John’s POVI 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
John’s POVThe air in the pack feels tense, like everyone is holding their breath, waiting. The news from the note has traveled through the ranks quickly, despite my orders to keep things discreet. Now every sentinel and elder is on high alert, and I can feel their unease even as I make my way toward the meeting hall.Once inside, I find the elders already seated, each with a wary expression. Jake is there too, pacing the floor with the note in his hand. When he sees me enter, he stops, his face hardened with a mix of anger and determination.“I’ve been thinking,” Jake begins, holding up the note. “Whoever wrote this clearly knows something about us. But they’re not giving us a name, just a warning. That makes me think they might be trying to stay anonymous to protect themselves.”I nod, feeling the same suspicion. “If they’re afraid of being exposed, they’re likely close by. Maybe even someone we wouldn’t normally suspect.”One of the elders, Elder Marcus, leans forward. His gray eye
John’s POVThe silence in my office feels heavy as I watch the elders file out, each carrying the weight of the night’s plans. Our defenses are set, sentinels posted at every vulnerable point, and messages sent to neighboring packs. Every precaution has been taken, yet I can’t shake the feeling that something is missing—a piece of this puzzle that could change everything.After a few moments alone, I finally call for Jake. He strides in, his expression mirroring my own unease.“We need to go over this note one more time,” I say, placing the paper on the desk between us. The fresh ink glistens slightly, a stark reminder that whoever wrote it is still close. “If the ink’s still wet, then the person who left this is either one of us or hiding within the pack. It’s almost taunting us.”Jake nods, his jaw clenched. “I’ve already spoken to the guards. Everyone is alert and ready. But this note… it feels like we’re being lured into something, like they’re trying to pull our attention somewhe
Sarah's POV The car door slams shut, and I’m wedged between two sentinels, their hands gripping my arms with unyielding force. Sally sits in the front beside Ryan, a smug grin plastered across her face as the car jerks forward. My heart races, but I refuse to show them an ounce of fear.Sally turns slightly, a chilling gleam in her eyes. “Sarah,” she drawls, her tone almost mocking. “It’s time you learned what real pain feels like.”I scoff, rolling my eyes as I shift in the tight space. “You really think Stephanie is going to help you?” I sneer, refusing to let her see the tremor of anxiety in my chest. “You’re dumber than I thought if you believe that.”Sally’s laughter fills the car, cold and sharp. She gives me a look filled with pity, as if I were a child who didn’t understand the world. “Oh, Sarah,” she says, shaking her head. “Stephanie doesn’t have a choice. She has to help us.”I scoff louder, my laugh dripping with contempt. “You don’t know her like I do. Stephanie doesn’t
Jake's POV I sat at my desk, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the wood as I stared down at the reports scattered in front of me. The retreat of Marcus’s guards was puzzling, and my mind raced with possibilities. If Marcus was really pulling back, there had to be a reason—one that didn’t sit right with me. A soft knock broke my concentration, and I looked up as Seth stepped into the office.“Alpha,” he greeted with a nod, his face tense. “It appears that Marcus has ordered his guards to retreat. They’ve all vacated the hidden positions around our borders.”I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “Interesting,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes. “It’s two ways, Seth. Either someone from our side tipped them off about our plans, or they saw the odds and realized they’d be outnumbered before they even crossed the border.”Seth’s mouth formed a tight line as he nodded. “Both are possibilities, but I’ll personally investigate. We need to be sure no one here is leaking
Marcus's POVThe room was thick with tension as Marcus paced back and forth, his boots thudding heavily against the wooden floor. The failure of the attack was a blow to his ego, and he couldn’t shake the image of Ryan’s trembling voice over the phone, reporting their retreat."Useless fools!" Marcus growled, slamming his fist onto the table. His eyes burned with fury as he turned to Jacob, who stood silently by the window. "How did John find out? We planned this down to the last detail."Jacob sighed, his face etched with frustration. "There must be a leak. Someone tipped them off. Either that, or they figured out our strategy. John's not an idiot, Marcus. We underestimated him."Marcus scoffed, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "Underestimated or not, I don’t take defeat lightly. We need another plan—a stronger one. Something they won’t see coming."Before Jacob could respond, his phone buzzed on the table. The shrill ringtone sliced through the silence, and Jacob frowned deeply,
