You did it.You’ve been working with Gregory.Selling out the pack.Selling out me.
What the hell are you talking about?Quinton’s voice cracked.Con, these accusations are insane.I would never—
Fury built in Conall’s chest.Our pack.Our family.People who trusted you, and you sold them out for what?Money?Revenge?
You don’t understand!Quinton stood abruptly, his composure fracturing.You think it’s been easy watching you drift away?Watching that woman poison you against everything we’ve built?
The raw pain in his brother’s voice crystallized everything Conall had been denying about their dysfunction.His guilt transformed into rage.
So you betrayed everyone to hurt me?Make me choose between pack and mate?His wolf rose with protective fury.How many people will die because of your jealousy?
Jealousy?Quinton’s laugh was broken.Con, I’ve been trying to protect you!That evidence—I’ve been investigating it too, trying to figure out who ‘Twin Star’ really is!
But Conall’s paranoia twisted his brother’s desperate attempts at explanation.More lies.How long have you been planning this?
Planning what?Con, you’re scaring me.This isn’t you talking—this is whatever that bond has done to your head.Quinton reached toward him, and Conall flinched back.
Don’t.Don’t try to make this about the mate bond when you’ve been selling us out.
I haven’t sold anyone out!Quinton’s voice rose to a shout.For fuck’s sake, Conall, I’m your twin!I would die before I’d betray you!
The conviction in Quinton’s voice sounded like the perfect lie—too practiced, too smooth.
Get out,Conall said quietly.
Con, you have to listen to me—
GET OUT!
The roar echoed through the room.Quinton staggered backward, his face crumpling as he stumbled toward the door.
Conall felt their twin bond stretch and fray, damaged by his accusations and distrust.But the mate bond hummed stronger, whispering that this was necessary, that Nadine was his true priority now.
A lifetime of brotherhood just died.
Quinton moved toward the exit, shoulders slumped.
She’s walking into a trap,he said without turning.Gregory’s been planning this for weeks.She won’t survive it alone.
A final attempt at redemption, maybe.But far too late.
As Quinton disappeared, Conall stood surrounded by wreckage.
His twin—his other half—had been systematically betraying him.
Had been planning his murder.
And Nadine, who’d tried to warn him, was facing Gregory alone.
The mate bond tugged weakly at his consciousness—a distant echo in the desert darkness.She’d closed their connection to protect him from following her into what she knew was a trap.
But she was wrong.This wasn’t her battle to fight alone.
CONALL MADE HIS WAYdirectly to the coalphas’ house.This was too important for a phone call.He needed the alphas to see how serious it was.
I need to speak with you both.Now,he said as soon as Malcolm opened the door, Larissa moving up beside him almost immediately.
Report,Malcolm said simply.
