Chapter 3 3

The next morning, I woke up with renewed determination. Jarek's words still echoed in my mind. He was right, I had to prove my worth to the pack. But before that, I had to confront my father, Alaric, with my suspicions. It was a risk to take, but I had to do it.

I took a deep breath as I approached my father's office, a dark, austere room where he spent most of his time. I knocked on the door and waited.

- Come in, said Alaric's authoritative voice.

I entered and closed the door behind me. My father was sitting at his desk, hunched over a pile of documents. He looked up at me, his eyebrows furrowing in annoyance.

- What do you want, Everly? he asked dryly.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather all my courage.

- Father, I need to talk to you about something important. This concerns Luna and Kael.

He sat up slightly, his sharp eyes searching mine.

- Go on.

- I have reason to believe that Luna and Kael are plotting against me. They're trying to have me kicked out of the pack, I began, feeling my voice trembling slightly despite myself.

He let out an exasperated sigh and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.

- Everly, are you serious? Are you coming to tell me about rumors and suspicions without the slightest tangible proof?

- These are not rumors, Father. I heard a conversation between them. They plan to discredit me, I insisted, trying to keep calm.

- So you have nothing better to do than spy on your own family? Your brother and Luna have important responsibilities. They have no time to waste on imaginary plots, he replied scornfully.

I clenched my fists, feeling frustration building inside me. Why would he never believe me?

- Father, I am not lying. Kael wants to get rid of me to be the sole heir. He uses Luna to achieve his ends.

He stood abruptly, his face hardening.

- Enough ! Kael is a loyal and dedicated member of this pack, just like Luna. Your accusations are nothing more than desperate attempts to get attention. If you can't behave responsibly, then maybe it's time you seriously considered your place here.

The pain of his words pierced me, but I refused to let it deter me.

- You don't understand, Father. I'm not looking to attract attention. I just want to protect our pack from Kael's schemes.

He turned to me, his eyes burning with anger.

- You're pathetic, Everly. Always complaining and blaming others for your own failures. I don't have any more time to waste on your childishness. If you want to prove your worth, do it through actions, not baseless accusations.

I stood frozen, feeling tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall in front of him. Without another word, I left the office, my heart heavy with pain and disappointment.

As I left, I came face to face with Kael. He had certainly heard our conversation, because a smirk stretched his lips.

- So, little sister, have you decided to play the martyr? he taunted.

I glared at him, anger replacing the sadness in my heart.

- I'm not being a martyr, Kael. I'm just defending my place in this pack.

He laughed, a harsh, cruel sound.

- Your place? What place, Everly? You never had a place here. You are nothing but a nuisance, a thorn in our father's side.

I felt rage rising inside me, uncontrollable.

- You have no idea what I'm worth, Kael. But you will soon find out. I will fight for my place, and I will prove you wrong.

He shook his head, still with that disdainful smile.

- Good luck with that. But don't forget, little sister, that in this pack, the weak have no place. And you have always been the weaker of the two of us.

Without giving him another glance, I headed towards the exit. Pain and anger boiled inside me, but they also fueled my determination. I couldn't let Kael and Luna win. I had to find a way to prove my accusations, to show my worth.

The day passed in a blur of frustration and planning. I knew that to turn things around, I had to be strategic. I needed proof, and for that I had to watch Kael and Luna closely.

That evening, after sharing a silent meal with the pack, I discreetly went to the clearing where I had surprised Luna and Kael the last time. Hiding in the shadows of the trees, I watched for the slightest sign of their presence. The minutes passed slowly, and I was starting to lose hope when they finally appeared.

Luna seemed more nervous than ever, her hands shaking slightly as she spoke to Kael. I strained my ears, trying to catch every word.

- Kael, I don't know how much longer I can continue like this. Everly is starting to suspect something, she whispered.

- Never mind. We must continue. She has no proof, and Father will never believe her, Kael replied confidently.

- But what if she finds a way to prove our shenanigans? Luna asked, visibly worried.

Kael grabbed her chin with a firm hand, forcing her gaze to meet his.

- Listen to me carefully, Luna. We are so close to the goal. Once Everly is out of our way, nothing can stop us. Do what I tell you, and everything will be fine.

I clenched my fists, feeling a cold rage overcome me. I had heard enough. I now knew that their intentions were clear and that Luna was not an innocent victim in this matter.

The next morning, I decided to go back to see Jarek. If there was one person in the pack who could help me, it was him. When I arrived at his house, I knocked gently on the door.

- Come in, Everly, he said, opening the door. You look worried.

- I need your help, Jarek. I overheard another conversation between Kael and Luna. They are really plotting against me. You need to help me find evidence to unmask them.

He nodded, his expression serious.

- I believe you, Everly. We will find a way. But this will require patience and cunning. Are you ready to do anything to prove the truth?

I looked him straight in the eyes, determination burning inside me.

- Yes, Jarek. I'm ready for anything.

- Alright. We will start by monitoring their movements. You will have to be discreet and not arouse their suspicions. I will also talk to a few pack members I trust. We must be careful.

The days that followed were intense. I learned to blend into the shadows, to listen and observe without being seen. Jarek and I managed to piece together fragments of conversations and suspicious behavior, but we still needed something more concrete.

One evening, as I was getting ready for bed, I received a note slipped under my door. It was from Jarek. "Meet me at midnight by the old barn. I have something to show you."

At the appointed time, I slipped out of the house, careful not to wake anyone. The old barn stood far from the village, shrouded in darkness and silence. Jarek was waiting for me, a flashlight in his hand.

- What did you find? I whispered, approaching him.

- Follow me, he replied simply.

We entered the barn, and he led me to a remote corner. There, among the old hay bales and rusty tools, was a hiding place. Jarek opened it delicately and took out a file.

- This is Kael's diary. I managed to recover it discreetly. It contains notes on his plans and Luna's actions. This is exactly what we needed.

I took the file, my hands trembling with excitement and

Fear. Flipping through it quickly, I saw detailed descriptions of their plans to discredit me, dates, conversations. This was the tangible proof I was looking for.

- Thanks, Jarek. With this, I will finally be able to prove the truth to our father.

He nodded, a reassuring smile on his face.

- Be careful, Everly. Kael and Luna will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Make sure you are well prepared before confronting Alaric.

I returned home, my back pressed against me. I knew confronting my father would be difficult, but I was ready. This time, I had the necessary proof. The truth would come out eventually, and I could finally find my place in the pack.

As I lay down, I felt a glimmer of hope return to me. The battle was not yet won, but I was more determined than ever to fight for my place and for justice. The road would be long and strewn with pitfalls, but I was no longer alone. I had allies and, above all, I had the truth on my side.