The silence that followed Serena's departure hung heavy in the air. Dane hadn't moved from where he stood, his crimson eyes locked on the doorway as if expecting her to return at any moment. I sat frozen in my chair, trying to piece together everything she had said, but the weight of her words pressed on my chest like a stone.
"Dane," I said softly, my voice trembling. "If Serena is right… If Trey really—"
"We don't know that yet," Dane interrupted, his voice sharper than I expected. He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly trying to keep his temper in check. "Trey's lies run deep, but we don't have the full picture. I won't let you jump to conclusions based on Serena's words alone."
His tone was firm, but it didn't comfort me. "What if she is telling the truth?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What if my whole life—my parents, the binding spell, everything—was a lie?"
Dane turned to me then, his gaze softening as he crouched in front of me. His massive frame should have been intimidating, but there was something steadying about the way he looked at me.
"We'll find the truth, Neah," he said quietly. "No matter what it takes. I promised you, didn't I? You're not alone in this."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. His words were a lifeline, but the storm of doubt inside me raged on.
A sharp knock on the door broke the moment. Jarek stepped in, his expression unreadable.
"Alpha," he said, glancing between us. "We've detained Serena's delegation outside the gates, but Trey has sent a messenger."
"Trey?" I asked, sitting up straighter.
Jarek nodded. "He's demanding Neah's immediate return to his pack. Claims she's been stolen and is still bound to him as his packmate."
A cold fury rippled across Dane's face. "He has no claim over her. She's under my protection now, and I'll remind him of that if he dares show his face here."
"He's testing you," Jarek said. "The messenger implied
Jarek continued, his voice steady but with an edge of caution, "The messenger implied that if Neah isn't returned by nightfall, Trey will consider it a declaration of war."
The room seemed to grow colder. I felt my stomach drop at the mention of war. This was spiraling into something far bigger than I could have imagined.
Dane stood to his full height, his crimson eyes glowing faintly with restrained anger. "War? Over a sister he's abused and tried to discard his entire life? Trey's arrogance knows no bounds."
Jarek hesitated before adding, "There's more. The messenger said that Luna Cassandra has issued her own command: if Neah isn't returned, Trey will reveal the 'truth' about her to the packs surrounding Black Shadow. He's threatening to destroy her reputation—and yours."
Dane's jaw tightened. "Let him try. His lies hold no weight here."
But I knew better. Trey didn't need truth to ruin me; all he needed were his twisted versions of events. For years, his stories of me being the cursed murderer of our parents had shaped how the pack viewed me. I couldn't bear the thought of more people seeing me that way.
I found my voice, though it was shaky. "Dane… maybe I should just go back."
"No," Dane said immediately, his voice a growl.
"But if he declares war—"
"Neah." He turned to face me fully, his expression firm but not unkind. "Listen to me. This isn't about you going back to Trey. This is about him wanting control, about him wanting to keep you silenced. If we let him win now, he'll never stop."
I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.
"You are not a pawn in his games. You're stronger than you think, and you deserve more than the hell he's put you through."
His words settled over me, grounding me in a way I hadn't expected.
Jarek cleared his throat. "Alpha, what's the plan? Trey isn't bluffing. If we don't act, he'll send more than just threats."
Dane's eyes narrowed in thought. "Prepare a response. Tell Trey his messenger can stay overnight, but we'll have an answer by dawn. I need time to plan."
Jarek gave a short nod and left the room, leaving Dane and me alone once more.
I looked up at him, anxiety bubbling in my chest. "What are you going to do?"
Dane paced the room for a moment before turning to me. "We're going to get answers. If Trey wants to force our hand, we'll use it to our advantage."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to make sure everyone hears the truth—about you, about your parents, about Trey." He paused, his eyes locking with mine. "But first, we need proof. Something concrete to expose him for the liar he is."
I frowned, doubt creeping in. "How are we supposed to do that? Trey has controlled the narrative for years. No one would believe me."
"They'll believe me," Dane said, his voice full of conviction. "And Serena's mention of the Crescent Curse gives us a place to start. If there's anything linking Trey to the lies about your past, we'll find it."
I nodded, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the uncertainty. For the first time, it felt like someone was truly on my side, ready to fight for me—not because they had to, but because they wanted to.
"Thank you," I whispered, the words feeling woefully inadequate.
Dane's expression softened. "You don't need to thank me, Neah. You deserve to live freely, not chained by your past or by his lies."
But as much as his words comforted me, a part of me couldn't shake the lingering fear. If we couldn't uncover the truth in time, Trey's threats could become a reality—and I wasn't sure if I was ready to face the consequences of what that might mean.