The tension in the cave was palpable, each member of the small group acutely aware of the gravity of their situation. As the initial shock of their encounter with the sorcerer began to subside, the full weight of what lay ahead settled in. The blood moon’s rise was imminent, and with it, a darkness they had never before faced.

Braiden’s eyes bore into Chloe’s, filled with determination and a fierce protectiveness. He was ready to do whatever it took to safeguard his queen and their pack, but the growing realization that a traitor lurked among them gnawed at his instincts.

"We need to find this traitor before we proceed with the ritual," Braiden declared, his voice steady but laced with tension. "If the sorcerer knows our plans, we’re done for."

Chloe nodded, her hand slipping into his for comfort. "Agreed. We also need to perform the ritual right before the blood moon reaches its peak to ensure our success."

Elara, her gaze thoughtful and penetrating, stepped forward, her voice measured. "I can cast a truth spell, but it will reveal more than just lies. It will lay bare the deepest secrets of anyone subjected to it. Are you all prepared for that?"

Lucas, Thorne, and the others exchanged uneasy glances before they steeled their expressions, nodding in agreement. The truth spell might be invasive, but it was their best chance of rooting out the traitor.

"Do it," Braiden ordered, his eyes flicking to each member of their group.

Elara began her incantation, her voice rising and falling in an ancient rhythm. The air in the cave shimmered with a translucent light as the spell took hold, casting a softly glowing veil over everyone present.

One by one, the members of the group stood in the center of the cave, their inner truths revealed. The spell was merciless, stripping away layers of pretense and facade, exposing their vulnerabilities and fears.

Lucas stood tall, his loyalty and dedication shining through, though his lingering sorrow for past failures was evident. Thorne followed, his fierce protection for the pack and regret for a lost love laid bare for all to see.

Finally, Elara herself stepped into the center, her connection to the moon and her unwavering commitment to their cause revealed. When it was Chloe’s turn, she stepped forward with a trembling resolve, her bond with Braiden and her determination to shield their future shining brightly.

Braiden went last, his own inner turmoil laid bare—his unwavering love for Chloe, his fear of failing his pack, and the relentless drive that had propelled him to leadership.

As the final member was subjected to the spell, an unsettling silence followed, the glow dissipating only to reveal their collective shock. No traitor had been exposed.

"It doesn’t make sense," Lucas muttered, his fist clenching in frustration. "The sorcerer knew too much. Someone must have betrayed us."

Elara’s brow furrowed in confusion. "The spell is infallible. If there was a traitor, it would have been revealed."

Chloe’s mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. "What if... what if the traitor isn’t one of us? What if the spell didn’t work because they’re not entirely werewolf?"

A stark realization hit them, and they exchanged wary glances, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to align. Elara’s eyes widened. "Another agent... a creature of dark magic, perhaps bound to the sorcerer’s will."

Footsteps echoed through the cave, and the group whirled to face the intrusion. A figure cloaked in shadow appeared at the entrance—Selene, her eyes devoid of the warmth they once held, replaced by a hard, calculating glint.

"Selene," Braiden said, his voice a low growl. "What are you doing here?"

Selene stepped forward, her smile cold and mocking. "Ah, my dear Braiden. Did you really think you could trust everyone around you?"

Chloe’s heart pounded, her instincts screaming that something was terribly wrong. "Selene, how did you find us?"

Selene’s laugh was chilling. "The sorcerer’s reach is far. I’ve been in his service long before I was ever chosen for you, Braiden. You were never meant to be with Chloe."

Anger flared in Braiden’s eyes as his hands clenched into fists. "You betrayed us."

Selene’s eyes glowed with dark magic. "The blood moon will rise, and the sorcerer shall ascend. Chloe’s power will be his. And you, dearest Braiden, will succumb just like everyone else."

Without warning, Selene launched an attack, dark tendrils of magic snaking towards the group. Braiden shifted, his wolf form exploding into action as he lunged at her, but Selene was faster, her dark magic repelling his advance.

Chloe moved quickly, summoning the moon’s power within her, her hands glowing with a silvery light. She sent a surge of energy towards Selene, the dark magic screaming in defiance but beginning to waver.

Lucas and Thorne joined the fray, their attacks coordinated and relentless. Elara chanted incantations, her protective spells weaving around them, bolstering their strength.

The battle was fierce, Selene’s laughter echoing mockingly as she fought with a crazed determination. Braiden managed to close the distance, his powerful jaws clamping down on her shoulder, throwing her to the ground with a snarl.

Chloe seized the moment, her energy converging into a concentrated beam of moonlight that struck Selene with a blinding force. Selene screamed, her form writhing as the dark magic within her was forcibly expelled, leaving her gasping and weakened.

Braiden shifted back, his eyes burning with fury. "It’s over, Selene."

Selene’s eyes fluttered open, her true self flickering momentarily through the darkness that still clung to her. "You’ll never stop him. The sorcerer’s power is beyond your comprehension."

Chloe stepped forward, her voice steady and resolute. "We will stop him. And we will free you from his control."

Selene’s laughter turned to a coughing fit, the dark magic dissipating but leaving her weakened. "You’re too late. The next blood moon is upon us."

With those final words, Selene's body convulsed, a pained grimace crossing her face before she went limp, consciousness slipping away. Elara moved swiftly, her hands glowing as she worked to stabilize Selene’s condition.

Braiden turned to Chloe, his eyes filled with determination and fear. "We need to know the sorcerer’s full plan. Selene might still hold the key."

Chloe nodded, her heart heavy but resolute. "Then we need to bring her back. We need answers."

Elara’s hands worked their magic, Selene's breathing evening out as she entered a deep, unconscious state. "She’ll need time to recover. We’ll need to extract the information carefully."

Just as they began to plan their next move, a chilling realization swept through the cave—a figure in the distance, watching with eyes that glowed an eerie red.

The sorcerer’s voice reached them, carried on an unnatural wind. "You’ve only just begun to understand my power. The blood moon will bring your end."

The specter vanished, but the threat lingered.