3rd person’s POV
The Battle has ended, but the air in the Bloodmoon Pack was still heavy with anxiety, the sudden attack had caused great tension at the Bloodmoon Pack, everyone in the pack are mourning their lost soldiers , the elders visit each household that had lost their loved ones.
They had recorded Ten dead warriors; Six of which were young warriors and Four old warriors.
Dimitri stood at the entrance of the pack clinic, the nurses had collected Kate from him and she is being attended to.
There are over thirty injured warriors need to be attended to, Dimitri heart sank as he hears the cries of the Men in pain.
The pack servants have also joined in helping the nurses by serving already prepared herbs to the the warriors.
The nurses continuously prepare the Milk thistle plant to counteract the Hemlock poison in the warriors bloodstream.
The pack members are terrified, they had not experienced such an attack within their territory since ages especially since Dimitri became the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, what could have gone wrong after all the preparation for weeks.
Questions filled everyone’s mind. There’s panic in the air, what if the rogues strike again what would be their Fate.
Dimitri could feel their fears, he also had questions running in his mind.
He doesn’t know what to think anymore, Drey what is going on, he connect with Drey as he paced up and down the front of the pack clinic.
Louis could sense he is rage and mind-linked him, you need to keep yourself calm, let focus on safeguarding the through night and sit and find out what went wrong.
Dimitri listened to Louis as he knew getting agitated and losing control over Drey is the last thing he would want for himself right now.
Before Dawn Warriors from three more ally packs had arrived and they relieved the Bloodmoon Pack warriors to get some rest.
THE NEXT MORNING
Kate is awake and stable, the poison effect had wear off in her body and her wound is healing up.
They were able to save all the injured warriors as well, and their wounds are healing up as well.
The Pack Elders have assembled in the pack hall, they are all waiting for Dimitri.
Dimitri and Louis strode into the Hall.
“What happened,” Dimitri asked as facing Sir Cedric, the head warrior, he then turned to face the head guards.
Silence filled the air, as no one could explain what had happened, and how the rogues were able to infiltrate them in the broad daylight.
I want everyone to go find out what went wrong, we had laid out our plans so I need to know how things went out of hand, he said and strode out of the pack had with louis following closely behind him.
They both head straight to his office to think and talk privately as they both don’t know who to trust anymore.
Dimitri paced the up and down in his office, his thoughts replaying the rogues leader’s strange remarks. The attack was too well-coordinated and accurate to be a random assault. Someone from the Bloodmoon Pack had provided the rogues with insider knowledge.
A knock from the door draw their attention and turned to look at who it was,
The door opened and Kate strode in, then sits on the couch,
“You should be resting,” Dimitri said.
“How could I be resting this state,” Kate responded, the last words of that sly bastard kept running through my mind, he had said it so confidently and I could sense another attack closing in on us.
Her wound is healing up, but her thoughts was far from calm. She could sense Dimitri’s irritation and mistrust via their link. She looked at Louis, who was standing close, his brow wrinkled in contemplation.
“There’s no way the rogues could have attacked so accurately without help,” Dimitri mumbled as he approached the enormous oak table that carried a map of the of the pack’s territory. He smashed his hand on it, causing it to make a loud sound. “They knew exactly where to hit us, where our defenses were weakest.
Louis nodded sadly, arms folded. “I have been thinking the same thing. They backed off too abruptly, as if they had achieved their goal or had already pass their point. Someone is providing them information, and it isn’t just any rogue-it’s someone who is very close and aware of our strategies and movements.
Dimitri felt a bit relieved that hands couldn’t be pointed towards Kate this time around, because she was busy with her training and wasn’t present at any of the meetings they had planning and strategy.
Kate’s eyes shifted between the two males. She knew they were correct, but the notion of a traitor in their ranks made her stomach churn. How could someone betray the pack like that? After everything they had fought for and sacrificed?
“We can’t make any moves until we know for sure,” Kate responded, her voice firm. “If there’s a spy, they’ll be monitoring us very closely. If we begin condemning people without proof, it may push them farther underground.”
Dimitri’s jaw tightened. He knew she was correct, but the thought of being betrayed by one of his own made him furious. The pack had gone through enough, and they were now vulnerable from inside.
Louis groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll need to be covert. Begin with those with access to sensitive information-warriors, scouts, and anybody close to the inner circle. But we need to be cautious. “One wrong move, and the traitor will flee or, worse, sabotage us further.”
Kate moved uneasily, her fingers reflexively brushing over the cut in her side. She was well aware of the dangers of having a spy among them, and the rogue leader’s frightening remarks continued to haunt her.
“We need a plan,” Dimitri eventually replied, his eyes narrowing with contemplation. “We will do our investigation discretely. Louis, you will take the initiative on this. “I trust you.”
