Chapter 7 GOSSIP'S OF BETRAYAL

The night hung heavy over the Silver Crescent Pack's fortress, the moon casting pale light across the stone walls. The forest surrounding the estate seemed unusually quiet, as though even the wolves dared not disturb the silence. Yet inside those walls, silence was the last thing alive. Beneath the calm exterior, storms were brewing, storms that would soon tear bonds apart and test loyalties that once seemed unshakable.

Amanda sat by her window, gazing at the woods that stretched endlessly beyond. The stars shimmered above, and for a moment, she let herself dream of freedom. She imagined running through the forest barefoot, the wind tangling in her hair, no cage of expectations, no eyes judging her, no whispers calling her an intruder. Just her, the night, and peace.

But peace was fleeting here. She could feel it, like an approaching thunderstorm pressing against her chest. Something was wrong. She did not yet know what, but her heart warned her that shadows were moving against her.

Far across the hall, Ethan sat in his chamber, restless. His wolf paced inside him, torn between duty and longing. He could not stop thinking of Amanda, her eyes filled with both strength and fragility, her smile that seemed to awaken something he had not known he was missing.

Every time Andrew looked at her, every time the Alpha's claim flared in the air, Ethan's insides twisted with rage. It was wrong. It was betrayal. But it was also undeniable.

He wanted her.

Not as a conquest, not as a fleeting desire, but with a bone-deep ache that consumed him.

And it was in that weakness that Angela found him.

Angela had been watching closely, her venomous mind sharper than most gave her credit for. She had seen Ethan's gaze linger on Amanda one too many times. She had seen the subtle tension in his body whenever Andrew claimed his place by Amanda's side.

She smiled to herself, a cruel, knowing smile. Jealousy was a powerful poison. And she knew exactly how to use it.

That night, when the pack had quieted and Andrew was away in counsel with the elders, Angela slipped into the hallways with silent steps. She had been raised in these corridors; she knew every corner, every shadow. Finding Ethan's chamber was no trouble at all.

She knocked softly.

Ethan, lost in his torment, frowned at the sound. "Who is it?"

"Someone who knows what you want," Angela's voice came smooth as silk.

Curiosity pulled him from his chair, and he opened the door. There she stood, dressed in a crimson gown that clung to her frame, her lips painted in a wicked smile.

"What do you want?" he asked sharply, suspicion rising.

Angela stepped inside uninvited, her perfume filling the space. "Relax. I am not here to harm you. In fact, I am here to help you."

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "I doubt that."

Angela tilted her head, her eyes gleaming. "Do you think no one sees the way you look at Amanda? Do you think your little secret crush is hidden from all? I see it, Ethan. I see everything."

His jaw clenched. "Watch your words."

But Angela only laughed softly. "Do not waste your threats on me. You are not angry because I spoke lies. You are angry because I spoke truth."

Her words cut deep, and Ethan turned away, pacing to the window.

Angela's voice lowered, dripping with poison. "You love her. You want her. But she is bound to Andrew. Your perfect, untouchable brother. The Alpha who always takes what he wants."

Ethan's fists clenched. "Enough."

But Angela pressed on, her tone coaxing, seductive. "Why should he always be the one chosen? Why should you live in his shadow while the woman you love suffers under his claim?"

Ethan spun back to her, his eyes flashing. "Andrew is my brother. My loyalty-"

"Your loyalty is killing you," Angela cut in, her voice sharp. "And it will kill her too. Do you not see it? Amanda is terrified. Every time Andrew is near, she trembles. The bond might burn between them, but bonds are chains too. She does not want him, Ethan. She wants freedom. She wants choice. And you could give her that."

Her words wrapped around him like vines, tugging at the weakest parts of his soul. For a moment, he wavered, torn between anger and the aching truth inside him.

Angela stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "Help me destroy this bond. Help me tear her from Andrew's grasp. And then she will be yours."

Ethan's chest heaved. He wanted to deny it, to throw her out, to shout that she was wrong. But his silence betrayed him.

Angela smirked, sensing victory. "Think on it. But do not take too long. Every day you hesitate, Amanda sinks deeper into Andrew's chains. And when he finally marks her, it will be too late."

With that, she slipped out into the corridor, leaving Ethan alone with the echo of her poisoned words.

Amanda stirred in her room, uneasy. She had been restless for hours, sleep eluding her. She rose and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, deciding to walk the hallways to clear her thoughts.

Her steps carried her near Ethan's chamber, though she had not intended it. She froze when she noticed the door slightly ajar, and for the briefest moment, she thought she saw Angela's crimson gown vanish into the shadows.

Her stomach tightened. Why would Angela be here, so late? And in Ethan's room?

Confusion gnawed at her, but fear silenced her questions. She hurried back to her own chamber, her heart pounding.

Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones

Andrew returned late from counsel, his mind heavy with burdens of leadership. The elders had pressed him about choosing stability, about sealing the alliance with Angela's family through marriage. They did not understand why he resisted, why the bond would not allow it. He had deflected their demands, but the pressure was mounting.

He entered his chamber and paused. His wolf stirred uneasily. Something in the air was off, a faint scent that lingered wrong.

He followed it down the hall, his senses sharp. It led him near Ethan's room. The scent of Angela's perfume hung in the air.

Andrew's eyes narrowed.

Why was she here?

Suspicion gripped him, but he said nothing. Not yet. Instead, he turned and made his way back to his room, though sleep never came. His wolf prowled inside him, restless, whispering warnings of betrayal.

The next morning, Amanda joined the pack for breakfast in the grand hall. The long wooden tables were filled with warriors, their voices rising in chatter. Andrew sat at the head, his presence commanding as always. Ethan sat to his right, but his eyes were shadowed, his expression guarded.

Amanda tried to ignore the weight of their gazes, but she could feel it. Andrew's eyes burned with possessive fire, while Ethan's softened every time they found hers. It was suffocating, being caught between them.

And then there was Angela, sitting across the hall with a sly smile curving her lips, watching the three of them like a predator watching prey.

Amanda lowered her gaze, pushing food around her plate, wishing she could vanish.

Angela leaned toward one of the pack maidens beside her and whispered loud enough for Amanda to hear. "Strange, is it not? How the Alpha's mate seems more comfortable with his brother than with him."

The words sliced through the room like a blade. Heads turned subtly, whispers stirred. Amanda's face burned, and she quickly excused herself, rising from the table.

Ethan half-rose as if to follow her, but Andrew's hand shot out, gripping his arm with silent warning. Their eyes locked, tension sparking.

Angela's smirk widened.

She had lit the fire. Now she only had to watch it spread.