Accusations

King Cole’s POV

I paced the length of the throne room, my mind clouded with doubt and frustration.

The large chamber, usually a place of power, felt stifling today.

The sunlight streamed in through the tall, narrow windows, casting long shadows on the marble floor. But my attention was not on the beauty of my surroundings. My thoughts were fixated on my brother, Prince Greg, and the nagging suspicion that the spy I had planted was not performing her duties as effectively as I had hoped.

Elder Raxon, my trusted advisor and one of the few wolves whose counsel I valued, stood beside me, hands clasped behind his back.

Raxon’s long, silver beard and piercing blue eyes gave him an air of wisdom, and though I often found solace in the elder’s words, today was different. There was an uneasy tension between them, born from my growing mistrust and dissatisfaction to Anna’s character.

She had every right to be against me and I hated that.

“Anna,” I said, my voice laced with irritation. “She’s been there for weeks, Raxon, and what has she reported? Nothing substantial. Nothing that tells me my brother is up to no good.” I turned sharply, facing the elder. “You assured me she was the best. The best spy that money could buy.”

Raxon, unfazed by my temper, nodded calmly. “She is, Your Majesty. Anna is not just skilled; she is disciplined and loyal. She was trained from childhood to be undetectable, even to those with heightened senses like your brother. If she hasn’t found anything damning yet, perhaps it’s because there is nothing to find.”

I scoffed, running a hand through my dark hair in frustration. I didn’t want to believe that Greg, my younger brother, was innocent.

It was easier, somehow, to assume that Greg was plotting against me, just waiting for the right moment to strike. My mistrust had been simmering for years, fueled by Greg’s unusual powers and his aloof, independent nature.

“Or,” I countered, my voice low and dangerous, “it could be that she’s not doing her job properly. Or worse, that she’s been compromised.”

Raxon sighed, but there was no impatience in his demeanor, only a steady resolve. “Anna is not perfect, but she is dedicated to her task. I assure you, she would not betray her duty to the crown. She understands the consequences of failure.”

I turned away, staring out of the large window that overlooked the forest beyond the palace grounds. The dense trees formed a dark, sprawling mass, stretching out into the horizon like a sea of shadows. I leaned against the cold stone, my eyes scanning the treeline as my mind raced with dark thoughts. It was then that something unusual caught my attention.

“What the heck is that?” I muttered.

A thick, black smoke was rising from the woods, swirling upward like an ominous serpent.

My eyes narrowed, and I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere, a deep rumbling that sent a tremor through the floor beneath his feet.

The quake rippled through the palace, rattling the windows and causing the chandeliers to sway. The faint sound of startled shouts echoed from the hallways, as guards and servants scrambled to understand what was happening.

“What in the hells…” I muttered, my gaze fixed on the smoke. I watched as it surged forward, heading straight toward the palace grounds, only to be abruptly redirected, twisted around by an unseen force. The smoke was no longer advancing—it was being pushed back, diverted to another part of the forest.

The sudden change made my heart pound with anger.

Greg, I thought. He was the only one who could push the smoke away.

Raxon joined him at the window, his expression grave. “That smoke… it’s from the mountains.”

I clenched my fists, fury building within me. “And that quake. What could cause that? A mountain collapsing?”

Raxon shook his head slowly, considering the possibilities. “Perhaps. But it would have to be something significant, a great disturbance in the earth’s balance to create a tremor like that. I’ve seen such things in my time, but it’s rare.”

My mind was racing, and an unsettling thought took root. My instincts told him that this was no mere natural phenomenon. I knew my brother’s powers—Greg’s affinity for manipulating the elements, his ability to command forces that no ordinary wolf could. My eyes flicked back to the forest, suspicion gnawing at me.

“No,” I said, my voice sharp. “It’s not a mountain. It’s Greg. He’s in the woods. He caused this.”

Raxon raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. “Prince Greg is powerful, yes, but this? The quake, the smoke—it’s more than what I’ve seen him capable of. Are you certain?”

My gaze was fixed on the last wisps of smoke being pulled away by an invisible force. “I don’t need certainty. I need confirmation. My brother is hiding something, and I will find out what it is. Also, we don’t know the extent of Greg’s powers. He might as well take down this palace and we wouldn’t know.”

Raxon nodded, understanding my need for answers. “If you believe Greg is responsible, I can send another spy to verify. Someone who is unconnected to Anna, someone who can move undetected and observe without bias.”

My lips twisted into a grim smile. “Do it. Send whoever you must. I want every detail of what Greg is doing out there. I want proof of his betrayal.”

Raxon bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Majesty. I will ensure that the best are deployed.”

As Raxon departed to carry out my orders, I remained by the window, my eyes still on the forest. My thoughts churned, filled with memories of Greg’s defiance, his powers, and the tension that had simmered between us for years after our parents death. My paranoia ran deep, a dark current that twisted my perception of everyone around me but it was to keep us as a pack safe.

To me, Greg’s every action was a potential threat, every quiet moment a scheme in the making.

I clenched my jaw, my mind flashing back to the times when me and Greg were closer—when we were boys training together under our father’s watchful eye, pushing each other to become stronger, faster, better.

Those days felt like a lifetime ago, overshadowed by the crown and the responsibilities that had driven them apart.

Now, Greg’s powers were a wild card, one that I could not afford to ignore.

I knew my brother was different—half-sorcerer, half-wolf, an anomaly that defied the natural order. It was this difference that made me both fearful and resentful.

Greg had always been the one with untamed potential, a constant reminder of everything that I was not. But I was the king. I needed to put a stop to this.

And now, it seemed that Greg was proving himself dangerous, just as I had always feared.

The smoke, the quake—it was all a sign. A sign that Greg was not to be trusted.

I turned away from the window, my mind set on my next move. I would uncover the truth, no matter what it took. I would protect my throne, my pack, and my power from any threat, even if that threat came from my own blood.

Hours passed, and the palace was abuzz with rumors of the strange smoke and the tremor that had shaken its foundations.

Guards whispered among themselves, casting wary glances toward the forest, while the servants spoke of curses and dark omens. I listened to the murmurs but said nothing, keeping my suspicions close to my chest.

Raxon returned later that evening, his expression serious. “I’ve sent word to our best scout. They’ll reach the woods by nightfall and begin tracking Greg’s movements. We’ll have answers soon.”