A Mark Stained By His Lies

On the day of the ceremony, I returned to the pack house. I threw everything that reminded me of Jaxon into the fireplace—including the mementos of our life together that I once treasured more than anything. As I turned to leave, I remembered: my mother's "Blood-Scent" locket was still in the study. I headed toward it. Just before I stepped inside, I sensed the intense malice of Helena and two unfamiliar werewolves.

"Helena, you have to find a way to get Jaxon to tell you the location of the border patrol routes. It's the only way for our Ironridge Pack to breach the Silver Creek Pack."

I froze. Helena was a spy?

Helena laughed confidently. "Don't worry. Jaxon is completely besotted with me. With a single word, he'll sever the bond with that pathetic Mind-Whisperer."

"Once I become the Luna of the Silver Creek Pack, the border patrol routes will be as good as mine."

Her audacity was almost laughable. Helena had grown so bold under Jaxon’s protection that she was plotting treason right in his study. I pushed the door open and walked in.

"If you want Jaxon to sever our mate bond, you'd better come begging me."

Helena's face went white, but she quickly regained her composure. "What are you doing here? Jaxon said only I was allowed in his study!"

I met her gaze and gestured to the two wolves beside her. "Is that so? Then who are they?"

Her eyes darted around. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I nodded, pretending to leave. "You don't? Alright, Helena. What do you think Jaxon would do if I told him I caught you conspiring with men from the Ironridge Pack?"

Helena's mask shattered. She grabbed my wrist and shoved me against the wall.

"Jaxon is in a meeting with the council of elders right now. You won't get to him!"

My back slammed hard against a decorative wall carved with warding runes. A searing pain shot through me, and cold sweat broke out on my temples.

"Even if you tell him everything, he won't believe you!"

Her shrill voice grated on my nerves, finally igniting the rage I had been suppressing. I slapped her hard across the face.

"That was for my back."

I glanced at the phone in my hand. Of course Jaxon wouldn't believe me. That was why I had been recording since the first word I heard.

Helena—spoiled by Jaxon for years—had never faced any real consequences. The slap stunned her, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. When she came to her senses, she screamed—a sound like claws scraping across rock.

"You pathetic nobody! You dare to hit me? I'm going to tell Jaxon!"

Just then, a familiar voice came from the stairs.