Dark Revelations

**Dimitri**

The tension in the main hall was almost suffocating. Haizel stood before me, her face marked by an expression I rarely saw in her—a mix of fear and resignation. The words she was about to say seemed heavy in the air, as if she knew that once spoken, there would be no turning back.

"You said there's more between you and Lucian than I know," I began, my voice harsher than I intended. The control I fought to maintain was slowly being eroded by the rage simmering inside me. "I want to understand what's going on, but more importantly, I want to know how you managed to hide this from me while almost getting Angel killed."

She swallowed hard, sensing the tone of my voice and the fury I could barely contain. "Dimitri, I never wanted this to happen. I swear, I—"

"Don’t swear anything to me!" My voice echoed through the hall, louder than I intended. I couldn’t hold back the explosion of anger. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Do you realize what your lies almost cost? Angel almost died, Haizel! Because of you, because of this damn secret you kept!"

She trembled under the weight of my wrath, but she didn’t look away. "I know, Dimitri. And I’ll never forgive myself for it. But you need to understand—"

"Understand?" I laughed, a bitter sound that didn’t even feel like mine. "What’s there to understand? You betrayed my trust! You allowed Lucian to get close to our pack, all while keeping this relationship with him in the shadows. And because of that, Angel almost died! How do you expect me to understand that?"

Tears glistened in Haizel’s eyes, but my anger blinded me to any compassion. All I could think about was how she had put everyone at risk, especially Angel, because of her lies and secrets.

"Dimitri, please," she pleaded, her voice breaking. "I know I made mistakes, I know I kept things from you, but I was trying to protect the pack... to protect you. I got involved with Lucian long before I knew what he really was. When I realized what he was becoming, it was too late. He manipulated me, controlled me in ways you can’t imagine."

"Manipulated?" I repeated, my tone dripping with disdain. "You want me to believe it was all because of him, that you had no choice? That the woman I know as strong, loyal, was just a puppet in Lucian’s hands?"

She finally looked away, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It’s not that simple, Dimitri. I tried to leave, tried to distance myself, but he always had a way of pulling me back. I was scared—not just for myself, but for all of us."

"Fear?" My voice lowered, but the venom in my words was unmistakable. "I know fear, Haizel. But what you did went beyond fear—it was cowardice. You nearly destroyed everything we’ve built here. And Angel... If she had died because of your actions... I don’t know if I could have controlled myself."

She started to cry, silent sobs shaking her body, but I couldn’t feel pity. All I saw was a betrayal that almost cost the life of someone who meant so much to me.

"Dimitri, I know that nothing I say can fix this," she murmured, her voice barely audible through the sobs. "But I’m here, I’m telling you the truth now because I want to try to fix things. I know I deserve your hatred, but please, let me help. Let me try to make this right."

I stared at her, the anger boiling in my chest, nearly suffocating me. Part of me wanted to banish her, to cast her out forever, but there was another part—a smaller, more rational part—that knew we still needed her. She knew Lucian better than any of us, and if there was a chance to use that information against him, we had to take it.

But accepting that didn’t mean I would forgive her. Not now, maybe not ever.

"You will help," I finally said, my voice cold and cutting. "Because it’s the only thing that can keep you alive right now. But understand this, Haizel—I will never trust you again. And if Angel or anyone in the pack is harmed because of your actions again, there will be no mercy."

She nodded, still crying, knowing this was her only chance. The hall, once a place of rational decisions and power, was now steeped in distrust and resentment. Haizel had destroyed something precious between us, and I didn’t know if I would ever be able to rebuild it.

As she walked away, the shadows seemed to close in around me. The anger still simmered in my chest, but now it was accompanied by a deep sadness. Everything was changing, and I knew that from this moment on, nothing would ever be the same.