Stephanie’s POV
I slip out of bed quietly, my heart pounding as I make my way over to the small table in the corner of my room. Every sound seems amplified in the silence, from the rustling of my clothes to the faint scratch of pen against paper as I write. Tomorrow, Sally and his people will be raiding John and Jake’s pack, and they expect me to lead them straight in. But there’s no way I can betray them, especially not without giving some kind of warning.
I keep the message short, anonymous, and vague, careful not to reveal my identity. The fewer details, the better. I fold the note tightly and slip it into the sleeve of my jacket. The paper feels heavier than it should, a reminder of the danger I’m risking. But it’s all I can do, a small act of rebellion that I hope will make a difference.
The halls are dark and eerily silent as I make my way toward the main gate. Each step feels measured and tense, my senses on high alert for any sign of movement. The guards have been rotated since earlier, and I hope that the sentinels on duty won’t ask too many questions. I just need them to pick up the note after I leave, nothing more.
When I finally reach the gate, two sentinels are stationed there, their figures silhouetted in the dim light. One of them notices me, a slight frown crossing his face as he steps forward. “Stephanie? What are you doing out here so late?”
I force a casual smile, hoping it doesn’t look as stiff as it feels. “Oh, couldn’t sleep,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself as if shivering in the night air. “Thought maybe a bit of fresh air would help, but it’s colder than I expected.”
The sentinel watches me closely, skepticism in his gaze. “Strange time for a walk, don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” I laugh, shrugging slightly. “Guess I wasn’t really thinking. Just needed to clear my head.” As I talk, my fingers brush against the folded paper hidden in my sleeve. With careful, practiced ease, I let it slip from my fingers and drop quietly onto the ground.
“Well,” the sentinel says after a pause, glancing back at the other guard, “maybe some rest would do you better. Don’t stay out here too long. It’s easy to catch a chill at this hour.”
“Good idea.” I give him a small nod, glancing back toward the main building. “I’ll head inside now. The night air isn’t as refreshing as I thought.”
Turning on my heel, I start back, my pulse racing as I leave the paper behind. I keep my stride steady, fighting the urge to look back and check if the sentinels have noticed it yet. I can only hope they’ll see it once I’m out of sight and take the message seriously. If they don’t, if they ignore it or assume it’s nothing, then all of this could be for nothing.
As I near the steps leading up to the building, I hesitate, glancing down the hallway that leads to Reyna’s room. She deserves to know what’s coming, to have a chance to prepare. My feet itch to go to her, to tell her everything and warn her personally. But the hour is late, and I can’t risk being seen twice in one night without raising suspicion. I’ve already stretched my luck by slipping out here; any more, and I’d risk alerting Sally or one of his men.
With a deep breath, I push the thought aside and force myself back into my room. The familiar silence greets me, the darkness wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket. I climb back into bed, but I know sleep won’t come. Not tonight. My thoughts keep spiraling, imagining all the things that could go wrong. Did the sentinels see the note? Will they take it seriously? Will they understand the danger coming for them?
And even if they do, there’s no guarantee they’ll be ready in time. Sally’s not one to give second chances, and if he suspects I had anything to do with tipping them off, he’ll make sure I regret it. But I don’t regret it-not yet, at least. Whatever happens, I’ve done what I can to protect them.
I stare up at the ceiling, my mind racing with a mix of dread and defiance. I may be alone in this, trapped in a web of fear and danger, but I’m not powerless. Not as long as I can still make choices, as small as they may be.
Hours pass, the silence dragging on, until the faintest light begins to creep in through the edges of the window. The long night is nearly over, but it feels like the true nightmare is just beginning.
____
John’s POV
I step out of my room, rubbing a hand over my face, trying to shake off the exhaustion. It’s been a short night, restless and full of thoughts about the traitor who let a spy slip into our ranks. Whoever they are, they’re testing my patience. I can’t let this go on any longer.
My feet carry me to my office almost on instinct. As I approach, one of the sentinels steps forward, clutching a piece of paper in his hand. He bows his head respectfully. “Alpha.”
I nod in acknowledgment. “What’s that?” I ask, gesturing to the paper he holds.
He extends it to me, his brow slightly furrowed. “We found this on the ground this morning, Alpha. Just outside the main gate.”
I take the paper, unfolding it carefully. The words are scrawled hastily, the handwriting unfamiliar, but it’s clear enough to read.
“They’re coming tonight, coming to raid for what I don’t know but I really think you should protect everyone and they have a captive who can solve almost all your problems. Her name is Sarah.”
I feel my jaw tighten as I read. They’re planning a raid. Whoever wrote this knows enough about their plans, but not everything. And Sarah… Who is she? And how can she help? I glance back at the sentinel, trying to keep my expression steady, but inside, my mind is racing.
“Any idea who left this?” I ask, keeping my voice calm but firm.
He shakes his head. “No, Alpha. We’ve checked the area, but there’s no sign of anyone, and no one saw anything suspicious.”
I grit my teeth, glancing down at the note again. “Get every sentinel in the pack ready. I want all entrances guarded, and no one in or out without my permission. And send word to the allied packs. We need reinforcements-support and protection. If they’re planning to raid, we’re going to be prepared.”
The sentinel nods, his expression sharpening with determination. “Yes, Alpha. I’ll alert everyone immediately.”
As he hurries off to carry out my orders, I step into my office, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on my shoulders. Closing the door behind me, I let out a long, slow breath, trying to focus. We don’t have much time, and this warning-no matter how cryptic-could be our only advantage.
But who’s behind this? And more importantly, who’s this Sarah, the supposed captive who could solve all my problems? There’s more here than I’m seeing, but with so little time, I can’t afford to get lost in details. I need to act, to protect my pack, and to find answers later.
With a last glance at the note, I fold it and place it in my desk drawer. Tonight, we’ll be ready. And whoever’s foolish enough to try and invade our pack will realize just how prepared we are.
This is my pack, my family, and I’ll defend it at all costs.