Chapter 173

Amelia's POV

The courtyard of the packhouse was bathed in silver moonlight, casting long shadows that danced across the ground as Alpha Gonzales and I dragged our captive through the open space. The man between us, Isaac, a member of our own pack, struggled against our grip, but to no avail. The revelation of his identity had been a shock, betraying a sense of betrayal that lingered in the air, thick and palpable.

We threw Isaac down onto the cold cobblestones, his body thudding heavily against the ground. He winced, but quickly masked any sign of pain with a defiant glare. Standing over him, I felt a surge of frustration at his obstinacy, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.

"Isaac," Alpha Gonzales began, his voice a mix of anger and disappointment, "you have been caught red-handed, betraying your pack. Explain yourself."

Isaac looked up at us, his eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn't quite place. Fear, perhaps, or maybe defiance. "I don't know what you're talking about,"