Chapter 005: Separating Loyalties

Ava's POV 

The chilly night air carried earthy and pine smells as it stroked across my skin. Every wolf on edge following the last attack, the packhouse was tense. Unaware of the tempest building around my kids, my heart raced as I watched them sleep peacefully on Jackson's office couch. Their little faces were calm; for a minute, I yearned for their purity.

I was back here for them, not for me. Though here was the last place I wanted to be, the twins needed protection and had no alternative. I had vowed never to return across Blood Moon territory. Still, here I was, back in the place that had felt like home and today felt like a trap.

Jackson never left me with his keen silver gaze. As I acted to be preoccupied covering Caleb's small figure with a blanket, I could feel his eyes blazing into the back of my neck. Between us, there was a great lot of unsaid communication and weight hovering around. I knew the inquiries were on their way. Since I came, I had seen the anxiety rising; I was not sure how long I could postpone the unavoidable.

At last, Jackson continued, his voice quiet and under control: "You have been hiding them from me." Five years, Ava. Five years, and you neglected to mention my children?

I straightened and closed my hands at my sides into fists. Years of guilt chewing at me finally revealed, but I resisted allowing it to show. You made it really apparent that you wanted nothing of mine. How would I expect you to want them?

Jackson said, "They are my children," his voice rising with irritation. "Do you suppose I might not have shielded them? Do you believe I would not have wanted to be in their life?

Turning to face him, the hurt of his rejection still raw in my memory. Jackson, "I had no idea what to believe. You turned me aside like I was nothing. Why would I guess you would be interested in them?

His eyes darkened, and for a second I saw the remorse flicker across his face, but it vanished as soon as it first showed up. "You should have told me."

And how would you have behaved? Married the woman you turned me down and hid them from me. Alternatively worse, using them as alliance game bargaining chips?

Jackson tried to suppress his rage, his fists closed and his jaw tightened. Ava, I'm not the same man I used to be.

And I am not the same lady you left behind. Though less loud today, my voice was still more determined. Jackson, I have been reraising our kids on my own. I have hid them and kept them safe. We are also under hunt right now.

At the mention of the rogues, he stiffened and narrowed his eyes. " Whoever is following you, they won't stop till they have what they want. They are conversant with the twins. They are conscious of their power.

I nodded and couched the lump in my throat. Though I'm not sure who's behind it, I know they're near. too close.

Jackson moved toward me, his presence overwhelming in the little room. Ava, you have to believe me. If we are to save them, we must cooperate.

Faith. The term hung thick in the air, sour and inapplicable. How could I believe him after all that had happened? But I had no option. The children's safety took front stage.

"I will do what is required," I murmured at last, my voice calm despite the whirl of feelings inside me. But don't let yourself believe for a moment that I have forgotten what you did.

Jackson's posture softened momentarily. " Neither have I forgotten either."

The tension between us was broken before I could answer by a harsh knock on the door. Riley intervened; his face was dark. "We have difficulties."

Jackson adjusted his attitude right away. "What's it?"

Riley stared at me then started talking. " Another strike. One of the scouts came upon a body close to the eastern boundary. The rogues are acting more boldly.

My pulse dropped. Now the attacks were happening more regularly, and it was only a matter of time before they arrived here. I could sense the peril creeping in, stranding like a noose around us.

"We have to boost patrols," Jackson remarked, his voice firm. "Double the security at the borders." Nobody gets in or leaves without my consent.

Riley nodded, but his eyes bothered me in some way. It was a flutter of uncertainty, a pause of doubt that set off my instincts. Something was wrong, and I couldn't get rid of the impression Riley knew more than he was revealing.

Any other? Jackson asked, fixed on his Beta.

Riley hesitated once more, for a short second only. No, that is all for now.

Jackson glanced back toward me as Riley left the hall. "We'll track down the person behind this.

Though I nodded, the uncertainty persisted. The impression that the adversary was nearer than we had believed persisted. And should Riley have been involved, we were all far more vulnerable than we had known.

Ava was busying herself with the twins, her motions fast and exact, as if attempting to keep herself busy and avoid the inevitably occurring talk. For now, the youngsters—my children—were protected, but that was not going to last. One person was feeding the braver Rogues information. Someone among my pack.

With treachery weighing on my shoulders, I tightened my fists. My pal Beta was behaving oddly. Riley had been trusted with my life for years, but something had changed. I knew Riley. He was distant, secretive, and now I couldn't get rid of the impression he was concealing given the rising frequency of rogue attacks.

Ava's voice drew me back into awareness. Do you truly believe increasing the patrols will be sufficient?

I looked at her and saw the worry carved on her face. She had good reason for concern. The twins were unique; their talents related to the Alpha bloodline. Should the rogues lay their paws on them... I have to stop that from happening.

"It's a start," I said, my voice rough. But more has to be done. If I have to, I will assign a team and follow them personally.

Ava scowled and moved forward closely. Jackson, you cannot accomplish this by yourself. You have to start believing the people around you.

confidence. And once more there it was. That adjective. The same term I had tossed aside when I turned her down years ago. It was returning to torment me now. I was suffering the cost after failing her and neglecting her trust.

"I'm not sure who I can trust anymore," I said, staring hard. Not with all that is happening.

Ava's hand stroked mine, the contact brief just enough to shock me with warmth. "You have to work out, Jackson. For their own interests. Still blissfully ignorant of the threat around the twins, she gestured toward them.

I sighed, the weight of obligation overwhelming me. Ava knew exactly what she meant. Making any more mistakes would not be affordable. Not when the lives of my kids were on line.

Quietly more to myself than to her, "We'll find a way," I replied. "We really have to."

The room went into a tight quiet, the only sound the twins' faint breathing produced. Outside, the night was absolutely silent, as though the forest itself was waiting for the storm to arrive by holding its breath. And I understood that wouldn't be long now.

The rogues were closing in; the traitor was out there, clearly visible. One misplaced action

would cause everything to collapse.

And this time I couldn't afford to miss it.