The silence between Alpha Dane and me as we returned to the Black Shadow mansion was deafening. My mind churned with questions, anger, and pain. Kyle's words haunted me—Trey had framed me? My entire life, the years of guilt, punishment, and shame, had been built on a lie?
I clenched my fists as we entered the grand hall of the mansion. Dane walked ahead of me, his broad shoulders tense. He stopped at the base of the staircase and turned to face me, his crimson eyes piercing through my turmoil.
"You need answers," he said. It wasn't a question.
I nodded. My voice felt trapped in my throat, but I managed to whisper, "And justice."
Dane's gaze softened, just a fraction. "You'll have both. But we must tread carefully. Trey won't let you unravel the truth without a fight."
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. I wasn't just fighting for the truth about my parents. I was fighting for my freedom, my dignity, and perhaps even my life.
"Where do we start?" I asked, my voice firmer than I expected.
Dane studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he turned and gestured for me to follow. "With someone who knows Trey's secrets."
We ended up deep within the Black Shadow pack's territory, at a secluded cabin hidden in the woods. The scent of damp earth and pine hung in the air as Dane knocked on the door. It creaked open moments later, revealing an older woman with silver hair and piercing green eyes. She took one look at Dane and smirked.
"So, the mighty Alpha Dane graces me with his presence," she said, her voice sharp but laced with amusement.
"Margot," Dane greeted, his tone curt. "We need your help."
Her eyes flicked to me, and her smirk faded. "And who's this?"
"This is Neah," Dane replied. "Trey's sister."
Margot's expression darkened, and she crossed her arms. "What do you want from me, Alpha?"
Dane stepped aside, allowing me to speak. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal, but then I decided there was no room for half-truths.
"I need to know the truth about my parents' deaths," I said. "Kyle said Trey was responsible. That he framed me."
Margot's eyes narrowed, and she studied me for a long moment. "Kyle said that, did he? Well, I suppose it's about time someone spoke the truth."
My heart pounded as she stepped back, motioning for us to enter. The cabin was small but cozy, with a fire crackling in the hearth. Margot gestured for us to sit before she settled into a worn armchair, her gaze fixed on me.
"Trey's rise to power wasn't as clean as he'd like everyone to believe," Margot began. "Your parents were good leaders, fair and just. But Trey… he wanted more. He was impatient, reckless. When he realized he couldn't take over the pack while your parents were alive, he hatched a plan."
She paused, her green eyes glinting with anger. "He used Blood of Wolfsbane, a rare and deadly substance, to poison them. It's undetectable to most, and its effects mimic a natural illness. But Trey needed a scapegoat, someone no one would question. You were young, innocent, and easy to manipulate."
Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "Why didn't anyone question him?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Margot sighed. "Trey was cunning. He spread rumors, planted evidence. By the time your parents were dead, everyone believed his version of events. And those who didn't… well, they were silenced."
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "Why didn't you stop him?"
"I tried," Margot said, her voice quiet. "But I was just an elder with no real power. Trey had the loyalty of the pack, and anyone who opposed him was seen as a traitor."
Dane leaned forward, his crimson eyes burning with intensity. "Do you have proof of Trey's involvement? Anything we can use against him?"
Margot nodded. "I do. I kept records—letters, receipts, anything I could gather. They're hidden here in the cabin."
Relief and determination flooded through me. Finally, there was a chance to expose Trey for what he truly was.
Margot stood and disappeared into another room, returning moments later with a leather-bound journal and a small box. "This is everything I have," she said, handing them to Dane. "But be careful. If Trey finds out you have this, he won't hesitate to kill you."
Dane took the items with a nod. "Thank you, Margot. Your courage won't be forgotten."
She scoffed. "I'm not doing this for gratitude. I'm doing it because your sister deserves the truth."
Back at the mansion, Dane and I pored over the journal and documents late into the night. The evidence was damning—Trey's correspondence with a supplier of Blood of Wolfsbane, payments made to silence witnesses, and detailed notes on his plan to frame me.
Each page was like a knife to my heart, but it also fueled my resolve. Trey had taken everything from me—my parents, my freedom, my dignity. It was time to take it all back.
"What's the next step?" I asked Dane, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
He looked up from the journal, his expression grim but determined. "We expose him. But first, we need to gather the pack. This isn't just about you, Neah. Trey has been deceiving and manipulating everyone for years. They deserve to know the truth."
A spark of hope ignited within me. For the first time, I saw a path forward—a way to reclaim my life and bring Trey to justice. And I wasn't alone. Dane's presence, his unwavering support, gave me strength.
"Then let's do it," I said, my voice firm. "Let's take him down."
Dane's lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "Oh, we will. And he won't see it coming."