Chapter 012: The Slice: Thin line between War and Love

Ava's pov

Deafening was the turmoil outside the packhouse. Blackthorn's soldiers tore through our defenses, wolves battled and snarls and growls rang out in the air. Holding Lily and Caleb close, their small hands squeezing mine with terror, my pulse surged. I needed to get them swiftly to safety.

Every instinct in me screamed to go, but I could hear the battle happening just outside the door and could not. Not presently. Panic wouldn't rescue my children, hence I made myself think and be cool. I had to perform.

I dropped down to cupping their faces in my palms. "Listen to me," I murmured, maintaining a firm voice despite a chest quiver. "You will, like we practiced, take the hidden road behind the wardrobe. It will lead you to the basement safe room.

Lily's eyes became wide with doubt. Still, Mommy, what about you?

Promising to be right behind you, I brushed a stray hair off her forehead. "You're brave, aren't you?"

She nodded softly, and Caleb followed her lead—his hold on my hand tightened—but slowly. I slid the wardrobe aside to show the little corridor and guided them inside. "Go," I said, lightly pushing them. Look forward; never turn around.

I sighed with relief when they vanished into the shadowy hole. At least now they were safer—far from the conflict. But the instant that idea entered my head, the door sprung open and a big man rushed in.

Seeing him sank my heart. One of Blackthorn's soldiers, his huge figure, blocked the entrance as he snarled at me. He mocked Luna glinting with a malicious enjoyment, "Going somewhere."

My hand firm, I raised the dagger fastened to my thigh in front of me. My voice harsh, I yelled, "Get out of my way."

He laughed, a low, contemptuous sound. "What else? You will puck me with that little knife?

I answered nothing. Rather, I pushed forward, aiming for his side, but he sidestepped my attack and grabbed my arm in a bone-crushing grasp faster than I could have predicted. Pain rushed up my shoulder, and I clenched my teeth to resist showing frailty.

I spit, attempting to wriggle free, but he merely tightened his grasp; his smile widened. Let go of me.

The man from the side was knocked off balance when a flurry of motion suddenly smashed against him. Jackson). Like a force of nature, he barreled into the room with wrath pouring from him as he removed the invader. His knee pushed on the chest of the renegade, and in the blink of an eye he had him grounded.

Jackson turned away from me, totally preoccupied with his opponent. "Who sent you??" He snarled, his voice full of barely controlled fury. "What are you working on here?

Even as he battled to breathe, the guy laughed raggedly. You believe that this ends with me? Blackthorn is here to speak to you.

"What message?," asked Jackson, his hold around the throat of the outlaw tightening.

The rogue gulped, his smile hardly flickering. He has no interest in your domain. He is looking for the kids.

A cold crawled over my back. My fingers moved naturally to the secret passageway the twins had escaped seconds before. Blackthorn targeting my children made my blood stop dead.

Jackson drove his knee further into the chest, his look becoming lethal. "You won't touch them," he growled. He moved quickly to knock the man asleep and then turned to face me.

"Ava, are you okay?" He stretched out, his fingers caressing my shoulder.

Lying, I said, "I'm fine," swallowing the lump of anxiety stuck in my throat. "We have to reinforce the perimeter even though the twins are in the safe room."

Jackson answered, nodding. "We have to end this now," he replied, his voice black with will. "I will not let Blackthorn anywhere near the kids or you."

He had no need of further explanation. We both realized this went beyond simply guarding the pack now. It was personally relevant. And the danger to our children has transformed everything.

As we reassembled with the surviving fighters, the air outside was charged with conflict. Jackson was shouting commands already; his presence was a motivating factor keeping the group intact. Knowing that we weren't out of danger yet, even with the rogues driven back for now, I kept close.

Evan was pale but resolute as the pack gathered near the treeline. He had turned here to protect the pack, and even if it was difficult to look at him without noticing Riley's likeness, I couldn't dispute that he was trying.

Jackson drew my attention and nodded slightly, asking whether I was ready discreetly. I gave back the gesture. It was time to pursue Blackthorn and carry the fight to him rather than biding our time for another strike.

Jackson looked at the pack and said, "We need to find him right away."He is not going to stop until he gets what he wants, and we are going to make sure he never gets that chance."

Evan moved forward with steady eyes. "I could be of assistance," he said. Riley shared a lot of Blackthorn movement information with me. I know some of the hiding locations he visits.

Jackson's jaw stiffened and a flutter of doubt passed across his face. "You didn't mention that before," he remarked with apparent mistrust in his voice.

Evan said, his voice wavering somewhat, "I didn't know if I could trust anyone." But based on what I observed tonight... I am willing to lend a hand. For Riley specifically.

It was quiet for a minute. Jackson then nodded curtly. Excellent. You will go with us. But should there even be a trace of treachery—that is, "

"There won't be," Evan said, blazingly staring. On your side, I am.

As the evening became darker, the forest closed in all around us and we headed in the way Evan advised. Every sound sharpened by the darkness, the trip was taxing, and the possibility of ambush loomed over us like a rain cloud.

I stayed near Jackson, the weight of the circumstances dragging down every step. Too much, there was a risk here. Still, a tiny bit of me experienced an unusual lucidity. Years of attempting to keep my children safe by hiding had meant avoiding confrontation. Now, though, it was time to squarely face the risk. For their sake. I desired for us a future.

After what felt like hours, we reached the brink of a clearing where the ruins of an ancient cabin were concealed behind a dense wall of trees. Evan turned to point at it. Riley mentioned one of these sites to me. Blackthorn has scheduled meetings for his soldiers out of it.

Jackson pointed for everyone to disperse about the cabin. "We are going in quietly," he said. "We have to grab them off guard."

My heart pounding in my chest, I trailed closely after him toward the cottage. The weak sound of voices floated through the broken windows, and I identified one—a voice that made my spine shiver.

Someone I know was involved here. One from the bunch.

When I looked at Jackson, he looked back to me suggesting he had heard it too. Inside was someone working with Blackthorn; they were going to come out.

Jackson indicated the attack, and in a matter of seconds we broke into the cabin with the rest of the pack, overpowering the inhabitants. Standing at the rear, among other senior wolves, Elena was the last person I expected to see.

She halted, horror spreading in her eyes as she watched us, but it was too late. Jackson's voice is like ice. "You?" he snarled and pushed forward. "You have been a traitor all through?"

Elena's expression turned to reflect remorse mixed with defiance. You don't understand, she spat, backing away. Blackthorn promised the pack a better future free from your ineffective leadership.

And you thought he was credible? I insisted, my voice trembling. "For what did you jeopardize all of us—including the children? Influence?

Her lips twisting into a sneer, she shot me. Ava, you have always been frail. Jackson therefore turned you away first of all. You hardly deserve to be Luna.

Her comments felt like a physical blow, but I stayed ground-based. "You're wrong," I answered, my voice firm despite my heart quivering. I am not the same person I was in those days. Neither Jackson nor anybody else either.

Jackson moved forward with a sharp look. "Take her," he gave the guards instructions. She will answer for her treason.

One fresh insight dawned on me as Elena was hauled away. This concerned more than one traitor. If Blackthorn had been able to transform one of our own, who was to say there wouldn't be more?

Jackson's hand came onto mine, his hold comforting. His voice low, he said, "We'll root out the rest." We will also keep the pack safe.

I nodded, a silent will building inside me. Though there were still fights to fight, at least now we understood where the actual danger rested. And we would face it together, whatever happened next.

But I as we exited the cabin.