Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 22 – Trust

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.“– William Shakespeare

Neron

Traitor.

Someone who deliberately betrays their livelihood for something else. That vindictive word bounced off the walls of my mind as my paws beat against the dark ground. With each thump, the ringing grew louder until it was the only sound I heard.

I couldn’t hear the whistling wind or the melodies of the cicadas that scurried into their homes as I ran. As a true wolf in their habitat. Despite the angry mantra of ‘traitor‘ in my mind, I needed this run. It’s a way to calm me. The heat from today’s events pushed my beast to the front. Onyx allowed me this time.

I’m furious. I’m upset. I’m confused.

Miss Phoebe’s words are infallible. They clung like leeches to flesh. The urgency and unwavering confidence when she pointed the accusatory finger at Odessa is slowly weaving together the pieces of a greater puzzle. She’s not acquainted with Odessa, so what reason would she have to lie?

Wrapping my mind around Odessa being the traitor was easy. Out of the motives she could have, one makes sense to get rid of my mate. She hates Kiya. Her hatred runs deep. That terrifies me the most.

Anger is a hot, destructive force that pushes many to do things they didn’t know they could do. It blinds and manipulates, coiling around the heart like a slithering snake. And when it strikes, it strikes hard.

Odessa is a danger to the pack, to me, and above all, to Kiya.

And I must eliminate the danger.

But I need solid evidence that she’s conspiring with Osiris. Considering how secretive she is, it’s a problem.

The last time we accused someone without legitimate evidence, it cost us. It cost us Kiya.

And she’s mated to Darien. I’ll be forced to break two mates apart. No matter what, hearts will be broken.

But I can’t have Odessa trotting around carelessly. Skidding to a stop when the fresh scent of water tickled my snout, I open my mind–link to connect to someone I trust will get the job done.

“Tristian.”

Immediately, a deep orotund voice echoes in my head. “Yes, Alpha?”

“I have a new assignment for you. You are to document Odessa Rossi’s every move and report your findings to me before the day’s end. This will be a daily occurrence until I say otherwise. You begin tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t mean to be rude, Alpha Neron, but why do you want me to stalk your ex–lover?”

“Because she is more of a danger than I first realize, but I need evidence before I am to decide her fate. Documented proof that she is who I think she is.”

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Chapter 22 – Trust

“And if you get that proof, what will happen to her?”

I hated the answer I’m about to give, but it is what it is. “The consequence of a traitor is death. There’s no way out of it. Odessa will die.” If a traitor dies, that eliminates the chance for them to cause further harm. It’s been a rule for all werewolf packs for centuries. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.

“Understood, Alpha Neron.”

freshwater scent to a place I haven’t visited in

waning gibbous. Moonlight glittered upon the clear waters as the tunes of trickling water enter my ears. In the daylight, the water is a beautiful crystal–blue with the vibrant plant life around the edges. It’s full of life.

training became too much. My mother had a gift of knowing whenever I needed to relax. Kids get stressed out, and she knew that. And she handled it with care. Training for the Alpha role since age ten wasn’t easy, and this secret place

heat melted away

surrounding scents are calm, but and Luna. I could tell she needed

and rose,

her terribly.

to

grass. My tail wagged behind me as the wind stroked me like how Mom used

I allowed the memories of the past thirteen years to flood

since the 6th grade, turn into a traitorous woman? Part of me didn’t want to kill her. Foolishly, it hoped Odessa can redeem herself; that she’ll ask for forgiveness. Redemption can be her anodyne to soothe

my pack.

will be eliminated, no matter what. No matter the history we shared, the woman made

killed before, but never someone I

but believe this is, somehow, my

–

head. I’ve missed dinner, but that’s the least of my concerns, Running to the tree with my clothes resting on

to the front steps, something caught my attention from my peripherals. I stopped. It’s dark enough for the night to hide my

wand her other hand petting a ball of feathers, Kiya’s l*ps

And for a moment, I watched

to be the one to put that smile on Kiya’s face. To make her laugh. To wipe away her tears. To fight. against everything that hurt her, even myself. The

her ethereal beauty. Her skin glittered under the silver light and her hair flowed lightly with the night breeze. I suck back in a gasp

she be even

of my stares because when she looked up, our eyes met. Her expression hardened for a moment but quickly unstiffened. Diana’s head turned completely around–which I find creepy about owls -and boots when she spots me. She took off from the windowsill straight to

her head against my bicep.

wings to show off her clean,

Showoff.

drew my eyes to Kiya shutting her blinds. A pang of disappointment hit my heart. I wanted to look at her longer–completely ignoring how creepy that shit

spoke, trekking to the front steps of my home. “You

Chuckling, I rubbed her soft head. My heart

even

ears on the hood. Her face held a scowl, but I couldn’t take it seriously given everything from the neck down is

got me this

“Which mom?

“My real one.”

with her palm in exasperation.

Chapter 22–Trust

She rolled

sorry, but the onesie distracted me

“Don’t!

look adorable!”

grief…” Kiya used her flooding sleeves to cover

a fluffy pink marshmallow.” A loud cackle erupted from my

she’s cuter

I swear to Selene, I’ll sew your mouth shut!”

two of us alone. My mate eyed me carefully while patting away