Nightfall settled over Black Shadow's territory, blanketing the land in an eerie stillness. Dane had gathered his inner circle in the war room—a stone chamber deep within his fortress, its walls lined with maps and battle plans. I stood off to the side, feeling out of place among the confident and battle-hardened wolves.
Jarek laid a map across the long table, his fingers tracing the borders of Trey's territory. "Trey isn't stupid," he began. "If he's threatening war, he's already rallied his allies. If it comes to a fight, we'll be outnumbered."
Dane leaned over the table, his expression calm but calculating. "Numbers aren't everything. His pack relies on fear and dominance. If we fracture that, they'll fall apart."
"And what about the truth?" I interjected, my voice shaky but determined. "If we don't expose Trey's lies, it won't matter how many wolves he has—he'll still destroy me."
All eyes turned to me. For a moment, I felt small under their gaze, but Dane gave me an encouraging nod.
"She's right," Dane said. "The truth is our strongest weapon. We need to find proof of Trey's involvement in the Crescent Curse and his lies about her parents' death."
Jarek frowned. "If there's any proof, it'll be hidden deep in his territory. Breaking in won't be easy."
"I'll go," I said before I could stop myself.
"What?" Dane's head snapped toward me, his crimson eyes narrowing.
"I know Trey's territory better than anyone," I explained, my voice gaining strength. "I know where he hides things, where he thinks no one will look. If there's proof, I can find it."
"Absolutely not," Dane said, his tone final. "It's too dangerous."
"I can do it," I insisted. "I've survived Trey's abuse my whole life. I know how to stay out of sight. This is my fight, Dane."
"It's our fight," he corrected, his voice softening. "And I won't risk losing you."
The room fell silent as we locked eyes. I could see the conflict in his expression, the battle between his protective instincts and his understanding of my determination.
Jarek cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "She has a point, Alpha. If anyone can get close enough to find the evidence, it's her. But she shouldn't go alone."
Dane's jaw tightened. He paced the room for a moment before finally stopping. "Fine," he said, his tone begrudging. "But I'm going with you."
"What?" Jarek and I said in unison.
"You heard me," Dane said, crossing his arms. "If Neah is going into enemy territory, I'm not letting her go alone. I'll ensure her safety."
"That's reckless," Jarek argued. "If something happens to you—"
"Enough," Dane said, cutting him off. "This isn't up for debate. Prepare a small team. We leave at dawn."
Jarek sighed but nodded, turning back to the map.
As the meeting dispersed, I lingered by the doorway, watching Dane as he spoke quietly with Jarek. His presence was commanding, but there was a gentleness in the way he carried himself that made it hard to look away.
He caught me staring and walked over, his expression softening. "Are you sure about this?"
I hesitated before nodding. "I have to do this, Dane. I can't keep running from my past. If there's a chance to end Trey's hold over me, I have to take it."
His crimson eyes studied me for a moment before he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Then we'll do it together."
A warmth spread through me at his words. For the first time in years, I felt like I wasn't fighting alone.
The next morning, the sun barely peeked over the horizon as our small team gathered at the edge of Black Shadow's territory. Dane, Jarek, and two other warriors stood with me, their expressions grim but determined.
Dane handed me a dagger, its blade gleaming in the faint light. "Stay close to me," he said, his voice low. "And if anything goes wrong, use this."
I nodded, slipping the dagger into my belt.
As we moved into the dense forest that bordered Trey's territory, a sense of unease settled over me. The shadows seemed darker here, the air heavier. Memories of my time under Trey's rule clawed at the edges of my mind, but I pushed them aside.
We reached the outskirts of Trey's packlands by midday. Dane signaled for us to stop, his eyes scanning the area.
"Neah," he said, turning to me. "Where would Trey hide something like this?"
I took a deep breath, thinking back to the countless times I'd been dragged through these woods. "There's an old cabin near the eastern border," I said. "It used to belong to our parents. Trey kept it locked after they died. No one was allowed inside."
Dane nodded. "That's our target. Lead the way."
As we moved closer to the cabin, my heart pounded in my chest. The closer we got, the more I felt the weight of Trey's presence, even if he wasn't here.
When the cabin finally came into view, I froze. It looked exactly as I remembered—small and unassuming, but the sight of it sent a shiver down my spine.
"Stay here," Dane said to the others. "Neah and I will go in."
I followed him to the door, my hands trembling as I reached for the handle. The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior filled with dust and cobwebs.
Dane stepped inside first, his eyes scanning the room. "Search everything," he said.
I moved to the corner of the room, where a worn chest sat covered in dust. My hands shook as I opened it, revealing stacks of papers and old trinkets.
"Dane," I whispered, holding up a faded piece of parchment. "I think I found something."
He was at my side in an instant, his eyes narrowing as he took the parchment from my hands. It was a letter, written in Trey's handwriting.
As he read, his expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "This is it," he said, his voice low. "Proof of everything."
Before I could ask what it said, a low growl echoed from outside.
"We're not alone," Dane muttered, slipping the letter into his pocket and drawing his blade.
My blood ran cold as the growl grew louder, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the cabin.