that you believe Serena?” Thorne’s voice was cold, almost a challenge.

    around us, the conversation moving from casual to confrontational in seconds. His re was sharp, his fists clenched by his sides.

    Baelen’s eyes didn’t flinch. “I know what I saw, Thome. She didn’t lie Serena told me the truth. I saw it in her sys

    How can you be so sure those snorted, hisugh harsh. “Did you follow her around when she met the Pogue King? Were you there

    “No,” Raulen answered, his voice steady, “but I can tell by the way she looked at me. I can tell when someone’s lying”

    “Or maybe you’re just temble at reading people Thome shot bback /b“you might be too caught up in this to see what’s in front of you.” He stepped closer to Ralen, their faces inches apart. “You’ve been involved with them. Your pack membermitted treason–strike one. And now you’re here lying my face, strike two. Tell me why I shouldn’t throw you out of this alliance right now

    The tension crackled between them, like a thunderstorm waiting to break

    Ralen’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Maybe before you start using me, you should check byour /bfacts. bYou /bsaid the Rogue Ring was a woman, but how can you be so sure? bYou /bcouldn’t even see her face under all that cloak and bmask/b. bMaybe /bit’s a guy. nkier guy.”

    “Theard her voice,” Thorne said, his tone biting Theard the Rogue King calling out orders,manding the rogues. They called her Rogue King” He took a step back, shaking his head “ou’re the one who’s lying, Raelen

    “Bullshit“Reel barked, stepping toward Thome, his voice rising with anger, “I thought byou /bwere smarter than this. I thought you had more sense. You’re just petty and jealous-

    “Jealous?” Thome’s voice cracked like a whip. “You think I’m jealous of you? This has nothing to do with that“.

    “You and I both know its personal,” Ralen spat. “This is about you and ra!”

    “Enough“bra’s /bvoice cut through the argument like a knife. She stepped between them, her voice trembling with barely-contained frustrationb. /b“Are you trying to make a scene? Do you want everyone here to think we’re about to start a not?”

    Those shot Raclen a look, but Raelen wasn’t backing down. “Thorpe started it,” he muttered.

    “Yes, he started it.” ra snapped, crossing her arms. “But the real question is, why don’t we all just talk to Serena Let’s ask her what happened”

    Rafers a tightened, but he didn’t argue “Fine,” he said her ba /bblong /bsilence. b“/bLet’s talk to Serena. Let’s get the truth once and for all.”

    He grabbed his jacket from the ground and marched off, not waiting for anyone.

    Thorne shot onest re at his retreating back before turning toward ra. “I’m d you’re on my side,” he said, voice low, though there was no warmth in it

    “You started it,” ra replied with a bite to her tone, making Thome’s expression darken

    “You want to start with me now?” Thome’s words were slow, deliberate

    ra wasn’t intimidated. “I’m not answering to you,” she said, her gare steady “I can be around whope I want, whene

    unt. So stop acting like you

    Thorne’s expression grew stormy. The way he eyes narrowed, it was like he could crush her with just one look. But bra /bdidn’t flinch, Instead, she met his gaze with an icy stare before turning on her heel and walking awayb. /b

    A few momentsterb, /bwe found ourselves standing outude Serena’s bcell/b, the tension the air still thick enough to cut. Bex, who’d been standing in the

    .

    corner, looked like he was holding his breath When he saw us enter, his shoulders vishly tensed.

    “What’s going on!” he asked, his voice edged with worry.” olliy. “Did you change your mind about me and Serenal /li/ol

    ra softened, her voice prillèrnew. “Rx. We didn’t change our minds. How’s Serena?”

    Bex’s eyes flickered to Serens, who was still lying motionless in the bed. “The doctor said the damage to her throat might be permanent to what de you want from mer

    Relen stepped forward, his gare burning toward Serena. “Alpha Thome ims that the Rogue King is a woman. He said-”

    “Wait,” Serena interrupted, her hands jerking up in a panic as she made strange sounds, still unable to speak. Her eyes darted between us as shil grabbed a piece of paper and started writing.

