Nicholas’s POV
The silence stretched thick between us, heavy as iron chains.
Marco stayed on his knees, head still hung low, shoulders trembling just enough for me to notice. His hands were balled into fists on the floor, knuckles white like he was holding back a flood.
I didn’t know what to say.
This wasn’t just any betrayal.
This was Marco.
My beta. My brother.
We grew up together—wild kids racing through the woods, climbing the tallest trees until our mothers screamed for us to come down. We trained side by side, bloodied knuckles and bruised ribs, pushing each other until we couldn’t stand. He was there when my father died, holding me up when I thought I’d shatter. He was the one constant in a life full of storms.
And now…this.
“Why did you lie to me, Marco?” I asked, forcing
