Ch. 8 - Friends or Foes

Kiera POV

I had intended to confront Jackson, but as I stormed down the street, my eyes caught sight of Devon disappearing into his house, a large bag slung over his shoulder. It had been days since I'd seen him, and I needed answers about everything—Marcus, the Second Lunas, and especially Jackson. My heart pounded as I marched up to his porch and banged on the door.

"Kiera!" Devon's voice rang with surprise as he opened the door. "You're still here?"

"Where else would I be?" I snapped, my patience worn thin.

Devon glanced nervously around before speaking, his unease palpable. "Do you know what the other Alphas are doing to these women? What Jackson has done?" I demanded, my words sharp as knives.

"Calm down, Kiera. Come in." He opened the door wider, ushering me inside.

Anger and sorrow coiled within me, memories of Jackson's betrayal threatening to unleash Athena's fury. I struggled to keep control, my wolf howling for vengeance.

"I know things are bad, but Kiera, we have to be rational. There's a war on our doorstep," Devon said urgently, his voice strained.

"Rational? You call this rational?" I retorted, my voice trembling with rage. "There's always a choice."

"I'm begging you, think before you act. There's more at stake than you realize."

His eyes pleaded with me, but I was too furious to care. I wanted to tear his heart out and then hunt down Jackson to do the same.

"I'll tell you something, but you have to promise to keep it a secret," Devon said, stepping closer.

I crossed my arms, struggling to contain the storm within. "Tell me."

"The Dark Wolves are ruled by many Alphas. They're invading the South to find those responsible for taking their sisters. I've arranged a meeting with one of their generals. If it goes well, we could end this war. Once the threat is gone, we can deal with our own Alphas."

I was silent, the weight of his words sinking in. I wanted to kill Jackson, but the threat from the North was real. Ending the war had to come first.

"When is this meeting?" I asked.

"Tonight. I'm leaving soon." Devon moved to his bookshelf and opened a lockbox, handing me a sealed envelope. "Take this. If anything happens to me, promise you'll protect Tracy and our child."

"Your child?" My eyes widened in shock. How could I have known so little about my pack?

"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Please, just promise me."

"Devon, I... I promise." I took the envelope, my mind reeling.

"I'm sorry for everything. I have to protect my family. Watch your back, and don't trust anyone, not even our pack." He grabbed his bag, shoving a few papers inside.

"Why would I need to fear my own pack?" I asked, bewildered.

"You're strong, Kiera. People envy and desire you, but none truly care for you. Your wolf gives our pack strength. They won't lose that, even if it means betraying you."

"I don't understand," I whispered.

"Mates become stronger when they mark each other. Alphas become stronger the more they mark." He looked away, shame in his eyes.

"Are you saying they want these women enslaved for power? They want that for me?" I shook my head, refusing to believe it.

"Not everyone, but many. Stay out of it for now. So much needs to be fixed." Devon wiped his face, the weight of his burden evident.

"I won't tell anyone, Devon. I swear. If anything goes wrong, I'll protect your family. Go, meet this general and broker a deal for peace." I stepped aside to let him gather his things.

I watched him leave, the weight of his revelations pressing down on me. I had to let him go and try to help our packs in the South. And I needed to finish what I started with Jackson.

Approaching the roaring bonfire, I saw the redheaded woman laughing with our pack members. Athena surged forward, demanding we eliminate her.

The woman's smile turned to my sister, igniting fresh rage within me. I was on the verge of letting Athena take over when I noticed the mark on her neck and the small bump growing on her belly.

Jackson never rejected her. He did the exact opposite.

I felt like I could crumble at this woman's feet. Athena, my inner wolf, went uncharacteristically quiet, reluctantly allowing me to handle the situation. She can be an uncontrollable beast, but she wouldn't kill an unborn child.

"There she is! Are you happy our Alpha is in the medical ward from your betrayal?" the redheaded woman shouted as I approached her, drawing everyone's attention.

"I didn't know about you or any of this." I tried to speak calmly, completely lost on how to handle this. Everything in my life was a damn lie!

"Don't act like you had no idea. I've had enough of this stupid little game you're making my mate play. I'm the rightful Luna of this pack, and now everyone knows it." She sneered.

While I was suffering from rejecting my cheating husband, she was here spinning her web of lies.

"No! I didn't know anything about this. He lied to me! He said he rejected you." My voice trembled, anger simmering beneath the surface.

"You knew about his fated?" My sister, Katherine, gasped in horror. "So, it's true then. I can't believe you deceived us all this time. I'm ashamed to call you my sister." She made sure everyone heard her.

My hands fisted at my sides, and I struggled to keep Athena from ripping out Katherine's eyes. "Yes! I knew about his fated, but Jackson told me he rejected her." I tried to explain, but as I looked around, everyone seemed to think I was the one deceiving them.

