_Rylan’s POV
The road curved endlessly before us, winding through forest and fog. Shadows crawled across the trees like fingers reaching from some other world. The deeper we drove, the tighter my chest became. Every breath I took felt heavier and denser.
Jared sat in the passenger seat. His arms were crossed and his jaw was tight as we followed the directions Alexandra had given us to the Shadowrune Pack. The silence in the car was thick, heavy and pressing in from all sides. Neither of us spoke. The tension felt alive, like something crawling under my skin, waiting to explode.
I gripped the wheel tighter.
Avarok, my wolf, stirred in my mind. “You’re not calm.”
“How can I be calm?” I whispered back. “She is there. And she thinks I betrayed her.”
“You didn’t. You never would.”
“But she thinks I did. Because of Alexandra. Because of one night that wasn’t even real.”
Avarok growled low. “I still say we should have exiled her.”
“I couldn’t. Not yet. Her mate was in danger. She was afraid. And she is my sister after all.”
“She chose fear over truth. She chose lies over you.”
I clenched my jaw. My hands were shaking on the steering wheel.
We finally reached the border. A massive iron gate stood between us and the Shadowrune grounds. Behind it, dense trees and narrow paths led toward a tall, looming mansion that rose against the twilight sky like a beast made of stone.
A guard stepped out from the small post nearby. He had dark hair, dark eyes, and a sharp gaze that flicked to each of us in turn.
“State your name and business,” he said.
I rolled down the window. “I am Alpha Rylan of the Frostbane Pack. I wish to speak with your Alpha.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. Then he nodded once and turned, disappearing into the shadows.
The three of us waited.
Minutes passed. The silence was thick.
Finally, the guard returned and motioned for us to follow.
We left the car and trailed him through the gate. I led the way, and Jared and Alexandra followed behind. The air was colder here. It was heavier. Each step I took felt like I was
walking deeper into a trap.
The pack house loomed ahead. It was a massive mansion of dark stone and silver–edged windows. We entered through tall wooden doors and stepped into the main hall. There were marble floors, high ceilings and golden chandeliers.
But the warmth was only surface deep.
We were told to wait.
And so we did.
I was nervous so I started pacing.
Avarok rumbled again. “She’s here. I can feel her. Her scent is close.”
My heart thudded. I turned toward the hallway.
And then….
She appeared.
It was Lisa.
She stood at the far end of the hall beside another girl with blonde hair and soft blue eyes. I did not know who that girl was and I did not pay much attention to her.
My eyes locked on Lisa.
She was more beautiful than I remembered. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders in dark waves. Her eyes, those deep, stormy eyes, were locked on mine. But there was no warmth in them.
No relief.
No joy.
They were so cold.
She looked right through me.
I stood quickly. I could feel my heart racing. “Lisa.”
She raised a hand and stopped me from coming closer.
I froze in place. The rejection stung like fire.
“How are you?” I asked, my voice low.
She didn’t answer.
She lifted her chin slightly. “What do you want, Rylan? Why are you here?”
I swallowed. “I came to explain. To tell you the truth.”
“The truth?” she echoed, her voice sharp. “I’ve seen the truth. I saw you. With her.”
“What you saw wasn’t what really happened.”
Claim
“Oh?” she said while folding her arms over her chest. “So I was hallucinating? I imagined the
naked woman wrapped around you in your bed?”
“No,” I said. “You saw it. But it was staged.”
She laughed. It was a cold and bitter sound.
“Staged? You want me to believe that?”
“Please,” I said. “That woman, she was planted. She was paid to act. Alexandra drugged me.”
Lisa’s expression darkened. “Oh, so now it’s Alexandra’s fault? She is your sister, Rylan. Why would she do this to you?”
“Yes,” I said. “It is. Her mate was kidnapped. She was being blackmailed. A dangerous man
threatened to kill him if she didn’t frame me.”
Lisa scoffed. “How convenient.”
“I’m telling you the truth. Do you remember the feast that night? The drinks Alexandra brought us? She put something in mine. I wasn’t in control. I thought… I thought you were with me.”
“You… thought it was me?” Her voice cracked. Just a little.
I took a step forward. She didn’t stop me.
“Lisa, I swear to you. I never touched her. Not the way you think. I didn’t cheat on you. I didn’t betray you. I loved you. I still do.”
She looked away.
“You’re good at this,” she whispered. “Good at making stories sound real.”
“They’re not stories.”
“I trusted you, Rylan,” she said, her voice rising. “More than anyone. And you let me break. You let me burn.”
“No,” I said. My voice was cracking. “I would have torn the world apart for you. I still will.”
She shook her head. “It’s too late.”
I stepped closer. “Please. Just let me prove it. Give me a chance. One chance. That’s all I
need.”
“And what?” she snapped. “You’ll convince me to run back into your arms and forget everything? Forget the pain? The humiliation?”
“No,” I whispered. “I just want to make things right. Even if you never forgive me, I need you to
know the truth.”
Lisa stared at me for a long moment.
Then she turned.
“Katherine,” she said quietly. “Please ask the guards to escort them out. I’m done.”
Katherine hesitated.
Lisa walked away without looking back.
I stood there, my heart in pieces.
Katherine turned to the guard and nodded.
Alex didn’t speak.
Jared put a hand on my shoulder. But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered.
She was gone. She didn’t believe me. She hated me.
Avarok howled in my mind. “She doesn’t see the truth. We have failed.”
I sank to my knees. I had crossed lands and mountains to find her. I had left everything.
And she still looked at me like I was a stranger….like I was a lie.
And maybe… that was all I was to her now.
