"Exactly," he interrupted smoothly, stepping closer to my cell. "I was the only one who knew how much of a threat you really are."
Cynthia’s expression shifted, the slight widening of her eyes revealing that even she hadn’t known this part of his scheme.
"What are you talking about?" I demanded, my pulse roaring in my ears.
A cold laugh escaped Owen’s lips. "Did you really think I loved you?" He scoffed. "You're James Darkwood’s daughter—born from the bloodline of the most dominant Alpha this region has ever seen. Your lineage alone could challenge the power of the Moon Goddess herself." His smirk deepened. "I had to keep you close. I needed to understand what I was dealing with."
"But I never—" I tried to argue, but he cut me off with a mocking shake of his head.
"Never what? Never planned to overthrow me?" His palm slammed against the bars, making the metal shudder violently. I flinched at the sound, my breath hitching. Somewhere in the depths of the prison, a distant scream echoed.
"That day at the training grounds," he continued, voice low and venomous, "you played the weakling, but I saw the truth. Your wolf was anything but fragile—it carried the same power that made your father unstoppable."
The puzzle pieces started falling into place. My stomach twisted. "So every moment between us…"
"Was nothing more than a way to keep you under control," he confirmed without hesitation. "I had to ensure you stayed where I wanted you—despised, powerless, and completely alone." His lips curled in satisfaction. "And then Mara became a problem."
A shudder ran through me. "Mara?"
"She caught you shifting in the forest." Owen leaned in, his breath laced with the scent of wine from the earlier festivities. "She came to me, eager to defend you, desperate to clear your name. Poor thing never realized the danger you posed."
My arms wrapped around myself as his words sank in.
"You killed her," I murmured, the accusation tasting like poison on my tongue. "And you made sure I took the blame."
His smile was slow and sinister. "Two birds, one stone," he said, spreading his hands as if this had all been a grand performance. "With Mara gone, the pack’s hatred for you only grew. And now…" He gestured toward the Alpha insignia on his chest. "I have everything I ever wanted."