Fated and Claimed by Four Alphas-Chapter 180: The Key...

Kael's POV

The Elder's hesitation set my wolf on edge.

"What development?" I demanded, my voice sharper than intended.

The Elder's gaze darted toward me, then to Lucien, then Riven, as though weighing his words carefully. "We've captured one of the intruders. He claims… he claims he served under Lord Ravyn's command."

The air in the study thickened instantly.

Talon leaned forward, his red eyes narrowing. "Served?"

"Yes, Alpha," the Elder said, bowing slightly again. "He insists he was acting under Lord Ravyn's orders… to retrieve the Moonstone and dagger. He—he swears Lady Rhiannon knew nothing."

All eyes turned to me.

I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening. "You're certain of this?"

"He begged to speak only to you, Alpha Kael," the Elder replied. "He says he can prove her innocence."

Lucien scoffed softly. "How convenient."

I turned on him instantly, my voice a low growl. "Careful, Lucien."

Lucien met my glare without flinching. "I'm not doubting her because I enjoy it, Kael. But think for once instead of letting your mate bond blind you. If this intruder really has proof, then why come forward now? Why not before her father died?"

"Maybe because we slaughtered half his men!" I snapped. "Maybe because the one person he feared is dead!"

"Or maybe," Damon interjected smoothly, "he's trying to save his own neck by throwing someone else under the blade."

Riven raised a hand. "Enough." His voice cut through the heat like steel. "Where is he now?"

"In the cells, Alpha," the Elder replied. "Guarded."

I didn't wait for permission. I strode toward the door.

"Kael." Riven's voice stopped me. "Don't go down there ready to tear his throat out. If he really has answers, we need them."

"I'll get them," I muttered, not bothering to look back.

Lucien's voice followed me, sharp and clipped. "And if his answers damn her?"

I paused only long enough to throw him a glare over my shoulder. "Then I'll still stand by her."

I didn't wait for his response.

The dungeon stank of damp stone, old blood, and fear. My wolf prowled restlessly beneath my skin as I descended the spiral steps, each thud of my boots echoing off the walls.

The prisoner sat chained to the wall, his head bowed, dark hair matted with sweat and dried blood.

When he heard my approach, he flinched.

"Alpha Kael," he rasped, voice hoarse. "I was told you'd come."

I folded my arms, standing just out of reach. "Start talking."

He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. "I… I was one of Lord Ravyn's men. He promised us freedom—promised we'd finally be rid of the curse that kept us bound to his command."

"His curse?" I asked sharply.

The man nodded. "Blood oath magic. Generations old. None of us could disobey. If he ordered us to slit our own throats, we'd have no choice but to comply."

My stomach clenched. "And Rhiannon?"

He shook his head violently. "She didn't know. None of us could tell her. Oaths forbid it. Her father kept her in the dark. Said the less she knew, the safer she'd be."

I narrowed my eyes, letting silence stretch for a moment. "And yet, somehow, he knew the guard patterns. He knew how to reach the sacred chamber."

"That wasn't from her," the man said quickly. "It was an insider. Someone in your court. I don't know who, but Ravyn had a contact here."

I stepped closer, crouching so I was level with his bloodied face. "Who?"

"I—I don't know."

My wolf surged. "Liar."

"I swear on my life," he rasped, shaking. "Ravyn never trusted us with names. He only said… he only said 'the phoenix has eyes where the wolves sleep.'"

The cryptic words dug into me like claws.

Before I could push further, Riven appeared at the top of the stairs, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "Kael. Enough."

I looked up sharply. "You heard him?"

"Every word," Riven said, stepping closer. "Come. We need to discuss this upstairs. Now."

Back in the study, the air was heavier than before. My brothers stood where I'd left them, Seraphina lingering near the doorway, her expression unreadable.

Talon was the first to speak. "Well?"

I repeated everything—the oath, the secrecy, the insider.

Lucien paced near the window, his hands clasped behind his back. "So we have a traitor among our own."

Damon muttered, "And a cryptic clue that tells us nothing."

Riven's gaze swept over us all, sharp and calculating. "The phoenix. The wolves. It's not meaningless."

"Phoenix," Talon mused, leaning back in his chair. "Could be a codename. Or…" His gaze flicked to Seraphina. "…a symbol."

Her eyes widened faintly, but she didn't speak.

Lucien caught it instantly. "What do you know?"

"Nothing," she said quickly. "Only… the Phoenix Sigil. It's an old mark—used by the Moonstone Cult before they were wiped out. They believed the Moon Goddess's blessings were meant to be shared, not hoarded by wolfkind."

