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.”

15

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.”

I haven’t visited in years. A place that held.

mist rolled into the night sky, forming a gentle haze under the 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. At night, it’s peaceful. It rests as

she handled it with care. Training for the Alpha role since age ten wasn’t easy, and this secret place provided me

toes in the hot springs as the heat melted away

are calm, but and Luna. I could tell she needed the relaxation more than I

and

her

to Mom’s.

the events that led up to this chaotic moment of my life. I sat my rear end on the grass. My tail wagged behind me as the wind stroked me like how Mom used to do. My inner child thought it’s Mom

thirteen years to

that she’ll ask for forgiveness. Redemption can be her anodyne to soothe whatever pushed her to be this way, for a mistake. It still cares about Odessa as a

my pack.

halves. It recognizes my duties as Alpha. An Alpha protects its pack from all threats–both internal and external. Odessa will be eliminated, no matter what. No matter the history we shared, the woman made her choice. She

saddest revelation of them all. I’ve killed before, but never someone I

but believe this

– Trust

I’ve missed dinner, but that’s the least of my concerns, Running

something caught my attention from my peripherals. I stopped. It’s dark enough for the night to hide my body, but it couldn’t hide the light from one open bedroom

petting a ball

for a moment, I watched the tender moment between my mate and her pet. Jealousy

on Kiya’s face. To make her laugh. To wipe away her tears. To fight. against everything that hurt her, even myself. The moment is bittersweet. Kiya has a lot of love for Diana and the bird is privileged enough to relish in it.

with the way the moonlight brought out her ethereal beauty. Her skin glittered under the silver light and her hair flowed lightly with the night breeze. I suck back in

can she be

must have been aware 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 me. I held up my finger so that her

head against

her wings to show off

Showoff.

a window clicking drew my eyes to Kiya shutting her blinds. A pang of disappointment hit my heart. I wanted to look at her longer–completely

steps of my home. “You should start

Chuckling, I rubbed her soft head. My heart melted at her cuteness. I’m growing fonder

don’t even

front door swung open seconds before I touched the knob, revealing Kiya in a bright, fluffy, pink onesie with cat ears on the hood. Her

mom got me this onesie, and it’s soft.

“Which mom?

“My real one.”

face with her palm in exasperation.

Chapter 22–Trust

rolled

sorry, but the onesie distracted me

“Don’t!

look

flooding sleeves to

fluffy pink marshmallow.” A loud cackle erupted from

she’s cuter

swear to Selene, I’ll sew

her home in the trees. That left the two of us alone. My mate eyed me carefully while patting away the