Chapter 020: Web of Lies

Ava's POV 

Tension permeated the air as we went back to the packhouse. Riley's admission had rocked us all and left a path of mistrust behind her. My chest hurt hollowly at the thought of someone I had once trusted betraying us in such a merciless manner. Still, the truth had spilled forth. Riley had been exploited, just as Evan had, hence he was not the brains behind all of this. But the person dragging the strings?

There was obvious anxiety as we walked into the packhouse. Whispers wafted throughout the hall as pack members cast apprehensive looks at one another. Though they lacked all the specifics, they understood something had happened. The sense of treachery had crept into the very core of our society and would take more than time to mend those scars.

Jackson strolled next to me; his shoulders squared but his face was dark. Since we left the clearing, he had not spoken much. I could sense the weight of leadership pushing down on him more than it had ever done. Though he was upset and annoyed, he felt most of all accountable. And that wounded me more than anything.

Jackson stated, his voice low as we arrived into his office, "We need to talk to the council." "They have to know the degree of this."

I nodded knowing he was correct. We could not keep this silent any more. The pack was entitled to know the truth, even if it meant destroying whatever little sense of security.

The council members were already waiting inside the office; Leo, Miranda, and the others had worried faces. There was great expectation in the air as we sat.

"Riley has confessed," Jackson said, his voice cool but with an undercurrent of rage. "He wasn't acting alone, but he was providing the rogues knowledge. This is driven more broadly; they have been organizing an attack for years.

Miranda slanted forward, her brow wrinkled. "Do we know someone leading them?"

Jackson shook his head. "Not now." Riley knew just that someone was strong; he knew nothing else. someone with impact outside of the renegade packs.

Leo looked at the others and darkening eyes set in motion. "We have to tighten security," he stated. "We have to be ready should they be preparing an attack."

We already doubled the guards, I said. "But without knowing who we are up against, that will not be sufficient."

Though the council muttered in accord, I sensed the tension rising. We were getting ready for an opponent that had already crept into our ranks—an adversary we saw.

"We also have to take care of the trust issue," Miranda added, her voice steady but pointed. "This pack has gone through too much; people are losing faith in the leadership since the betrayal comes from inside."

Jackson nodded although his jaw tensed. "I get it. We ought to be open with the pack. They have the right to know what is happening.

Leo opened his mouth carefully yet forcefully. "We have to inspire Alpha with hope. We have to demonstrate to them that we are in charge and that we are not only responding to these assaults.

Jackson nodded even although his eyes flicked with irritation. "We'll set up a pack-wide conference. I will handle them straightforwardly.

Although it would not be simple, the decision was the right one. People were afraid; wolves sometimes made illogical decisions. Jackson had always been a great leader, though, and I knew he would be the one able to keep this pack together.

There was obvious anxiety later that afternoon when the pack assembled in the large hall. Jackson stood at the front, his face tough but under control, while I stayed at his side providing quiet encouragement. The confusion and dread on the faces of the pack members clearly showed me They sought Jackson for guidance and comfort that we were not about to fall apart.

Jackson moved forward with a firm and distinct voice. "As many of you have heard, our pack has a traitor among us. Riley has admitted to dealing with the rogues and providing information about our defenses. But he was not acting by himself.

The audience gasped and murmured, but Jackson lifted a hand to silence them. "We are handling a more serious threat as someone outside the pack is planning these assaults. They have been preparing this for years; we have only lately started to fully understand their goals.

As Jackson went on, I sensed the strain in the room building. We are not unprotected, hence one thing is quite evident. This pack is robust; we will approach whatever comes with the same vigor and solidarity that has seen us through every obstacle before.

There was a stop then Leo moved forward with a steady voice. "We should be alert. Though right now trust is brittle, we cannot let fear separate us. We fall either standing together or apart.

Though the terror in the pack members hadn't completely disappeared, I looked about the room and saw the members nodding gently in accord. Trust was brittle and once damaged it was difficult to restore.

Jackson turned to me as the conference drew to a conclusion and the pack members staggered out of the auditorium, black eyes weighing everything. Quietly, he whispered, "Do you think it worked?

I groaned and ran a hand over my hair. You offered Jackson hope. Still, we have to identify the actual adversary. We are fighting in the dark till we do.

He nodded with a sad look. "And every second we don't know who it is; the closer they get to separating us."

I was standing outside the twins' room listening to their soft breathing through the door that evening as the packhouse descended into a tense silence. For right now, they were safe. But the idea of them under attack by this invisible adversary made my blood stop cold.

Jackson came along, his presence a consoling weight next to me as we stood in the poorly lighted corridor. His voice forceful but subdued, he said, "We'll keep them safe."

I nodded, slanted slightly toward him. But for what length of time? Not even anyone after them or reasons are known.

Jackson's jaw tightened and his irritation was obvious. "I have no idea," he said. One thing I do know, though, is that whoever is behind this will not be successful. Not as I am still breathing.

I believed him, but it did not stop the anxiety chewing at my mental margins. Our group had been invaded by an adversary who had been preparing this for years; she was already dragging the strings from the darkness. And we still had no idea how far the treachery stretched.

Turning to face Jackson, I stated, "We have to find out who Riley was meeting with. Right now, our sole lead is that.

Jackson nodded, his eyes focusing with will. "We are going back to the clearing tomorrow. Something must have escaped us, some indication pointing us in the correct path.

I agreed, although the thought of going back there made me anxious. It had been the scene of treachery, when confidence had broken down. Still, it was also the only place we could begin.

I couldn't get rid of the sense of time running out as Jackson and I returned to our accommodation. We were still blind to their whole plot while the adversary was getting closer. We were gripping bits of a jigsaw we hadn't yet assembled while battling darkness.

Still, I understood we could not give up. not right now. Not when everything hung on a knife-edge.

That evening as I lay in bed, sleep escaping me, I started to remember Riley's remarks. Benevolent behind all of this was someone who had been years in plotting an attack on our group. Still, why? From pulling us apart, what stood to benefit them?

Though no responses emerged, the questions kept whirling in my head. All I knew was that we were on a tightrope, juggling hope and despair, faith and treachery.

And somewhere, in the darkness, our attacker was waiting for usto trip over.

I would not let them triumph, though.

Not here this time.