Reyna’s POV
I walked into Stephanie’s room quietly, not wanting to disturb her if she was resting. The room was dimly lit, and at first glance, it seemed like she hadn’t noticed me come in. She was sitting by the window, her gaze fixed somewhere far beyond the glass. Her posture was stiff, and something about the way she was sitting sent a chill down my spine.
I approached her slowly, then gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She jumped, startled, as if I had pulled her out of some deep, dark thought.
“Oh! I didn’t mean to scare you,” I said quickly, taking a step back. “Sorry, Steph.”
She blinked, her eyes wide for a moment, but then she settled down, though her expression didn’t soften. She just gave me a weak nod before turning her gaze back toward the window, her fingers gripping the edge of the chair tightly.
“Are you alright?” I asked, stepping closer again, noticing how her shoulders were tense. “You seem… off.”
“No, I’m fine,” Stephanie said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I wasn’t convinced. Something was definitely wrong, but I didn’t press her yet. I glanced around the room, trying to shake the strange feeling that lingered in the air. “Anyway, I came to check on you because I had training with John today.”
Stephanie didn’t respond, didn’t even look at me, but I continued, hoping to distract her from whatever was on her mind.
“I was supposed to do some endurance drills,” I went on, “but it got interrupted when a Lycan appeared out of nowhere. Its mouth was dripping with blood… it looked like it had just fed.” I shuddered at the memory, feeling the fear creep back into my veins. “It was terrifying, Steph. But Jake was there. He saved me before the thing could get too close.”
Still, Stephanie said nothing. Her silence was unnerving. She wasn’t one to be quiet for this long, especially after hearing something like that. I stepped closer, trying to read her expression. “Steph?” I asked again, this time with more concern. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem really distracted.”
Stephanie let out a small, dry laugh. It wasn’t her usual laugh. There was no joy in it, just… something hollow. She finally turned to face me, her eyes distant. “I’m fine, Reyna. Really. Just tired.”
Her words didn’t match the look in her eyes, but I didn’t know how to push her without crossing a line. “Are you sure?” I asked again, not willing to let it drop just yet. “Because if something happened, you can talk to me about it.”
She shook her head, smiling that same dry, humorless smile. “I’m fine, Reyna. It’s just… things have been a little overwhelming lately, that’s all.”
I wasn’t convinced, not even for a second. But something told me she wasn’t going to open up right now. Maybe she didn’t even know how. I sighed softly and moved toward the bed, sitting down on the edge, still watching her.
“Well, if you want to talk, you know I’m here, right?” I offered, trying to sound as gentle as I could.
Stephanie didn’t respond, but I stayed there with her, sitting in the quiet tension that filled the room. Something was wrong. Something big. But I’d have to wait until she was ready to tell me.
—
Jake’s POV
I paced back and forth across my study, my mind racing with worry and suspicion. My heart pounded with a mix of frustration and anger. Where were those damn sentinels? I had ordered them to review the CCTV footage over an hour ago, and still, no word from them. Something wasn’t right. I could feel it in my bones.
Every few seconds, I would glance at the door, expecting someone to come in and tell me they had found something. But the room remained empty, and the tension in my chest grew tighter with each passing moment.
This wasn’t just a random security breach. I could sense something deeper at play.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door to my study creaked open. I stopped pacing and looked up, seeing John walk in, followed by Seth and two sentinels.
“Jake,” John greeted me with a grim expression. “We’ve checked the footage.”
“And?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. “What did you find?”
John’s expression darkened as he exchanged a look with Seth. “The CCTV outside the estate was destroyed.”
My heart sank, and I could feel my blood boiling beneath my skin. “Destroyed?” I repeated, disbelief lacing my words.
“The cameras outside were smashed,” Seth confirmed, stepping forward. “We found them in pieces. Whoever it was didn’t want us seeing anything.”
I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure. “And the footage from the cameras *inside* the estate?”
John sighed, his frustration matching mine. “It captured nothing. Whoever this intruder was, they were careful. They knew how to avoid the cameras.”
I slammed my fist against the desk, the sound echoing in the room. “So you’re telling me we have no idea who this intruder is or what they were doing here?”
The sentinels lowered their heads, their silence confirming the answer I already knew.
“This is unbelievable,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “We’re supposed to be the most secure pack in the region, and someone just waltzes in here like it’s nothing?”
John nodded slowly, clearly as troubled as I was. “That’s why we think there’s something more going on, Jake. It doesn’t add up.”
I met his gaze, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. “You’re saying there’s a spy among us?”
John hesitated, but then he gave a short nod. “It’s possible. Someone had to know where the cameras were, how to avoid detection. And they knew enough to destroy the ones outside.”
My mind raced with the implications of that. If there was a traitor in our midst, it meant everything we had built could be in jeopardy. It meant none of us were safe.
“We’ll have to meet with the lords,” I said after a moment, my voice cold and determined. “This isn’t something we can handle alone. We need to bring everyone in on this.”
“I agree,” John said. “We need to find out who’s behind this before it’s too late.”
I nodded, pacing again, trying to make sense of the situation. “Whoever this is, they’re careful. Smart. But they’ve made a mistake by coming here. We’ll find out who it is, and when we do…” I didn’t finish the sentence, but the threat hung heavy in the air.
Seth, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward. “Do you want us to continue searching the grounds?”
I thought for a moment before shaking my head. “No. We need to regroup and plan. Whoever did this won’t be anywhere near the estate now. We’ll focus on finding the traitor within, and then we’ll deal with whoever’s coming for us.”
The sentinels nodded, awaiting further orders.
“Get the lords together,” I said to John, my voice steady but cold. “We meet tonight. No more delays.”
John met my gaze, his expression resolute. “Consider it done.”
As they turned to leave, I stood there in the silence of my study, the weight of what was coming pressing down on me. There was a spy in our midst, and until we rooted them out, none of us were safe.
But one thing was certain: I would not let my pack fall.