The Mask Falls
Williams’ POV
“What?” I whispered.
The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at Cleopatra, unable to process her words. She killed Kane's father?
“You…what?” I rasped, feeling the weight of everything crash down on me. Cleopatra's eyes simmered with guilt, but she still refused to look at me directly. Her silence was louder than any battle cry around us.
Kane's laugh was cold, triumphant. “Oh Williams, you thought you knew her. But you're nowhere close to knowing the real Cleopatra. And that's not even all.” He stepped closer, his voice a sinister whisper. “She betrayed me. She betrayed my pack. And she did the same to you too.”
My world spun, the ground beneath me seeming to tilt. What does he mean by that?
“So you see,” he continued. “I know how to tame her best. Just hand her over to me and we'll pretend like none of this ever happened.”
He is right. He deserves to have Cleopatra. She murdered a high-ranking Alpha who happens to be his father and her Alpha. This was a crime unforgivable in our realm. I shivered at the thought of what they would do to her if this gets to the council.
But when I saw Kane's smirk widen as he watched the turmoil play out, I knew that there's no length I wouldn't go to save Cleopatra. I pulled her to my side, shocking both her and Kane.
In the distance, I could see my men and Cleopatra's family approaching us. That gave me the boost I needed. “I think you should leave, Kane. I will take Cleopatra to the Alpha king myself for her judgment,” I growled lowly.
Kane's smirk faltered for a brief second, his confidence wavering as he eyed the reinforcement approaching.
But Then, just as quickly, his sneer returned, more venomous than before. “You think you're saving her by taking her to the Alpha king?” He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You're only delaying the inevitable, Williams. She killed my father, her Alpha and whatever judgment I plead for will be granted,”
I tightened my grip on Cleopatra's arm, feeling her tremble beside me, though she said nothing. I had a feeling she trembled out of anger and not of fear as I stared into her furious eyes.
“And what about you?” I heard Rob say as they approached. “Why did you hide it all these years? If truly she did kill your father whom you loved so much, why didn't you banish her or kill her immediately? You think the Alpha king wouldn't question that? Are you really that dumb?”
Why didn't I think of that? Could it be he's actually hiding something on his own part or this was just to keep a leash on Cleopatra?
“Blood sucker,” he hissed, spitting at Rob’s direction. “I have my reasons, you monster. But do you all think the Alpha king or the council will be lenient on someone who killed a member of the council?” Kane pressed, stepping forward with dangerous intent. “She's a murderer. And you, Williams—you'll be branded a traitor for defending her.”
I leaned in closer to him, my voice low but steady. “You seem to forget who you're talking to, Kane but listen carefully. I don't care what she did,” I growled, meeting Kane's gaze with unwavering defiance. “She's mine, and I'll decide what happens to her.”
Cleopatra's eyes snapped to mine, wide with shock and regret. Kane's laughter echoed, dark and mocking. “Oh, Williams, you're a fool,” he spat. “But I admire your loyalty. Too bad it's misplaced.”
Before I could respond, the sound of galloping footsteps grew louder. My men had already surrounded us. Kane took a step back, his expression darkening. He knew he was outnumbered now.
“This is how it's going to happen now. I'm going to walk out of here alive. If my Beta doesn't see me in the next hour, a message will be sent to the council that I was killed by the Stone Heart Pack right when I tried to capture the murderer who killed my father,” he threatened but from the look in his eyes, he meant every word.
I couldn't afford angering the council any further. If things go wrong, Cleopatra's life could be in danger. I signaled my men to let him go.
“This isn't over,” he hissed, pointing a finger at Cleopatra before storming out. As Kane disappeared into the distance, the tension in the air only thickened. My men stood on high alert, their gazes bouncing between Cleopatra and Me, awaiting the next order. But I had none.
My mind was spinning, unsure of what the next step should be. I had to protect Cleopatra, that much I knew–but at what cost? My pack? My reputation? Why am I even protecting her when she has a mate to do that? Why did I declare her as mine when her mate is standing right here?
Cleopatra's calm and quiet form beside me was a sharp contrast to her usually fearless demeanor. I could sense her unease, but she said nothing. The silence stretched on, heavy and suffocating.
Rob cleared his throat, stepping closer to Cleopatra. “I don't know about you, but I'm sure Shadow is innocent. Something is definitely fishy. I need to get to the bottom of this.”
I nodded absentmindedly, still lost in thought, but before I could respond, another voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
“You shouldn't be defending her,” Marcus's voice rang out from behind me, cold and firm.
I turned sharply to see Marcus stepping into the circle, his face a mask of barely contained fury. His eyes flickered between me and Cleopatra, as if weighing his next words.
“Marcus, this isn't the time—”
“It is exactly the time, Alpha,” he interrupted, stepping closer. His fists clenched at his sides, his whole body radiating tension. “You've been blind, Alpha, and you're about to throw away everything for her. You don't know the full truth.”
My eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
Marcus looked at Cleopatra, the disgust on his face palpable. She was quiet, confusion masking the guilt on her face.
“She's a spy,” Marcus spat, his voice full of venom. “It's been her all along. The leaked information, the ambush, the breach in security, it has always been her. I learnt from Alpha Dylan that she was sent by Kane to seduce you, to infiltrate our pack. She was meant to kill you at her Alpha's command.”
The air around us seemed to freeze as I tried to process his words. Somehow, the words of the kidnapper rang in my ears.
I stared at Marcus, disbelieving. “That's impossible.”
“Aha! I've been right all along,” Renee bursted out with a little jump of victory but that was soon replaced by anger.
“Is it?” Marcus's tone was mocking now. “Think about it, Alpha. What exactly has she been doing since she came here? When did we start getting reports of failed missions and leaks in our plans? She's been playing you from the start!”
Cleopatra finally spoke, her voice breaking. “Williams, I–”
“Don't,” I snapped, my voice harder than I intended. My heart pounded, fury mixing with the overwhelming confusion Marcus had just unleashed. Was it true? Was Cleopatra sent to kill me? So none of this was real.
“A spy?” I whispered despair laced in my voice.
No.
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