John’s POVI adjusted the collar of my shirt, glancing at the set dinner table. The soft glow of the chandelier above reflected off the silverware, casting intricate patterns across the polished mahogany. With a sigh, I gestured for one of the maids.“Go tell Stephanie and Reyna to join us for dinner,” I said, keeping my tone even.The maid nodded and hurried out. I took my seat at the head of the table, pouring myself a glass of wine. Moments later, Diane walked in, her usual confident stride betraying nothing, but her sharp eyes didn’t miss a thing.“You’ve invited Stephanie and Reyna?” she asked, her voice calm, but I caught the edge in her tone.“Yes,” I replied simply, swirling the wine in my glass. “They’re part of the pack, aren’t they? It’s only fair.”She didn’t respond, but the faint tightening of her lips told me everything I needed to know. She didn’t like it. Not one bit.Reyna’s POVI was adjusting the straps of my dress when a knock on the door interrupted me. The maid’
I trudged along the hills, my every breath getting labored after the next. I pulled out my cell phone and tried powering it on but the screen stayed blank, I sighed. No battery life left, my backpack felt heavy on my back and for a moment I considered dropping it but I breathe in deep and tried gathering strength. ‘Come on Reyna, you can do this ‘ I said to my self and took a step forward and grinned when I saw civilization. I put more spring to my steps and hurried down the hills shouldering my backpack carefully not to let it slip off my tired shoulder. The sky rumbled and lightning flashed in the sky. ‘Please don’t rain’ I begged the universe, but it seemed the universe was in no mood for prayers because as soon as I said that in my head, the rain poured heavily without warning and in seconds I was as drenched as a sewage pipe rat. I managed to reach the restaurant and I rushed in soaking wet, the restaurant was devoid of customers and I thanked the universe agai
John’s POVI adjusted the collar of my shirt, glancing at the set dinner table. The soft glow of the chandelier above reflected off the silverware, casting intricate patterns across the polished mahogany. With a sigh, I gestured for one of the maids.“Go tell Stephanie and Reyna to join us for dinner,” I said, keeping my tone even.The maid nodded and hurried out. I took my seat at the head of the table, pouring myself a glass of wine. Moments later, Diane walked in, her usual confident stride betraying nothing, but her sharp eyes didn’t miss a thing.“You’ve invited Stephanie and Reyna?” she asked, her voice calm, but I caught the edge in her tone.“Yes,” I replied simply, swirling the wine in my glass. “They’re part of the pack, aren’t they? It’s only fair.”She didn’t respond, but the faint tightening of her lips told me everything I needed to know. She didn’t like it. Not one bit.Reyna’s POVI was adjusting the straps of my dress when a knock on the door interrupted me. The maid’
Marcus's POVThe room was thick with tension as Marcus paced back and forth, his boots thudding heavily against the wooden floor. The failure of the attack was a blow to his ego, and he couldn’t shake the image of Ryan’s trembling voice over the phone, reporting their retreat."Useless fools!" Marcus growled, slamming his fist onto the table. His eyes burned with fury as he turned to Jacob, who stood silently by the window. "How did John find out? We planned this down to the last detail."Jacob sighed, his face etched with frustration. "There must be a leak. Someone tipped them off. Either that, or they figured out our strategy. John's not an idiot, Marcus. We underestimated him."Marcus scoffed, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "Underestimated or not, I don’t take defeat lightly. We need another plan—a stronger one. Something they won’t see coming."Before Jacob could respond, his phone buzzed on the table. The shrill ringtone sliced through the silence, and Jacob frowned deeply,
