The Stranger's Truth

The cave's damp walls glistened in the firelight, casting flickering shadows that danced around Elizabeth. She sat on the cold stone floor, her cloak pulled tight against the chill, her knife resting beside her. The distant howls of Herod's warriors had faded, but the silence felt heavy, as if the forest itself held its breath. The mate bond pulsed in her chest, a painful reminder of Herod's rejection—I reject Elizabeth as my luna and mate. His words echoed, sharp as claws, but Elizabeth clung to her resolve. She had made a deal with Veyra, the rogue tracker, trading pack secrets for the truth about who framed her. Now, she waited, her senses alert for any sign of danger.

Torin, the rogue who'd led her to the camp, sat across from her, his eyes scanning the cave's entrance. His silence was a comfort, his presence a shield against the wilderness's threats. Yet, Elizabeth's trust in him was fragile, a thread stretched thin by her betrayal. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, not even with him.

A rustle outside the cave made her tense, her hand flying to the knife. Torin stood, his posture rigid, his wolf senses sharp. "Stay back, Elizabeth," he whispered, moving toward the entrance. Before he could reach it, a figure stepped through the vines—a man, lean and wiry, his dark hair matted with dirt, his eyes wide with urgency. Elizabeth's breath caught. She knew that face, that scent. It was the stranger from her chambers, the one who'd sparked Herod's accusation.

"You," Elizabeth growled, leaping to her feet, her knife raised. Her wolf surged within her, claws itching to tear into him. "You're the reason I'm here, hunted like prey. Give me one reason not to kill you."

The stranger raised his hands, his voice trembling but earnest. "Please, Elizabeth, hear me out. I'm not your enemy. I was forced into this, same as you."

Torin stepped between them, his gaze flicking from Elizabeth to the stranger. "You know this wolf?" he asked her, his tone wary.

"He's the one Herod saw in my chambers," Elizabeth said, her voice shaking with anger. "The one who made him think I betrayed him." She advanced, her knife glinting in the firelight. "Speak, or I'll make sure you never speak again."

The stranger swallowed, his eyes darting to Torin, then back to Elizabeth. "My name's Calen," he said. "I'm a rogue, but I wasn't acting alone. Someone paid me to be in your chambers, to make it look like you were unfaithful. I didn't touch you, Elizabeth—I swear it. I was just supposed to be there when Herod walked in."

Elizabeth's heart pounded, the mate bond flaring with pain at the mention of Herod. "Who?" she demanded. "Who paid you to ruin me?"

Calen hesitated, his gaze dropping. "I don't know their name. They wore a cloak, kept their face hidden. But they were from your pack—someone high up. They knew exactly when Herod would be there, exactly how to make him believe the worst."

Elizabeth's mind raced, the pieces of the betrayal sharpening. Herod's chief advisor flashed in her thoughts—his cold eyes, his subtle influence over the pack. Could he be the one? "Why should I believe you?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous. "You're a rogue, a liar who helped destroy my life."

Calen's shoulders slumped, guilt etching his features. "I didn't have a choice," he said. "They had my sister—captured, caged. They said they'd kill her if I didn't do what they asked. I'm not proud of it, Elizabeth, but I was saving the only family I have left."

Torin's eyes narrowed. "A likely story," he said. "Rogues don't just wander into pack strongholds without help. How'd you get into Elizabeth's chambers?"

Calen's gaze flickered to the ground. "A servant let me in—a young woman with a scar on her cheek. She said it was all arranged, that I just had to be there. I didn't ask questions. I just wanted my sister safe."

Elizabeth's grip on the knife tightened, her mind spinning. A servant with a scar—Lira, one of the pack's maids, quiet and unassuming. Could she be part of this? The betrayal cut deeper, the web of lies spreading wider. "Where's your sister now?" Elizabeth asked. "Did they keep their promise?"

Calen's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. "They let her go, but she's hiding, same as me. We're both marked now—rogues who crossed a pack. That's why I found you, Elizabeth. I want to make this right. I know I helped ruin you, but I can help you find the truth."

Elizabeth's wolf growled within her, torn between rage and the faint hope that Calen's words were true. She wanted to tear into him, to punish someone for the pain Herod's rejection had caused, but his story rang with a desperate sincerity. If he was telling the truth, he was as much a victim as she was. "What do you know?" she asked, lowering the knife slightly. "Anything that can lead me to the one who planned this?"

Calen nodded, stepping closer, though he kept his hands raised. "The cloaked figure—they mentioned a name in passing, someone they were working with. 'Rath.' Sounded like they were close, like Rath was pulling strings in the pack."

Elizabeth's breath hitched. Rath—Herod's chief advisor. Her suspicions hardened into certainty. Rath had always been ambitious, his loyalty to Herod laced with a hunger for power. Could he have orchestrated this to remove her, to weaken Herod's rule? "Rath," she whispered, the name bitter on her tongue. "If he's behind this, I'll make him pay."

Torin's gaze flicked to Elizabeth, his expression grim. "Rath's a big name to accuse, Elizabeth. You'll need more than a rogue's word to take him down. Veyra's your best bet—she's already digging. But you've got to be sure about this Calen. He could be playing you."

Elizabeth studied Calen, her wolf senses searching for deception. His scent was sharp with fear and guilt, but there was no trace of a lie. Still, trust was a risk she couldn't take lightly. "You want to make this right?" she said to Calen. "Then you're coming with me. You'll tell Veyra everything, and you'll help me get proof. If you betray me, Calen, I'll end you."

Calen nodded, his eyes steady. "I'm with you, Elizabeth. I owe you that much."

Torin grunted, his skepticism clear. "I'll keep an eye on him," he said to Elizabeth. "But we need to move. Herod's warriors are circling closer. This cave won't hide us for long."

Elizabeth's heart clenched at the mention of Herod. The mate bond tugged, a cruel reminder of the love she'd lost. She saw his face in her mind—his amber eyes, once warm with devotion, now cold with judgment. She wanted to hate him, to let the pain fuel her, but the bond wouldn't let her. Not yet. "Let's go," she said, her voice firm. "Back to the camp. Veyra needs to hear this."

They slipped out of the cave, moving swiftly through the forest. Elizabeth's wolf form led the way, her silver fur blending with the moonlight. Torin and Calen followed, their steps silent but tense. The howls of Herod's warriors were faint now, but Elizabeth knew they wouldn't stop. Herod believed she'd betrayed him, and his pride would drive him to hunt her until she was caught—or dead.

As they neared the rogue camp, Elizabeth's thoughts churned. Calen's story confirmed her fears—Rath, or someone close to him, had set her up, using a rogue to break her bond with Herod. But why? To control the pack? To destroy Herod's strength? The questions burned, but so did her resolve. She wasn't just fighting for her life now—she was fighting for the truth, for the pack she still loved, despite everything.

The camp came into view, its fire a dim glow among the trees. Elizabeth shifted back to human form, her cloak heavy with dew. Calen's presence at her side was a risk, but also a chance. If he was telling the truth, he was her first real lead. If he was lying, she'd deal with him. Either way, she was done running blindly.

"Veyra's tent is there," Torin said, pointing to the camp's edge. "Tell her what Calen told you. But be careful, Elizabeth. You're playing a dangerous game."

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes fixed on the tent. The mate bond pulsed, a faint echo of Herod, but she pushed it down. She was Elizabeth, not just his mate, not just a luna. She was a survivor, and she would uncover the truth, no matter who stood in her way.