Chapter 016: A Crack in the Wall

Jackson's POV 

As I left the safe home, the air smelled strongly of blood and sweat; my muscles remained tightened from the struggle. Though the immediate risk had gone, my heart was pounding. For now the twins were secure. That did not, however, help the nagging anxiety within me. The traitor knew just where to strike, and the attack on the safe house had been premeditated, accurate.

We could not continue to act this way, responding to each assault. Every time we advanced, it seemed as though the adversary was right there, one step ahead, sliding between our hands.

Ava stood next to me, Lily and Caleb sheltered by her arms. She clearly showed dread in her eyes, but also a will. She was not the same woman I had turned aside. She was ferocious now, indestructible, and if I had any questions about her strength before, those questions vanished.

Ava muttered, her voice tight with incredulity: "They knew where to find the twins." "Someone informed them." There isn't another way to explain.

I nodded, options whirling in my head. "We have to find out whose information they are supplying. Before they go on another attack.

Evan came up, his face austere, but my stomach turned over at the way he avoided looking at me. Though he had been faithful in helping us locate leads, he always seemed strange. Too eager to provide ideas, too ready to assist. And now, with the attack just next to home, that mistrust just becomes more intense.

"Everyone Is accounted for," Evan answered, looking toward the soldiers on watch surrounding the perimeter. "We drove off the assailants; they will come back. You are aware of this as well.

I fixed my gaze on him. His voice carried something, a trace of despondency, maybe even resentment. And what do you propose, Evan?

He hesitated, staring at Ava then at me. You cannot have the twins here. The pack is on edge and the traitor still exists. They will attempt once more in due course. We really have to move them.

Ava stood rigid beside me, her fingers gripping Caleb's. " relocated them? There?

Evan ran a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. " Deep in the mountains, in an ancient safe house. It is far-off and well camouflaged. There they would be safer than here.

My instincts sharpened. There was something wrong. "Why haven't you before mentioned this place?" With a firm voice, yet mistrust woven through every syllable, I asked.

Evan's countenance stammered, just momentarily, but it was plenty. "I didn't think we would need it," he said quickly. However, things have evolved.

I looked at him and could sense Ava stiffen next to me. The air seemed oddly cold, as though a storm were building just under the surface.

"We're not going anywhere until we know who's behind this," I stated resolutely. "Moving the twins will not fix the issue. This has to be ended right now.

Evan's eyes hardened, and for a minute I caught a flutter of something cold and calculated on his countenance. But it vanished as swiftly as it arrived, which made me more restless than before.

His voice stiff, he continued, "Your call, Alpha." "But you expose more risk to your family the longer you wait."

His shoulders tense, he turned and left, sending me a sinking sensation in my belly. Ava was staring at me, waiting for me to say something. to calm her down. But when I lost even confidence in my own choices, how could I?

Ava moved forward, her voice gentle yet forceful. Jackson, we cannot only keep responding. We have to act now.

I said, "I know," my head whirling. "But I can't get rid of the sense that Evan seems off."

Her brows wrinkled as she turned to follow his path. "You suppose he is involved?"

"I have no idea," I said. But he has been urging us to act, constantly providing advice, always coming up just at the appropriate moment. He seems to know far too much.

Ava nodded subtly. We must exercise caution. We might scare him if we push him too aggressively.

I agreed, though it did not help the irritation chewing at me go away. We will have to play this clever. See him very attentively. Should he be the traitor, we will spot him in action.

My fury boiled at the idea of Evan turning against us, of him driving all the turmoil. We , however, draw hasty decisions based on nothing except speculation. We have to be measured, deliberate.

The packhouse was quieter than normal that evening, but the strain was still boiling under the surface. Everyone was on edge, waiting for the next strike, the next indication the traitor was still prowling among us.

Perched outside the twins' chamber, Ava and I listened to their gentle, regular breathing. At least temporarily, they were safe. Still, I couldn't get rid of the sense of time running short.

"We have to set a trap," Ava stated abruptly, her voice just a whisper. "We have to give Evan something to act upon if he is the one supplying information to the enemy."

Drawn in, I raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"?

She looked at me, her eyes keen with will. "We disclose misleading information. Something appealing enough the traitor will chew on. And then we will know.

Though it was a dangerous approach, it could be the only one to bring the traitor out. "What kind of material??" I enquired, already mentally racing through options.

Her voice forceful, she told them we were relocating the twins. We will provide a decoy, though. Evan or anyone else dealing with the adversary will act on it.

Though it was audacious, it may work. Alright, I answered. We will let them know tomorrow. Make it sound plausible.

Ava grinned faintly, but her eyes missed it. "We'll know at last who has been betraying us."

The next day the story went like wildfire. We made sure the correct individuals overheard whispers of moving the twins to a secret location for their protection. Not long after, the pack as a whole knew about it. Should Even be the traitor, he would grab the lure.

I studied every movement, every glance he made, closely. More than usual, he appeared uncomfortable. But that may have been due to the growing stress or because he sensed his time was running short.

Ava and I stood at the edge of the packhouse waiting for the trap to trigger as night descended. Already scheduled to "leave" at any time, the decoy caravan was in place. Our only action was to wait for Evan—or whatever the traitor was—to act.

Minutes seemed like hours as the moon threw lengthy shadows on the ground and the dark woods around grew silent. My heart hammered in my chest, the almost intolerable expectation very intolerable.

Then I realized it.

One person flying over the forest, directly for the fake convoy. My pulse accelerated, and I nodded to Ava to indicate she should keep concealed.

I moved forward, my voice shrill and frigid, as the man neared. Evan, "Going somewhere?"

He stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in alarm at his awareness he had been discovered. There was stillness for a minute, the weight of treachery hanging over us.

"You were the one all along," I muttered, low and angry. Providing material to the adversary for knowledge. guiding them directly toward my family.

Evan's face contorted with a mix of despair and rage. Jackson, you just do not comprehend. I had nothing to choose from. They assured—”

I grumbled and stepped forward, not giving a damn about what they promised. You broke our trust. You turned on me.

His hands shaking, he retreated a step. "It was not meant to reach this extent. I only had to guard my family.

Ava came out of the darkness with angry eyes. And with regard to our family? You almost claimed our children died.

Evan's face crumpled with remorse, but it was insufficient. Not following all he had done.

You are joining us, I stated in a stern voice. You will answer for your treachery.

But a persistent notion pulled at the rear of my mind even as we walked him back to the packhouse. Indeed Evan had been the traitor; but, was he operating alone?

Alternatively was someone else dragging the strings, waiting in the darkness for their moment of attack?

One thing was certain—the fight was not yet finished.