    Relen’s gaze stayed food on her. “Are you lying in us?” he asked, his voice low but urgent

    Serena scribbled quickly on the paper, and we all leaned in to read.

    MAN was written in big, bold letters, followed by a quick sentence: He was sitting behind ba /bcurtain, only a few feet baway /bfrom me. I heard HS voice, Loud

    and clear.

    A shiver ran through bme /bas bthe /btruth settled in Serena’s handwriting was shaky, but it was clear enough. She wasn’t lying, Andil she wasn’t, then the Rogue King’s true identity was even moreplicated than we thought

    “bHave /byou ever met the Rogue King?” ra asked, her voice calm but demanding as she looked at Bex. “Any details you can give us?b” /b

    Ber’s eyes were wide, his hands trembang. b“/bbNo/b,” he said, voice tight, “I’ve never met him. All my instructions came through Serena. And I swear to you, bshe’s /bbeen selling the truth. She’s counting bon /byou all to help her get her family track. She’s not lying”

    bra /btumed bher /bgazeto Serena, her face thoughtful. “What can you tell us about the Rogue King? Anything at all?”

    Serena’s expression tightened bas /bbshe /bfocused on the paper. bSlowly/bb, /bshe wrote again, her handwriting slow but deliberate

    I remember telling the Rogue King that Bex was a Gamma. Heughed joyfully. Then he said, “You’re a good girl, Serena. You’re in love with a great guyb” /b

    She paused, then wrote again, her thoughts spilling out: Before meeting him, I thought the Rogue King was cold, grim… But he wasn’t. He was. pleasant. He had ba /bnice voice, a pleasant personality.

    Thorne’s voice cut through the air like ice. “He was nice to you because he knew how to manipte you. He used your feelings for Bex to get to us. Don’t be fooled by his charm.”

    “Enough, ra interjected, shaking her head. She turned to Serena. “We need more than justpliments on his personality. Give us something useful.”

    Serena bshook /bher head, her lips pressing into a tight line. “I’m sorry,” she wroteb, /bher face drained of color. “I don’t know anything more.”

    Thorne scowled, his anger flickering like a me. “They we’re done here.” With that, he spun on his heel and stalked out of the room.

    “ra…” Raelen’s voice was low, filled with concern as he stepped toward her. “Can you talk to him? I don’t want what happened between us to cloud his judgment.”

    “I try,” she replied, her voice steady. She nodded, then followed Thorne out of the cell.

    The walk back to Thorne’s tent was silent, the tension thick between us. We didn’t say a word as we walked in step. bwaste /bba /bbsecond /bbefore turning to face her, His eyes were like steel

    rived. There didn’t.

    “Do you bhave /banything else to say to me?” be asked, his voice t

    ra removed her bcost/b, letting it all to the table. T’m just returning byour /bcoat,” she said, her voice a little colder than bbefore/b.

    b2/3 /b

    Thorne’s jaw clenched, his fists lightening, “Why you prefer his co

    “No,” ra said, her eyes narrowing “But I dont need anyone’s help to stay

    She walked toward him and brished off the dust from his shoulders, a quiet i

    “You look exhausted,” the murmured, her words softer than usual.

    Thorne’s gate softened for a moment, then sharpened. His wolf stirred beneath the surface, the pull of their band, the undeniable connection.

    “So,” he asked, his voice strained, “what did you do while I was gone? Did you spend the

    ra chuckled softly, her voice teasing “We had dinner. We talked. Nothing happened”

    “Really?” Thome’s voice was raw, his jealousy wing at

    “Really,” she confirmed.

    Then, with a small, teasing smile, she leaned in and kissed him. Her lips brushed

    “And I didn’t do this with him,” she whispered, the words low and sensual “Did you miss

    Thorne’s breath caught in his throat, his hands reaching for her, pulling her closer. “I miss you,” he murmured.”

    bAD /b