Chapter 22: A Vale Betrayed Lunaris

Nobody spoke after Aurelius named Marcus Vale.

The recording continued.

"I do not yet know whether Supreme Alpha Orion Vale knows what his brother has done. Until I have proof, I cannot risk confronting Nightvale directly."

Rowan's breathing turned shallow.

Orion Vale had been his grandfather.

Marcus Vale, Orion's younger brother, had controlled Council security at the time of the Lunaris attack.

Aurelius continued.

"Marcus has accessed relocation protocols, security routes, and bloodline registries without authorization. Garron Snowe has offered eastern territorial concessions. Councilor Vael has promised to neutralize legal resistance."

The crystal flickered again.

"If they succeed, Lunaris will be broken, its heirs scattered, and its lands divided."

My stomach turned.

It wasn't an attack born from ancient hatred.

It was theft.

Organized theft.

Aurelius looked more tired with every sentence.

"Selene, if you hear this, take your child and disappear. Trust no Council record. Trust no relocation order. Trust only those you know by heart."

Mom began crying silently.

"And if my granddaughter lives long enough to hear me..."

I froze.

His expression softened.

"You owe Lunaris nothing simply because you carry our blood."

My throat tightened.

"If you return, return because you choose us. If you walk away, walk without guilt."

The image faded.

The chamber became dark again.

I stood there unable to speak.

Rowan turned away.

I knew why.

His family name had just been tied directly to the massacre.

"Rowan."

"I'm fine."

"You're not."

"My family helped destroy yours."

"Marcus Vale did."

"He was Nightvale."

"So are you."

He looked at me, pain in his eyes.

"Exactly."

I stepped closer.

"And you're here helping me uncover it."

"That doesn't erase what happened."

"I didn't ask you to erase it."

He looked down.

"My father needs to know."

"Yes."

Cassian interrupted.

"Not over an unsecured call."

Rowan's gaze sharpened.

"He's Supreme Alpha."

"Which means his communications are watched more closely than anyone's."

For once, Rowan didn't argue.

We spent the next two hours cataloging evidence.

Several documents confirmed unauthorized archive requests.

One listed payments from Silvercrest shell accounts to Council security officers.

Another contained names of compromised relocation safe houses.

Cassian's hands shook when he saw them.

"These are the places where our people died."

Mom covered her mouth.

Garrick looked toward the wall.

Lyra began crying.

The evidence transformed tragedy into something personal again.

Names.

Dates.

Routes.

People who had trusted systems designed to protect them.

Then I found another file.

"What's this?"

Rowan took it.

"Correspondence."

The first letter was signed by Alpha Garron Snowe.

Silvercrest.

Elodie's grandfather.

The second by Marcus Vale.

The third had no signature.

Only an embossed crest.

Stormridge.

Knox's Pack.

Cassian went rigid.

"There it is."

Rowan read the letter carefully.

"Wait."

"What?"

"This isn't cooperation."

He handed it to me.

The Stormridge letter warned Aurelius that Council security had been compromised.

"Your movements are being tracked," I read.

"Do not use Council relocation channels. I believe Garron Snowe has purchased access through Marcus Vale."

At the bottom was a name.

Alpha Edric Storm.

Knox's grandfather.

Cassian stared.

"Stormridge tried to warn him."

"Apparently," Rowan said.

That changed everything again.

Knox's grandfather hadn't visited the ruins to steal.

Maybe he had been searching for proof.

A noise echoed from above.

Everyone froze.

Garrick immediately extinguished his flashlight.

Footsteps.

More than one person.

Cassian drew a blade.

Rowan moved in front of me.

"Stay behind me."

"Absolutely not."

"Nessa."

"We can argue later."

The footsteps reached the hidden stairway.

A man's voice called down.

"Heritage inspection team! Is anyone below?"

Cassian's eyes narrowed.

"There was no inspection team scheduled tonight."

Rowan pulled out his phone.

No signal underground.

The voice came again.

"By Council authority, come upstairs immediately."

My wolf growled.

Something about the command felt wrong.

Then a metallic object rolled down the stairs.

Rowan's eyes widened.

"Down!"

A blinding flash exploded through the chamber.