Grief Of Betrayer

 "We must search not only for those who bear the traitor's mark but also for clues as to who might be behind it," I continued, my eyes straying over the troubled faces before me. "This is not simply the act of individual treachery—this is a calculated game, one in which our very legacy is at stake."

 Luca's look was agonizing, a combination of grief and rage. "I never wanted to see our pack ripped apart from inside," he said. "I looked on you, Aria." I put all of you under trust.

 I moved nearer to put a hand on his arm. "We will reconstruct that confidence, Luca. But first we have to face this treachery squarely. We owe those we have lost as well as those who still trust in us.

 Though doubt and anxiety persisted in the air, the pack mumbled in agreement. In that instant, I understood that the mark of the betrayer was not only a stain on our bodies but also a scar on our history, a warning that dishonesty might destroy even the toughest relationships.