"Oh please, Kiera." The redheaded woman waved her hand dismissively. "You want us to believe that Jackson lied about rejecting his fated and you, of all people, didn't realize it. I thought you were some rare and powerful Luna." Her voice was smooth and sadistic. "It's obvious you made Jackson hide me like I wasn't worthy of my rightful title. Your jealousy weakened all of us, and I won't tolerate it anymore."

"Tolerate it? I don't owe you an explanation. You are nothing to me, and I won't stand for this. When I see Jackson, I will make him reject me, then I will carve out his heart." My eyes turned black as midnight, and Athena's tone echoed with a formidable power.

Jackson's fated mate stepped back behind Katherine, placing a protective hand over her belly. The entire crowd cowered in fear, and it only made me want to scream more.

"I won't have this! She is not our Luna, and Jackson is not our Alpha!" Athena declared, but it did little to sway anyone to our side.

Alpha Marcus, with his dark blue eyes, stepped forward, making the situation even worse. "I think you should try and calm your sister, for the pack's sake. I alerted Alpha Jackson she is here, but he is still at the medical ward suffering from her little stunt earlier."

"Of course, Alpha. I've been handling her ever since our parents died." Katherine beamed up at him, and he smirked back like a dirty weasel.

"Handle me? I'm the one that was lied to! I'm your Luna, and this is my territory. You won't dare tell me I need to be handled or to calm down," I spat out defiantly.

The crowd became increasingly fearful, everyone taking a few steps back.

"Kiera, I know this is a hard transition." Marcus moved closer to me, and I growled at him.

"I'm Luna to you," I snapped.

He sighed with annoyance. "My wife Karen can help ease your trouble. Why don't you let her take you back home? Think about your actions before you do something you'll regret."

"Is that a threat?" Athena locked eyes with Marcus. He sneered but quickly averted his gaze.

"No, just friendly advice. We don't want to hurt you. We're not the enemy. Your wolf seems confused. It's best you leave before she hurts an innocent bystander," he calmly advised.

I looked around at everyone. No one was on my side. My eyes landed on Karen, Alpha Marcus's chosen mate. She looked terrified. Then I saw Becky, and there was sorrow in her eyes. She had to believe me.

"Becky, you know I wouldn't do this! You know this isn't right! Tell them," I pleaded.

"Kiera, you are not Jackson's fated. We can tell by her scent that she is marked by him and carries his child. Know your place. Go home and take the time you need."

"Right, I'm not his fated." I half-laughed, my anger washing away into sadness. "You all want your rightful Luna?" My voice carried across the field, heavy with sorrow.

No one said a word. They didn't have to; I could see it in their eyes.

"It's time to go home, Kiera," Marcus said, making me growl again.

"I'll take you home, and we can have a sleepover. Don't worry, I'm here for you." Katherine put her arm around my shoulder, and all I could think about was snapping it off her body.

"I never needed you before, and I don't need you now." My words were harsh, and Katherine faked tears as she ran to the woman who was marked and pregnant by my husband.

"It's okay, Katherine. She just needs some time. I'm sure your sister loves you dearly and didn't mean what she said." This woman, a stranger to our pack, looked motherly and warm as she hugged my sister. The crowd praised her and completely disregarded me.

I couldn't say a word. I couldn't move; I couldn't even cry. How could Jackson do this to me? For months, probably years, he looked me in the eyes and spoke nothing but lies.

He held me in his arms and told me he loved me and that I was his one and only. I was his wife, his mate; he said I was his whole world. It was all a lie. Now, even my pack hated me, viewing me as a traitor.

I turned and sprinted to my house as fast as I could. The omegas working there fell silent as I entered, none daring to meet my gaze. Whispers surrounded me, and my stomach dropped.

"Kiera is back. Should we alert the guards?"

"She deserves everything coming to her for keeping our rightful Luna from us."

"She rejected Jackson after almost being attacked by the Dark Wolves. I always thought she was selfish."

I rushed upstairs before breaking down in front of everyone. I became the outcast, wrongly labeled a villain for merely trusting an arrogant man.

Packing a small bag, I fled from home. My wolf emerged, and Athena urged our legs as far and as fast as they could go. I couldn't face them or endure more lies and hateful comments.

Emotions overwhelmed me: hurt, betrayal, sadness, emptiness, rage, and depression. I felt a mounting pressure inside me, unsure how to cope with it all.

In that turmoil, one thing was clear: Jackson needed to pay, and I would be the one to make him suffer. Allowing Athena to take over, I became filled with hatred and a thirst for revenge, wanting him to feel as low and worthless as I did right now.