"I know what you've been doing, elder vincent," I said, my voice firm. "I know you've been working with Sophia behind my back."

Elder Vincent's eyes widened, and he took a step back. "Alpha, I...I can explain," he stammered.

"Explain?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You've been betraying me, vincent. You've been working with my enemy. How can you explain that?"

Vincent looked down, his eyes avoiding mine. "I was just trying to protect the pack, Alpha," he said. "Sophia promised me that she would help us, that she would make sure our pack was safe and prosperous."

I laughed, a bitter sound. "You believed her?" I asked. "You believed...