THEA POV
Someone was following me.
I felt eyes on my back constantly now—in the market, during walks, even in my own home. Pack warriors lurked at every corner, watching my every move like I was a criminal.
"You're being paranoid," I told myself, hurrying through the forest path toward Briar's cottage. "No one cares enough about you to—"
A twig snapped behind me.
I spun around. Three warriors stood on the path, trying to look casual. When they saw me notice them, they didn't even pretend to hide anymore.
"Can I help you?" My voice shook despite my effort to sound calm.
"Just patrol, miss," one said. But his eyes tracked my every movement.
I ran the rest of the way to Briar's, my heart hammering.
"They're watching me," I gasped when she opened the door. "Warriors, everywhere. Why would they—"
"Come inside. Quickly." Briar pulled me in and locked the door. "I heard something today. Rumors spreading through the pack."
"What rumors?"
"That you've been acting strange. Disappearing at odd hours. Being seen near forbidden boundary locations." Briar's violet eyes were troubled. "Thea, people are starting to think you're... unstable."
"That's insane! I've barely left the house except to come here!"
"I know. But someone's spreading these stories." She bit her lip. "And there's something else. Your father stopped by the pack house this morning. He told the Alpha he's worried about your mental state. That you've been having delusions about—"
"About what?" Cold dread filled my stomach.
"About being Dane's mate. He said you're obsessed, that you've been making up stories to get attention."
The room spun. My own father was destroying my credibility, making sure no one would ever believe the truth.
"He's covering for Sable," I whispered. "Making sure if I ever speak up, everyone will think I'm crazy."
Briar nodded grimly. "I think so too. But Thea, it's worse than that. If they're building a case that you're unstable—"
A knock on the door made us both jump.
"Briar! It's me!"
Sable's voice. Sweet and concerned.
"Don't open it," I hissed. "Please."
But Briar's cottage was small. Sable could probably hear us breathing.
"I know you're in there, Thea!" Sable called. "I'm worried about you! Everyone's been saying such strange things. I brought you some tea from Mother. Your favorite blend!"
Tea. Like the berry wine she'd given me three years ago.
"Go away, Sable," I said through the door.
"But sister, I'm just trying to help! You've been so distant lately. I miss you." Her voice was perfect—hurt, confused, the concerned sibling. "I thought we could talk. Clear the air about... everything."
She wanted to talk NOW? After three years of torment?
"I have nothing to say to you."
Silence. Then: "Fine. Be that way. But don't say I didn't try."
Footsteps retreated. I waited five minutes before letting myself breathe.
"She's planning something," Briar said quietly. "When Sable acts sweet, it means she's about to strike."
She was right. But what could Sable do? I was already invisible, already broken. What more could she take from me?
The answer came two days later.
I woke up covered in mud, no memory of how I got there. I was at the northern boundary—the forbidden zone where only patrol leaders were allowed.
"What—" I looked down at my hands. Dirt under my fingernails. Scratches on my arms like I'd been digging.
What happened? Tempest, do you remember?
But my wolf was too weak to answer. She'd barely stirred in weeks.
I stumbled home, confused and terrified. Had I sleepwalked? But I'd never done that before.
That night, Father threw a folder on the kitchen table in front of me without a word. Inside were photos—me at the forbidden boundary, me near the rival pack's territory, me in places I had no memory of visiting.
And papers. Encrypted messages in my handwriting, detailing pack patrol routes and defensive positions.
Information that could get wolves killed if it fell into enemy hands.
"I didn't write these," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Father, I swear I didn't—"
He walked away without responding. Hadn't spoken to me in weeks. Apparently, he was done pretending I existed.
I grabbed the papers and ran to Briar's.
"Look at this!" I thrust the documents at her. "Someone's framing me! This is my handwriting but I never wrote these words!"
Briar examined the papers with growing horror. "This is detailed intelligence. If the Alpha sees this—"
"He'll think I'm a traitor." My hands shook. "But who would— Why would—"
And then it clicked.
The sleepwalking. The photos. The forged documents. Sable's sudden "concern."
My sister was framing me for treason.
"It's her," I breathed. "Sable is setting me up. If I'm executed or exiled for betraying the pack, she'll never have to worry about the truth coming out. I'll be gone."
"We have to tell someone," Briar said urgently. "The Alpha, the council, anyone who'll listen—"
"No one will believe me!" I was crying now, hot tears of rage and fear. "My own father is calling me delusional! They'll say I forged these myself for attention, or that I really am unstable!"
"Then we find proof. Real proof that Sable is behind this."
But we were out of time.
At midnight, my cabin door crashed open.
Six guards stormed in, led by the head warrior. "Thea Calloway, you're under arrest for treason against the pack."
"What? No! I didn't do anything!"
"We found evidence you've been leaking pack secrets to rival territories." The warrior grabbed my arm roughly. "The Alpha wants to see you. Now."
They dragged me out in my nightclothes, through the dark forest toward the pack hall. Other wolves watched from their windows, whispering. Some looked satisfied, like they'd always known I was trouble.
The pack hall doors opened.
Inside, the entire council sat in judgment. My father stood with them, his face carved from stone. And at the center, sitting in the Alpha's chair with fury blazing in his amber eyes—
Dane.
Our eyes met and the bond flared painfully. For one second, I felt his emotions: anger, betrayal, confusion. Did he feel mine too? My terror, my innocence, my desperation?
But his expression didn't change.
Sable stood beside his chair, her hand on his shoulder. She looked at me with false concern while her eyes glittered with triumph.
"Thea Calloway," Dane's voice was ice. "You stand accused of treason. Of leaking pack secrets to enemy territories. Of betraying everyone who ever trusted you."
"I didn't—" My voice broke. "Alpha, please, someone's framing me—"
"Silence." His alpha command crushed down on me, forcing my wolf to submit. I fell to my knees, unable to fight it.
Dane stood, moving to loom over me. "We have evidence. Photos. Documents in your own handwriting. Testimony from multiple witnesses who saw you in forbidden locations."
"Those are fake! I don't remember any of it!" I looked up at him desperately. "Please, you have to believe me. Why would I betray the pack? I have no reason—"
"Don't you?" Sable's soft voice cut in. "Everyone knows you've been unstable since the mating ceremony. Jealous of what Dane and I have. Father says you've been making up delusions about being Dane's mate."
Gasps rippled through the council.
"That's not—" I started.
"Is it true?" Dane's voice was deadly quiet. "Have you been spreading lies about a mate bond between us?"
I opened my mouth. Closed it.
If I said yes, I'd look delusional and obsessed—just like they wanted. If I said no, I'd be calling my own father a liar.
Either way, I'd already lost.
"I didn't betray the pack," I whispered. "That's all that matters."
Dane stared at me for a long moment. Through the bond, I felt something flicker—doubt? Concern?
Then Sable touched his arm and it vanished.
"Thea Calloway," Dane said formally. "I find you guilty of treason against the Thornbrook pack. Your sentence is exile. You have until dawn to leave our territory. If you ever return—"
His eyes met mine, cold and final.
"I'll execute you myself."