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.”

to a place I haven’t visited in years.

hot spring. The heated 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

out, and she knew that. And she handled it with care. Training for the Alpha role since age ten wasn’t easy, and this

dipping our toes in the hot springs as the heat melted

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

and rose,

her terribly.

to

Mom used to do. My inner child thought it’s Mom here with me. It made me happy. Goddess, if she was alive…I’d run

the past thirteen years to flood my

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 whatever pushed her to be

of my

its pack from all threats–both internal and external. Odessa will be eliminated, no matter what. No matter the history we shared, the woman

of them all. I’ve killed before, but never someone I once held close to my

I cannot help but believe

–

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

I stopped. It’s dark enough for the night

her elbow on her wand her other hand petting a ball of feathers, Kiya’s l*ps went from a frown

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

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

moon fancied my mate 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 a gasp when the moonlight revealed the hint of blue underneath her coffee–colored

be even more

hardened for a moment but quickly unstiffened. Diana’s head turned completely around–which I find

I smile as she rubbed her head against

expanded her wings to show off her clean,

Showoff.

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

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

I rubbed her soft head. My heart

even

bright, fluffy, pink onesie with cat ears on the

a word.” She warned. “My mom got me this onesie, and

“Which mom?

“My real one.”

her face with her palm in exasperation. “Oh, Lyra.”

Chapter 22–Trust

She rolled her

but the onesie distracted

“Don’t!

You look adorable!”

her flooding sleeves to cover her ch*eks.

pink marshmallow.” A loud cackle erupted from my chest when Kiya grew

she’s cuter when

I’ll sew your mouth shut!”

trees. That left the two of us alone. My mate eyed me carefully while patting away the e growing embarrassment on her ch*eks. Just by the silence between us, something