Chapter 91: You’re All Traitors

Rhea’s head snapped up. In her mind, River went completely still.

The low howl drifted through the tall ironwood trees. It vibrated through the ground and rattled the bones in her feet.

Rhea turned to Jaxon, her eyes wide with shock. "Is that—?"

Jaxon nodded, his chest expanding as he drew in the scent on the wind. "They are here."

Before the sound could fade, another howl answered from the dark forest. Then a third voice joined, deep and wild, echoing across the valley.

Rhea stared into the woods, her breath catching in her throat. "They came," she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the crackle of the campfire.

The heavy thud of leather boots against dry earth filled the quiet air.

Rhea’s heart hammered against her ribs. Inside her head, River lifted her snout into the air, her nostrils flaring as her golden eyes burned with light.

"They smell like our brothers," River growled.

Rhea stood up, her legs trembling before she forced her posture straight.

The footsteps grew louder until the first Alpha stepped out from the shadows into the glow of the fire. He stopped in his tracks as his eyes landed on her, his heavy brows pulling together in disbelief.

"You really came back," he said, his voice deep.

Rhea swallowed past the tight knot in her throat as emotions threatened to spill over. She cleared her throat, holding her chin high. "Yes, Alpha Draven," she said softly. "Thank you for coming."

Draven’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "I still have my manners, Luna. I would never leave a lady standing alone in the woods." He gave a firm nod and took his seat on one of the flat stone chairs near the flames.

A moment later, a second Alpha emerged from the tree line. The sharp scent of copper drifted off his cloak. He gave a single nod to Rhea and Jaxon before sitting down. He glanced at Draven, then looked directly at Rhea.

"Do not assume my presence means I am ready to fight for you," he warned, his tone flat.

Rhea exchanged a quick look with Jaxon, but she kept her lips sealed.

The third Alpha strode into the clearing. His frame was massive, his broad shoulders draped in a bear pelt that rustled as he moved. The heavy heat of his wolf aura pressed against the space, making the fire flicker low.

"I just came to see what all the fuss was about," he grunted, sinking onto a stone bench.

Rhea leaned slightly closer to Jaxon, keeping her voice low. "We sent five letters. That means two Alphas are missing."

Jaxon nodded, his eyes scanning the dark woods. "Veyne and Kael of Moonveil."

"We already know Veyne’s answer and where he stands," Rhea murmured. "That leaves us with one wildcard. You know Kael. Can we start this council without him?"

Before Jaxon could open his mouth, Draven leaned forward, resting his wrists on his knees. "That fool Kael commands a small army," he cut in, his voice laced with clear mockery. "I am certain he would crawl on his knees for an alliance. That is, if he even has an army left after last night."

The other Alphas let out low rumbles of laughter, the sound echoing through the night air like leaves scraping across stone.

Rhea let out a sharp breath, the cool air burning her lungs. "Then it means he needs us more than we need him," she said. "I hope he arrives, but we cannot waste time waiting for him."

She stepped closer to the fire, letting the heat wash over her face as she looked each Alpha in the eye. "Thank you again for honoring my call."

"Why did you call us here, Rhea?" the Alpha with the bear pelt demanded, crossing his thick arms over his chest. "Make it quick. I have a war to win, and I will not waste my strength on sweet words."

Rhea took a slow breath to steady her pulse. "I called you here to ask you to lay down your weapons," she declared, her voice ringing out clearly. "Call off the war."

"What?" Draven asked, his brows pinching in confusion.

Disbelief swept through the ring. The Alphas shifted in their seats, their low murmurs mixing with the crackle of burning logs.

"How can you even ask that of us?" the second Alpha barked, his eyes flashing yellow in the firelight.

Rhea’s posture stiffened, her voice hardening like ice. "One mistake from Kaleb should not tear Ironfang to pieces," she said, her silver eyes glowing with intensity. "This is the land of our ancestors. Their blood is mixed into this soil, and their stories are carved into our gates. Will a warrior burn his own home to the ground just because the king failed, leaving his children to starve in the dirt?"

"Being a failed king is different from being a coward and a traitor!" the second Alpha snarled, slamming his fist onto his knee. The others growled in agreement, the sound shaking the pine needles overhead.

Rhea’s jaw clenched tight. "Well, Kaleb is not the only traitor here!" she snapped, taking a step forward. "I dare say every single one of you is a traitor as well!"

The Alphas gasped. Their growls cut off instantly as they exchanged shocked glances.

"Yes!" Rhea shouted, her voice cutting through the silence. "I fought for every single one of you, and you all betrayed me! It was not just Kaleb!"

In her mind, River threw back her head and let out a long, grieving howl that vibrated in Rhea’s throat.

"You stood in the main hall when he wedded my sister!" Rhea continued, tears burning behind her eyes, though she refused to let them fall. "You watched him drive a blade into my chest, and not one of you lifted a finger to stop him! My son went missing in the night, and not one of you searched the woods for him! None of you saved my boy!"

Her voice cracked on the last word, the raw agony of what could have been an incredible loss bare for all of them to see. River let out a whimpering cry in her mind, clawing at her heart.

Rhea cleared her throat, blinking back the moisture and thrusting her chin into the air. "If Kaleb is guilty, then you are just as guilty," she said, her voice dropping into a whisper. "And the Moon Goddess will turn her face away when she sees what her children have become."

The clearing went silent. The fire crackled, but no one moved. All eyes remained pinned to her, heavy with shame and shock.

"I am not asking you to fight for Kaleb," Rhea said. "And I am not asking you to fight for me." Her gaze moved across their faces. "Fight for your pups. Fight for the land beneath their feet. Fight because if Ironfang falls tonight, there may be nothing left for them to inherit tomorrow."

Jaxon let out a low growl of agreement, stepping up to stand at her shoulder.

She pointed toward the darkness beyond the fire. "You can hate Kaleb. You can hate each other. But tearing this kingdom apart will not punish him." Her voice hardened. "It will only destroy us."

Jaxon cleared his throat, his voice rumbling. "I stand with Rhea. This war is pointless. The only prize at the end of this road is the slaughter of our own kin, and I will have no part in it."

The Alphas looked at one another, the anger in their eyes slowly cooling into reflection.

The second Alpha lowered his head, giving a slow nod. "I agree with Jaxon."

Draven growled softly, planting his elbows on his thighs as he stared into the flames. "Blackfang is already marching his vanguard east," he said, his voice rough with frustration. "If you can convince that man to stand down, then I will lower my sword too."

A wave of agreement passed through the group, the males rumbling their consent.

Suddenly, River sat upright in Rhea’s mind. Her ears pinned flat against her skull, her lips pulling back to reveal sharp fangs.

"He is here," River snarled.

Before Rhea could make sense of the warning, heavy footsteps crunched on the gravel behind them.

Alpha Veyne stepped into the firelight with a smirk. "A secret meeting," he drawled. "How disappointing."

Rhea’s body stiffened.

Veyne looked around the circle of Alphas. "Did you really think a meeting like this would hold and I would not know?"

His eyes settled on Rhea.

Slowly, her face changed.