Damon's lips curled into a humorless smile. "And where there's an old cult, there's always someone trying to bring it back."

I folded my arms, my voice low. "Whoever helped Ravyn isn't done. If they wanted the Moonstone, this won't stop here."

Riven nodded once. "Agreed. But until we know who's feeding them information, we keep this contained. No whispers leave this room."

Lucien's gaze cut to me. "And Rhiannon?"

"She stays out of it," I said instantly.

Talon leaned forward, his voice dry. "Out of it? She's the traitor's daughter, Kael. The court's already sharpening their knives. If we shield her too much, it'll make her look guilty."

I met his gaze head-on. "Then let them try me first."

The silence that followed was tense, unyielding.

Finally, Riven exhaled. "We don't move against her without proof. That's final."

For now, at least, it was settled.

Later that night, I returned to Rhiannon's chambers.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, knees pulled to her chest, silver hair tangled around her face. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but dry.

When she looked up, her voice was barely above a whisper. "You killed him."

I froze in the doorway. "Rhiannon…"

Her lips trembled, but her gaze didn't waver. "You killed him, Kael. You… or your brothers."

"I didn't," I said quietly. "Lucien did."

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she'd break again. But instead, she laughed—a hollow, brittle sound that cut deeper than any scream.

"And you expect me to stay here? To sleep under the same roof as the man who—"

"I expect you to trust me," I interrupted, stepping closer. "Because whatever you believe right now, you are not safe. Someone inside these walls helped your father. Someone still wants what he wanted."

She shook her head, wrapping her arms tighter around herself. "I don't care about the Moonstone or your throne, Kael. I just want him back."

I stopped in front of her, crouching so I was level with her eyes. "I know." My voice cracked despite myself. "But if you walk away from me, I can't protect you. And whoever's behind this will come for you next."

Her silence stretched between us, raw and jagged.

Finally, she whispered, "I don't know if I can forgive you."

"You don't have to," I said softly. "Just… don't give up on us yet."

The next morning, chaos erupted.

Talon stormed into my chamber without knocking, his expression grim. "We've got a problem."

I shoved my boots on and stood. "What now?"

"The prisoner's dead," he said flatly.

I stilled. "…Dead?"

"Poison," he confirmed. "Before dawn. Whoever our insider is, they're cleaning house."

My blood turned to ice. "Rhiannon—"

"She's fine," Talon said quickly. "For now. But Kael… this isn't random. Whoever we're dealing with has reach. Inside our walls. Inside the cells. Maybe even…" He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "…inside the council."

I didn't waste another second.

"Where's Riven?" I demanded.

"In the war room," Talon said, following me as I strode out. "Lucien's already tearing into the guards."

"Good," I growled. "Let him."

The war room was a storm of voices when I arrived. Riven stood at the head of the table, Seraphina beside him, her expression pale. Lucien paced like a caged beast while Damon leaned lazily against a wall, arms folded.

The moment I entered, Lucien rounded on me. "Someone killed him, Kael. In my cells. Under my guards."

"You think I don't know that?" I snapped.

"We're bleeding secrets, and you're too busy coddling your mate to see it!"

"Enough," Riven barked, slamming his fist against the table. The room fell silent.

"We focus," Riven said evenly. "Whoever's behind this has been here longer than we thought. The Phoenix Sigil isn't just a cult—it's an organization. Old, powerful, hidden. And now, they have the Moonstone."

Seraphina finally spoke, her voice soft but steady. "Not yet."

All eyes turned to her.

"The Moonstone's bond is incomplete," she explained. "It needs a conduit to unlock its full power. Without a direct bloodline link, it's useless."

Talon frowned. "And where do we find one of those?"

Seraphina hesitated before answering, her gaze sliding toward me. "…Rhiannon."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Lucien cursed under his breath. "Of course. Ravyn didn't want the stone for himself. He wanted it for her."

My fists clenched at my sides. "No," I said flatly. "He wanted her safe."

"Or he wanted to use her," Damon countered coolly. "You can't ignore it, Kael. If the Phoenix wants her blood, they'll come for her next."

"Then let them try," I snarled. "I'll kill every last one of them."

Riven's gaze met mine, steady and unreadable. "Then we prepare. Lock down the estate. Double the guards. And Kael…" He hesitated, his voice dropping lower. "…don't let her out of your sight."

I nodded once, the weight of it settling in my chest.

Because if Seraphina was right, Rhiannon wasn't just my mate anymore.

She was the key.