Louis nodded, his expression hardened. “I’m going to start with the pack’s communication routes. Anyone who has had contact with other packs or who appears suspicious will be investigated.
Kate could feel the weight of the situation fall on them like a heavy blanket. There were too many unknowns, and with the risk of defection inside their ranks, trust had become a scarce resource.
“I’ll help,” Kate said resolutely, despite the pain in her side. “I may not be completely healed, but I can aid with inquiry. “People will not suspect me.”
Dimitri looked at her with anxiety in his eyes. “Kate, you need to rest-”
“No,” Kate said firmly. “I can’t sit on the sidelines while a traitor puts the entire pack in danger. “This is also my responsibility.”
Dimitri opened his lips to argue, but then stopped himself. He knew better than to try and persuade her once she had made up her mind. Instead, he nodded, but the stiffness in his stance remained.
“We’ll do this together,” he stated gently. “But we have to be cautious. One false step, and we may lose our sole chance to apprehend the traitor.”
***
Later that afternoon
The pack house was strangely silent as the evening approach. Dimitri and Louis had already began their discreet investigations, beginning with the guards and scouts stationed near the southern border. Meanwhile, Kate found herself walking around the corridors, her mind racing. She couldn’t get the sensation that something was really wrong-that the attack was simply the beginning.
As she turned a corner, she almost collided with Jace, a young warrior who she had trained when she was helping with training the young Warriors. He appeared astonished to see her, his eyes wide, and he muttered an explanation.
“I apologize, Luna! I didn’t see you there,” he said swiftly, lowering his head politely.
Kate gave him a modest grin, but her mind was already assessing the situation. Jace had been at the southern border when the attack occurred. She made a mental note to mention him to Dimitri and Louis later.
“Stay vigilant, Jace,” Kate whispered quietly, her gaze narrowing as she examined his reaction. “We can’t afford to be caught off guard again.”
Kate was suspicious of Jace’s manner, even though he swiftly nodded. He was nervous-more than he should be for such a basic talk. But she didn’t push him any farther. Not yet.
Kate’s thoughts raced as Jace hurried off. Could he be involved? Or was he simply shaken by the battle, like so many others? She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but each contact suddenly seemed to have a deeper significance, a secret truth waiting to be discovered.
***
THE NEXT DAY
By morning, the investigation was in full swing. Louis had created a list of likely suspects, which the three of them were reviewing in the pack house’s conference room. The names of warriors, scouts, and even a few high-ranking members of the pack were listed, with each one being investigated for a possible connection to the rogues.
“This one stood out,” Louis replied, pointing to a name on the list. “Kendrick. He’s been acting weirdly for weeks, and he was on patrol the night before the attack.”
Dimitri grimaced and crossed his arms. “Kendrick has been with us for several years. “He is one of our most trusted warriors.”
“I know,” Louis said, his tone harsh. “But that does not imply he is innocent. We can’t rule anyone out, including those we trust the most.”
Kate examined the list, her attention still focused on Jace. His name wasn’t on the list, but something about their interaction the previous night nagged at her. Should she mention it? Or would it be too soon to create suspicion without any evidence?
Before she could decide, there was a knock at the door. One of the guards, breathless and wide-eyed, stepped inside the room.
“Alpha Dimitri, Luna Kate,” the guard said, panting. “We found something… disturbing.”
The three of them exchanged glances before following the guard out. He led them to the perimeter of the pack house, where a group of warriors had gathered around what looked to be a discarded piece of paper, partially buried in the ground.
Louis knelt to take up the parchment and carefully unroll it. His face became darker as he did so.
“It’s a map,” he said, just above a whisper. “A detailed map of our southern border, with notes on our patrol schedules.”
Dimitri’s eyes blazed with rage. “Someone’s been leaking information.”
Kate’s pulse hammered in her chest as she comprehended the consequences. This was confirmation that someone in the pack had been passing information to the rogues, giving them the exact knowledge they needed to launch their attack.
Louis straightened up, his face hardened. “We need to know who had access to this. “Whoever left it here made a mistake.”
Kate’s thoughts raced. The traitor was too near for comfort. And with the proof in their possession, it was only a matter of time until they discovered who it was. But the issue remained: how far had the treachery spread? What else had been shared with their enemies?
***
As they returned to the pack house, Louis caught up with Kate, his countenance somber. “We have to be careful, Luna. “Whoever did this knows we’re on them now.”
Kate nodded, her heart heavy with the burden of the truth. But before she could react, a howl sounded from the northern boundary. Kate heart pound fast in her chest, The rogues are back again, but the this time around they were countered immediately with full force and they were unable to penetrate into the pack.
The Warriors from the ally packs has also been of great help, they had fought tirelessly to get the rogues off.
The traitor was still among them, and the Bloodmoon Pack was about to confront their most formidable battle yet.