John’s POV
I glance at the note once more, feeling the weight of its words bearing down on me. The elders are gathered around the long wooden table in the meeting room, their faces grim. Beside me sits my brother, Jake, who’s gripping the arms of his chair a bit too tightly, his jaw clenched as he reads over my shoulder. None of us had expected a warning like this to arrive at our gate, especially not with such foreboding words.
“They’re coming tonight,” I read aloud once more, letting the words hang in the silence. “And whoever left this clearly knows something-or someone-in the pack.”
One of the elders, a stout man with silver-streaked hair, leans forward, his expression troubled. “The ink is fresh,” he notes, pointing a gnarled finger at the paper. “Whoever wrote this must be close. Either they’re within the pack, or they’ve just left after dropping this.”
I nod in agreement, my mind whirring with the implications. “This isn’t just a stray message from a rogue,” I say, folding the note carefully. “Someone who knows our routines, our layout, and our people-whoever it is, they’re close enough to track our every move.”
Jake looks at me, his gaze steely. “And what about the mention of Sarah?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. “If they have her… they have leverage. A captive who could ‘solve almost all our problems’-those are big claims.”
The elder shakes his head, frowning. “Sarah has valuable knowledge, yes. But if they know her importance to us, it means they’re either incredibly well-informed or they have someone on the inside.” He pauses, his eyes narrowing. “A spy.”
The word reverberates in the room, the atmosphere thickening. My mind immediately starts sifting through the faces in the pack, trying to pinpoint anyone who might have turned against us. But we’ve always been a tightly knit group. Betrayal on this level… it’s unthinkable.
“John,” Jake says, snapping me from my thoughts. “If someone from within the pack is behind this, we need to act fast. No more time for doubt or second-guessing.”
I nod, a sense of determination rising in me. “Agreed. We’ll keep this quiet for now. No one outside of this room needs to know about this note. If our spy catches wind that we’re onto them, they might act out of desperation.”
The elder clears his throat. “Then what’s the plan, Alpha?” he asks, his eyes steady on me.
“We fortify our defenses, call in support from the neighboring packs as quickly as we can,” I say firmly. “If there’s an attack coming tonight, we need to be prepared. I want sentinels stationed at every entry point. And make sure everyone’s on high alert. If anyone sees or hears something unusual, they report it immediately.”
Jake nods, his expression one of pure resolve. “And if we catch anyone acting suspiciously…”
“Bring them to me,” I say, my voice hard. “I’ll handle it personally.”
As the meeting wraps up, a sense of unease settles over us. I know that tonight might bring battles-not only with whoever’s coming for us, but with the secrets that have begun to fester within our own walls.
—
Stephanie’s POV
I can’t keep still. My heart feels like it’s doing backflips, and the thrill bubbling inside me is almost too much to contain. Pacing back and forth in my room, I can barely stop myself from grinning. The plan is set, the pieces are in motion, and soon enough, everything will unfold. But there’s still the small matter of keeping up appearances-of pretending like I’m not part of the storm about to hit this pack.
Just as I’m trying to settle my nerves, the door opens, and Reyna steps inside, giving me a once-over with a curious frown.
“Stephanie?” she asks, her tone uncertain. “You’re pacing like a caged wolf. Is everything okay?”
I force a sigh, shaking my head as if weighed down by some invisible burden. “It’s… it’s Diane,” I say, letting the lie slip smoothly from my lips. “She’s been on my neck, trying to pressure me into something… something I really don’t want to do.”
Reyna’s eyebrows knit together in concern. “What’s she trying to get you to do?”
I feign a sigh, glancing away as if I’m hesitant to speak. “She… she wants me to work for her,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. “She’s been pushing me to… to get rid of you.”
Reyna’s mouth falls open in shock, her eyes widening. “Get rid of me? Stephanie, why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
I shift uncomfortably, giving her a sheepish look. “I didn’t want to worry you,” I murmur. “But Diane… she’s relentless. She keeps saying that if I don’t do what she wants, she’ll make my life here miserable. But I don’t want to betray you, Reyna. You’ve been like family to me.”
Reyna’s expression softens, and she reaches out, placing a comforting hand on my arm. “Stephanie, you don’t have to go through this alone,” she says, her voice full of conviction. “We need to form a plan and expose Diane for what she really is. If we tell Alpha John and Jake, they’ll deal with her.”
I give her a hesitant nod, even though a part of me knows the last thing I want is for Diane to be discovered-not yet, at least. “But what if she finds out? Diane has eyes everywhere. If she realizes we’re on to her…”
“Then we’ll be careful,” Reyna says, a determined glint in her eyes. “We’ll keep our actions subtle, but we can’t just let her get away with this. Not if she’s targeting us.”
I pretend to look thoughtful, letting her words sink in. “Maybe you’re right,” I say finally, as if reluctantly agreeing. “We can go to John together. If anyone can stop Diane, it’s him.”
Reyna gives me a reassuring smile. “Exactly. Don’t let her intimidate you, Stephanie. We’ll put an end to her scheming once and for all.”
She’s so earnest, so sure of herself, that I almost feel a pang of guilt for lying to her. Almost. But this is war, and Reyna is just another piece on the board. I nod, returning her smile with one that I hope looks equally sincere.
As she leaves the room, promising to check in on me later, I feel the excitement building within me again. Everything is coming together, just as it should. Reyna may think she’s helping me, but all she’s really doing is walking herself deeper into the trap.
This is only the beginning, I think to myself, watching the door close behind her.