, it appeared as though he may explode with rage against Ren. But then he turne

top myself, I spat out, "Haunted by betrayal?" His gaze quickened from me to G

e exiled; I and my mom are exiled too." There was a sharp gaze immediately. I said

eemed like he had built walls with such height and

ut revenge." He whipped his head toward me, his eyes sharp and piercing. "What do you know about revenge?" I swallowed. I could feel the weight of his question settle on me. "I know t

gh, low and rough. "Justice," he murmured. "What a beautiful lie." I took a step closer, emboldened. "Maybe it doesn't have to be a lie

ng you've built, everything you've fought for, just because someone decided you didn't fit their mold?" I

d as I scanned the shadows for any sign of motion. But there was nothing. Only a dense, dark forest stretching bound

ows. Recognition twisted my stomach; it was the same figure I had. The stranger was tall and slender, his fac

livid shiver raked its way down my spine. "Kael," the stranger said, pouring contempt into his voice. "Long time-no-see." Kael's jaw clenched audibly, radiating har

s and seemed taut and ready to explode. "And what do you want?" he demanded, dangerously low. "I thought I'd just pay you

epped forward with blazing eyes: "Get lost." But Loren laughed, as though he had expected this response

plications of what she had just seen. On Loren's wrist, a tattoo seemed to stare back at her - a symbol she recognized

s eyes locked onto Kael's, her heart racing with questions. What did this mean? Wh

placed by a mask of indifference. "You shouldn't be here, Loren," Kael repeated, his voice mean and

pside down, and she couldn't help but wonder wha

er connection t