Chapter 6: A Rogue’s Entrance

The first thing that struck me was the scent—wild, untamed, and foreign. It lingered in the air like a whisper of danger, sending a shiver down my spine.

I stood at the edge of the pack’s territory, Gideon and a few of our best warriors flanking me, all of us on high alert.

A rogue had crossed into Silverwood, and given everything that had happened in the past few days, no one was taking any chances.

“Who are you?” Gideon barked, stepping forward with a growl, his eyes glowing with the unmistakable sign of his wolf just beneath the surface.

From the shadows of the forest, a figure emerged, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. He was tall, with disheveled dark hair that fell into sharp green eyes that seemed to assess everything in one glance.

He moved with the grace of someone accustomed to living on the edge, every muscle tensed and ready to spring into action.

“My name is Rowan Knight,” the rogue said, his voice rough, carrying the hint of a distant accent. “I’m not here to fight. I’m here because I need your help.”

Gideon didn’t lower his guard. “And why should we trust you?”

Rowan’s gaze shifted from Gideon to me, lingering for just a second too long, as if he recognized me—or perhaps was trying to.

“Because,” he replied, “I know what’s been happening to your pack. And I know who’s behind it.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You know who’s behind the attacks?”

“I have information,” Rowan said carefully, “but I’ll only share it if I’m granted asylum here. I need protection, and in return, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

I exchanged a look with Gideon. Rogues were unpredictable at best, dangerous at worst. But if he really had information that could help us stop the attacks, we couldn’t just turn him away.

“Why should we believe you?” I asked, my voice sharp as I stepped closer. “For all we know, you could be leading us into a trap.”

Rowan’s eyes darkened. “Believe me or don’t. But if you send me away, you’ll be blind to the real threat until it’s too late.”

Gideon growled low in his throat. “You’ve got guts, rogue, I’ll give you that. But guts won’t save you if you’re lying.”

“I’m not lying,” Rowan shot back, a flash of defiance in his eyes. “I’m just as much a target as you are.

Alaric Draven doesn’t care if you’re a Silverwood wolf or a rogue. If you stand in his way, he’ll tear you apart.”

The name Alaric Draven sent a ripple of unease through me. He was the Alpha of the Bloodstone Pack, a name whispered in fear and loathing across packs.

He was ruthless, driven by a vendetta that had turned him into a living nightmare for anyone who opposed him.

“Why would Alaric Draven care about a rogue like you?” I asked, suspicion lacing my words.

Rowan’s gaze hardened. “Because I know something he doesn’t want anyone to know. And if you don’t let me in, he’ll make sure I never get the chance to tell you.”

Gideon’s eyes narrowed, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. He didn’t trust Rowan—and neither did I—but we couldn’t afford to ignore a potential lead.

“Let him in,” I finally said, my voice cutting through the tension. “But he’ll be watched at all times. And if you so much as think about betraying us,” I added, locking eyes with Rowan, “I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Rowan nodded, lowering his hands. “Fair enough.”

As we escorted him back to the packhouse, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking a fine line.

Rowan Knight might hold the key to stopping the attacks, or he could be leading us into a trap that would shatter everything we were trying to protect. Either way, we didn’t have much of a choice.

Once inside, Rowan was taken to one of the secure rooms, where he could be questioned further.

As we settled into the small, sparsely furnished space, I kept my eyes on him, waiting for any sign that he might be deceiving us.

“So,” Gideon began, folding his arms across his chest, “start talking.”

Rowan leaned back against the wall, seemingly unbothered by the tension in the room. “You already know that Alaric Draven is the one behind the attacks,” he said.

“But what you don’t know is why. He’s not just trying to take over your territory. He’s looking for something.”

“What?” I asked, leaning forward. “What’s he looking for?”

Rowan’s eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—fear, maybe, or regret. “A weapon. Something old, something powerful. It’s tied to the prophecy that led to your rejection as Luna.”

My blood ran cold. “How do you know about that?”

“I’ve spent years tracking Alaric and his plans,” Rowan said. “He’s been obsessed with this prophecy, convinced that it holds the key to something more—something that will give him the power to control not just his pack, but every pack in the region.

And he thinks that whatever he’s looking for is hidden somewhere in Silverwood.”

Gideon’s face darkened. “That’s a lot of information for a rogue. How do we know you’re telling the truth?”

Rowan met his gaze evenly. “You don’t. But if you don’t believe me, then you might as well just hand over your pack to Alaric now, because that’s what’s going to happen if he finds what he’s looking for.”

I studied Rowan carefully, searching for any sign of deceit. But his eyes held nothing but a grim resolve.

“If you’re telling the truth, then you’re not just here for protection. You’re here because you need our help to stop him.”

Rowan didn’t flinch. “I can’t take him down on my own. And neither can you. But together, we might have a chance.”

There was something about Rowan—an intensity that told me he wasn’t lying, or at least that he believed every word he was saying.

And with everything that had been happening, we couldn’t afford to dismiss any possibility.

“Fine,” I said, glancing at Gideon, who still looked unconvinced. “But you’re going to tell us everything—every detail, every piece of information you have on Alaric and his plans.”

Rowan nodded. “I will. But first, you need to know that Alaric isn’t working alone. He has allies—other rogues, even some from within other packs.

He’s been building an army, and he’s planning to use it to crush anyone who stands in his way.”

The weight of his words settled over me like a heavy fog. We were up against more than just a rival Alpha. We were facing a force that could destroy everything if we didn’t act quickly.

Before I could respond, the door to the room slammed open, and one of the warriors burst in, his face pale. “Sera, Gideon—you need to come now. There’s been another attack.”

My heart dropped. Not again.