The whispers had become shouts.
By midday, the compound was divided. Some wolves treated us with awe, glances full of curiosity and fear. Others avoided our gaze—or met it with thinly veiled hostility. Every corner, every corridor, every shadow seemed to hum with judgment.
I could feel it through the bond: doubt, jealousy, fear, and worst of all… betrayal.
Kael noticed it first. His sharp gray eyes flicked over a group of young wolves clustered near the eastern gate. "They're watching us," he muttered. "Not just watching… judging."
Riven's jaw tightened, fingers curling into fists. "They're waiting for a mistake. One slip, one misstep, and they'll use it against us."
Solen said nothing, but his dark eyes narrowed. Even he could sense the tension coiling like a snake through the compound.
I exhaled slowly. "Then we don't give them the chance."
Astraea hummed low. You can't control what others think—but you can control how you react.
The first sign of betrayal came subtly. A trainer, someone I had trusted to guide Kael and Riven, deliberately misdirected them during a sparring session. Kael stumbled, almost colliding with Riven, and the bond flared violently, shock and frustration spilling into my chest.
"What the—" Kael snapped, anger spiking.
"Control," I said firmly. "Anchor."
Riven's green eyes glimmered, tense. "This isn't an accident."
It wasn't. The threads of betrayal were woven carefully, with intent.
The whispers grew louder, shaping themselves into accusations. They're trying to provoke you. To test the bond. To see if it breaks.
And that was exactly the point.
I felt the weight of the entire pack press against me through the bond, testing my focus, pushing for weakness. My wolf stirred, hissing low, coiling tightly around my nerves.
I clenched my fists. "Show yourself."
A ripple of movement darted through the shadows. One of the young alphas—Julen—stepped forward. His posture was polite, deferential, but his eyes burned with ambition. "The bond… it isn't natural. You're destabilizing everything. The pack needs stability, not chaos."
My heart sank, and the bond pulsed sharply. Betrayal isn't always loud—it's quiet, precise, and cutting. Julen's words were the knife.
Kael stepped forward, anger flaring. "You think you can decide what's natural? You—"
"Enough," I snapped, holding up a hand. "You're not speaking for the bond. Or for me."
Julen's lips twisted, but he didn't retreat. "I speak for the pack. And for its future. You'll regret this."
The bond flared—sharp, protective, and warning.
Astraea whispered urgently, This is your choice. Control it—or lose everything.
I exhaled slowly, forcing calm. "You don't get to decide who I am or who they are. The bond isn't weakness. It isn't your tool to control. And it won't tear us apart—no matter how hard you try."
Riven's hands clenched, power flaring beneath his skin. "You're lucky she doesn't allow me to play nice."
Julen's smirk faltered slightly at the display of unity. Even Kael looked steadier, anchored by the bond.
Solen's voice was low and precise. "You miscalculate if you think fear can fracture what is already fused."
The other young alphas shuffled uneasily. Murmurs passed between them, wary, uncertain. The first crack had appeared—not in us, but in their confidence.
Julen took a step back, pale but defiant. "This isn't over."
I met his gaze. "No, it isn't. And it never will be as long as you stand against what is true."
The bond hummed, steady, deep, unyielding. Julen flinched visibly, the threads brushing against him, tugging faintly at his chest. The pack could feel it. Not in obedience, but in undeniable reality. The four of us, bound by choice and circumstance, were unbreakable when honest with ourselves and each other.
Julen swallowed and looked away, lips pressed tight. Behind him, others exchanged uncertain glances. Power, integrity, and truth had begun to shift the pack's dynamics. But the danger wasn't gone. Betrayal had only shown its face—the shadows had revealed themselves.
I exhaled, shoulders tense. "We will not fall apart because some refuse to see the truth. The bond will guide us. Not their fear."
Kael's hand brushed mine, grounding me. "We're together," he said quietly.
"Yes," I whispered, voice steady despite the adrenaline. "And we always will be."
Astraea's voice resonated within me. This is the moment where loyalty is tested. Where weakness meets fire. And you—anchor—hold them together.
The pack waited, silent, but eyes sharp. Whispers had become watching, watching had become anticipation. The first real betrayal had appeared. And from here, we could either break or rise stronger.
The bond thrummed, steady and fierce, a promise and a warning.
And I knew, deep in my bones, that the moment to rise was now.