The camp was unusually quiet that morning, the kind of silence that prickled the skin. Wolves moved with measured steps, ears alert, eyes flicking toward one another as though communicating unspoken secrets. Selene felt it immediately—the undercurrent of tension, a shadow within their own ranks.
Damon noticed it too. He prowled beside her, golden eyes sharp and scanning. "Something's off," he murmured, claws flexing as he trailed the outer edges of the camp. "I can feel it in the air. Wolves are hiding things."
Selene's stomach twisted. The Council was no longer the only threat. Now, danger was inside the camp. Someone they trusted—or had assumed they could—was aiding the enemy.
"We need to find it before it becomes a disaster," Selene said, determination sharpening her voice. "No one will be harmed if we act quickly."
Damon growled low, a deep rumble that vibrated in the snow around them. "I hate this," he admitted, his jaw tight. "I hate not knowing who's betraying us."
"I know," she replied softly, gripping his arm. "But we'll find them."
Selene began her investigation quietly, speaking with wolves she trusted and observing interactions within the camp. At first, nothing seemed amiss. Wolves were loyal, disciplined, and reverent—but subtle signs emerged: whispered exchanges, fleeting glances toward the north ridge, movements that seemed rehearsed rather than instinctual.
Aria appeared at her side, as unreadable as ever. "Trust your fire," the rogue queen whispered. "It's not just for battle. You can sense deception, even in those who hide behind loyalty. Listen carefully."
Selene nodded, letting the bond hum beneath her skin. It pulsed warmly, connecting her not just to Damon, but to every wolf in the pack. She reached outward, gently probing the emotional threads, sensing fear, hope, guilt… and one distinct thread that twisted with lies.
She followed it quietly, heart pounding, until she reached a small clearing where a lone wolf crouched near the trees. His golden eyes flickered nervously, shadows clinging to him like a second skin.
"You shouldn't be here," Selene said softly, her voice carrying more authority than she felt.
The wolf froze, then tried to lunge, but Damon intercepted him instantly, claws gleaming. "Stop," Damon snapped. "You can't hide from this. Not from her."
Selene stepped forward, hand blazing. The fire coursed through her veins, steady and sharp. The wolf trembled, shadows recoiling from her touch. "Why?" she demanded. "Why betray your pack?"
Tears streaked his face. "I… I didn't want to," he whispered. "The Council… they promised safety. They said if I helped, they wouldn't harm my family. I had no choice!"
Selene's chest tightened. She understood fear and coercion all too well, but betrayal was still betrayal. "You made a choice," she said quietly. "And now you have to face it."
Damon growled low, fury radiating off him, but Selene placed a hand on his chest, steadying him. "Let me do this," she said.
The wolf collapsed to his knees, shadows flickering weakly around him. Selene knelt beside him, placing her hand on his chest. Heat surged through her, burning away the shadow that had controlled him. The wolf gasped, convulsed, and then fell still, his eyes clear and natural.
"You're free," Selene whispered, voice trembling with exhaustion and authority. "But know this—loyalty to the pack is not optional. You will be watched, and any sign of deceit… will not be forgiven."
The wolf bowed his head, shame and relief mingling in his expression. "Thank you," he said softly. "I… I understand."
Selene rose slowly, her body weary but her mind sharp. Damon's gaze followed hers, golden eyes filled with both pride and lingering anger.
"You handled it well," he said softly, placing a hand on her cheek. "But this… this is only the beginning. There will be more. The Council will try again, and not everyone can be trusted."
Selene nodded. "Then we'll be ready. I won't let deception weaken us. Not when so much is at stake."
That night, Selene and Damon sat outside the campfire. The snow fell lightly, drifting over the forest floor like a blanket. Silence stretched between them, both exhausted but aware that the calm was temporary.
"Do you think it will ever end?" Damon asked quietly.
Selene shook her head. "No. The Council adapts, learns, strikes where we least expect it. But every time we survive, every time we burn a shadow away… we grow stronger."
Damon's arms wrapped around her, protective and fierce. "I can't lose you to them," he whispered. "Or to the weight of all this responsibility."
"You won't," she said, pressing her forehead to his. "We face it together. Every shadow, every betrayal, every battle. Always together."
The bond on her wrist pulsed warmly, a quiet affirmation of her strength, her fire, and the bond she shared with Damon. The packs slept nearby, some dreaming, some still alert, and Selene realized the truth: she was no longer just a mate, a human, or a fighter. She was the heart of the pack—the beacon that would lead them through shadows and into fire.
And no betrayal, no shadow, no Council attack could extinguish it.
Author's Note:
🔥🐺 The Council has infiltrated the camp, testing Selene's trust and leadership. Can she navigate betrayal while keeping Damon and the packs safe? How do you think she should handle future spies? Comment below and vote with Power Stones to guide her next moves! ❤️