Jake's POV I sat at my desk, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the wood as I stared down at the reports scattered in front of me. The retreat of Marcus’s guards was puzzling, and my mind raced with possibilities. If Marcus was really pulling back, there had to be a reason—one that didn’t sit right with me. A soft knock broke my concentration, and I looked up as Seth stepped into the office.“Alpha,” he greeted with a nod, his face tense. “It appears that Marcus has ordered his guards to retreat. They’ve all vacated the hidden positions around our borders.”I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “Interesting,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes. “It’s two ways, Seth. Either someone from our side tipped them off about our plans, or they saw the odds and realized they’d be outnumbered before they even crossed the border.”Seth’s mouth formed a tight line as he nodded. “Both are possibilities, but I’ll personally investigate. We need to be sure no one here is leaking
Sarah's POV The car door slams shut, and I’m wedged between two sentinels, their hands gripping my arms with unyielding force. Sally sits in the front beside Ryan, a smug grin plastered across her face as the car jerks forward. My heart races, but I refuse to show them an ounce of fear.Sally turns slightly, a chilling gleam in her eyes. “Sarah,” she drawls, her tone almost mocking. “It’s time you learned what real pain feels like.”I scoff, rolling my eyes as I shift in the tight space. “You really think Stephanie is going to help you?” I sneer, refusing to let her see the tremor of anxiety in my chest. “You’re dumber than I thought if you believe that.”Sally’s laughter fills the car, cold and sharp. She gives me a look filled with pity, as if I were a child who didn’t understand the world. “Oh, Sarah,” she says, shaking her head. “Stephanie doesn’t have a choice. She has to help us.”I scoff louder, my laugh dripping with contempt. “You don’t know her like I do. Stephanie doesn’t
John’s POVThe silence in my office feels heavy as I watch the elders file out, each carrying the weight of the night’s plans. Our defenses are set, sentinels posted at every vulnerable point, and messages sent to neighboring packs. Every precaution has been taken, yet I can’t shake the feeling that something is missing—a piece of this puzzle that could change everything.After a few moments alone, I finally call for Jake. He strides in, his expression mirroring my own unease.“We need to go over this note one more time,” I say, placing the paper on the desk between us. The fresh ink glistens slightly, a stark reminder that whoever wrote it is still close. “If the ink’s still wet, then the person who left this is either one of us or hiding within the pack. It’s almost taunting us.”Jake nods, his jaw clenched. “I’ve already spoken to the guards. Everyone is alert and ready. But this note… it feels like we’re being lured into something, like they’re trying to pull our attention somewhe
John’s POVThe air in the pack feels tense, like everyone is holding their breath, waiting. The news from the note has traveled through the ranks quickly, despite my orders to keep things discreet. Now every sentinel and elder is on high alert, and I can feel their unease even as I make my way toward the meeting hall.Once inside, I find the elders already seated, each with a wary expression. Jake is there too, pacing the floor with the note in his hand. When he sees me enter, he stops, his face hardened with a mix of anger and determination.“I’ve been thinking,” Jake begins, holding up the note. “Whoever wrote this clearly knows something about us. But they’re not giving us a name, just a warning. That makes me think they might be trying to stay anonymous to protect themselves.”I nod, feeling the same suspicion. “If they’re afraid of being exposed, they’re likely close by. Maybe even someone we wouldn’t normally suspect.”One of the elders, Elder Marcus, leans forward. His gray eye
John’s POVI 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
Reyna’s POVI wake up early, the soft morning light filtering through the small window beside my bed. After a quick bath, I dress and head to Stephanie’s room. She’s usually up by now, but today, I hadn’t seen her around, which isn’t like her. I feel a pang of worry but shake it off as I reach her door and knock softly.Pushing the door open, I see her still lying in bed, her face turned away, breathing evenly. The sight surprises me. Stephanie never stays in bed this long.I approach quietly and give her a gentle tap on the shoulder. “Steph?” I call softly, trying not to startle her.She stirs, blinking her eyes open, and gives me a small, tired smile. “Hey, Reyna.”“What’s going on with you?” I ask, concern filling my voice. “It’s not like you to be in bed this late.”She stretches slightly, then sighs. “I’m just… tired. Nothing more.” Her tone is light, but there’s something off, a slight tension in her voice that makes me hesitate.I narrow my eyes, studying her face. “Are you sur
Stephanie’s POVI 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 sinc