The next morning, the Black Shadow pack gathered in the central clearing at Dane's summons. The air was thick with tension as wolves from every rank arrived, whispering among themselves about the unusual call for a meeting. Dane stood at the front, his powerful presence commanding attention. I stood to his right, clutching the leather-bound journal in my hands.
This was it. The moment I had been waiting for. Fear clawed at my insides, but I forced it down. Trey had ruled through lies and fear, but I wouldn't let him hold that power over me anymore.
The crowd parted as Trey and Kyle arrived, their faces set in masks of irritation. Trey's golden eyes narrowed when he spotted me beside Dane.
"What is the meaning of this?" Trey demanded, his voice booming. "Why have you gathered the pack without my permission, Dane?"
Dane's crimson eyes locked onto Trey with unflinching intensity. "This pack deserves to know the truth about their Alpha."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and Trey's lips twisted into a sneer. "What are you talking about? This is a waste of time."
"Is it?" Dane asked, his tone calm but deadly. He turned to me and nodded, signaling me to begin.
My heart pounded as I stepped forward, clutching the journal tighter. "For years, I've been blamed for our parents' deaths," I began, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside me. "But it was never me. It was Trey."
Gasps erupted from the crowd. Trey laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "She's delusional. Are you really going to listen to the words of a murderer?"
"She's not a murderer," Dane interjected sharply. "And we have proof."
Dane gestured for me to hand him the journal, and he held it up for everyone to see. "This journal contains evidence of Trey's dealings with a supplier of Blood of Wolfsbane, a substance lethal even to wolves. It includes letters, receipts, and detailed plans of how he framed Neah for his crimes."
The crowd fell silent, the weight of Dane's words sinking in. Trey's face contorted with rage, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. "This is a lie!" he roared. "You think you can undermine me with some fabricated evidence?"
Dane's expression didn't waver. "Then perhaps you'd like to explain these," he said, opening the journal to one of the letters and holding it up. "Your name, your handwriting, your seal. Care to deny it?"
Trey's jaw clenched, his gaze darting to the crowd. He knew he was losing control. "This is a setup! You're conspiring against me, Dane. This is about power, not truth!"
"It's about justice," Dane replied coldly. "You've ruled through deceit and fear, Trey. You've silenced those who questioned you, punished those who didn't fall in line. But it ends today."
Kyle, who had been standing silently beside Trey, suddenly stepped forward. "Wait," he said, his voice wavering. "I… I can't keep quiet anymore."
Trey whirled on him. "What are you doing?"
Kyle avoided Trey's gaze, his shoulders hunched. "It's true," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Trey planned it all. He poisoned your parents and blamed Neah. I… I helped him cover it up."
The crowd erupted into chaos, voices shouting accusations and demands for answers. Trey's face twisted into a mask of fury, and he lunged at Kyle, his claws extending.
But Dane was faster. In a blur of movement, he stepped between them, his hand wrapping around Trey's throat. He lifted him effortlessly, his crimson eyes glowing with raw power.
"Enough," Dane growled, his voice resonating through the clearing. "You've deceived your pack for long enough. You will answer for your crimes."
Trey struggled against Dane's grip, but it was futile. He had lost, and he knew it. Dane tossed him to the ground, where he lay gasping for air.
Dane turned to the pack, his voice strong and commanding. "This pack deserves a leader who values honesty, justice, and loyalty. Trey has betrayed all of you. The choice is yours—will you stand by a liar and a murderer, or will you stand for what's right?"
The pack was silent for a moment, then one by one, wolves began to kneel. First the elders, then the warriors, and finally even the omegas. They bowed their heads, pledging their loyalty to Dane.
Trey's fate was sealed.
That night, Trey was imprisoned, awaiting a trial that would decide his punishment. The pack had chosen Dane as their new Alpha, and he had already begun restoring order and trust among the wolves.
As for me, I finally felt the weight of years of guilt and shame lifting from my shoulders. I wasn't free yet—not completely. But I had taken the first step toward reclaiming my life.
Dane found me sitting on the edge of the pack's training grounds, staring up at the stars. He sat beside me, his presence warm and grounding.
"You did well today," he said.
I glanced at him, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I couldn't have done it without you."
He shrugged, a rare softness in his crimson eyes. "You had the strength all along, Neah. You just needed someone to believe in you."
I looked back at the stars, my chest swelling with a sense of hope I hadn't felt in years. For the first time, the future didn't seem so bleak.
"I still have a long way to go," I admitted.
Dane's hand brushed against mine, a comforting gesture. "You'll get there. And you won't have to do it alone."
As the stars shone down on us, I realized he was right. I wasn't alone anymore. And for the first time in a long time, I believed I had a chance to be free.