Chapter 88: Threat from within

The packed house was abuzz with activity as Jessica made her way through the crowded halls. Wolves hurried past, their faces tense with barely concealed worry. Something was wrong, and Jessica could feel it in the air - a palpable tension that set her nerves on edge.

She found her mates gathered in James's study, their expressions grim as they pored over a map spread across the large oak desk.

"What's going on?" Jessica asked, her heart racing as she took in their serious faces.

James looked up, his eyes softening slightly at the sight of her. "We've received reports of unusual activity within our territory," he said, his voice low and serious. "Livestock went missing, strange tracks in the forest, and... whispers of a rogue wolf."

Jessica's breath caught in her throat. "A rogue wolf? Here?"

Michael nodded, his analytical mind working overtime. "It appears so. The evidence suggests it's not just passing through, but actively hiding within our borders."

"But how is that possible?" Jessica asked, moving closer to examine the map. "I thought we had patrols covering every inch of our territory."

Andrew's face darkened with frustration. "We do. Which means..."

"Which means the rogue must have help from within the pack," Christopher finished, his usually playful demeanor replaced by a fierce protectiveness.

The implication hung heavy in the air. Someone in their pack, someone they trusted, was betraying them.

"What do we do?" Jessica asked, looking from one mate to another.

James straightened, his alpha authority radiating from him in waves. "We need to flush out this traitor without alerting them. It's going to require subtlety and strategy."

"And that's where you come in, Jessica," Matthew added, his charming smile tinged with worry. "Your connection to the pack as Luna might help us identify who's working against us."

Over the next few days, Jessica found herself in an unfamiliar role - that of a spy within her pack. She moved through the daily routines, her senses hyper-aware of every interaction, every whispered conversation.

Her Luna powers, still evolving and sometimes unpredictable, proved to be both a blessing and a curse. She could sense the underlying currents of emotion within the pack, but sorting through the tangle of fear, loyalty, and suspicion was exhausting.

One evening, as she sat by the fire in the pack house common room, she felt a strange ripple in the energy around her. Looking up, she saw Thomas, one of the younger wolves, watching her with an odd intensity.

"Is everything alright, Thomas?" she asked, keeping her voice casual even as her instincts screamed that something was off.

Thomas was startled as if he hadn't realized he'd been staring. "Oh, yes, Luna. I just... I was wondering if I could speak with you privately?"

Jessica's heart raced, but she kept her expression neutral. "Of course. Why don't we take a walk?"

As they strolled through the moonlit forest, Jessica reached out with her powers, trying to get a read on Thomas's emotions. What she felt made her blood run cold - a swirling mix of guilt, fear, and a deep, gnawing resentment.

"Thomas," she said softly, stopping in a small clearing. "What's going on?"

For a moment, she thought he might confess. His face crumpled, and he looked so young, so lost. But then his expression hardened, and before Jessica could react, he lunged at her with a snarl.

Jessica stumbled backward, her Luna powers flaring instinctively. A burst of blinding light erupted from her hands, sending Thomas flying back into a tree.

"Why?" she gasped, her heart pounding. "Thomas, why are you doing this?"

Thomas struggled to his feet, his eyes wild with a mixture of fear and defiance. "You don't understand! None of you do! This pack... it's suffocating me. The rogue wolf, he promised me freedom, power!"

Jessica felt a wave of sorrow wash over her. "Oh, Thomas. True freedom, true power... they come from being part of something greater than yourself, not from betraying those who care about you."

She took a step toward him, her hand outstretched. "It's not too late. Let us help you."

For a brief moment, she saw doubt flicker in Thomas's eyes. But then a howl echoed through the forest - a sound that sent chills down Jessica's spine. It was unlike anything she'd ever heard before, filled with a dark, seductive power.

Thomas's face contorted, and with a last, anguished look at Jessica, he turned and ran into the darkness of the forest.

"Thomas, wait!" Jessica cried, but it was too late. He was gone.

Moments later, her mates burst into the clearing, having sensed her distress through their bond.

"Jessica! Are you alright?" James demanded, pulling her into his arms.

She nodded, still shaken. "It was Thomas. He... he's the traitor. But there's more. The rogue wolf, he's out there. And he's more powerful than we thought."

As they made their way back to the pack house, Jessica recounted what had happened. The alphas listened grimly, their faces etched with concern and determination.

"We need to act fast," Michael said as they gathered once again in James's study. "Now that Thomas has fled, the rogue wolf will know we're onto him."

"But how do we fight an enemy we can't see?" David asked, his healer's instincts troubled by the threat to their pack.

Jessica closed her eyes, reaching out with her Luna powers. She could feel the pack all around her, their energy a comforting presence. But beyond that, at the edges of her awareness, she sensed something dark and hungry.

"I think... I think I can track him," she said slowly, opening her eyes to find her mates watching her with a mixture of awe and concern. "My powers, they're growing. I can sense him out there."

James shook his head firmly. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous, Jessica. We can't risk you."

"But we can't risk the pack either," Jessica argued. "Every moment we wait, this rogue wolf grows stronger. He's already turned Thomas against us. Who knows how many others he might corrupt?"

A heavy silence fell over the room as the alphas exchanged loaded glances. Finally, Andrew spoke up, his voice gruff with emotion. "She's right. As much as I hate to admit it, Jessica might be our best chance at stopping this threat before it tears our pack apart."

One by one, the other alphas nodded their reluctant agreement. James was the last to concede, his face a mask of worry and pride. "Alright," he said softly. "But we do this together. All of us."

As they began to plan their strategy, Jessica felt a mix of fear and determination settle in her chest. This was what it meant to be Luna - to stand as a protector, a unifying force for her pack. The road ahead would be dangerous, but with her mates by her side and the strength of the pack behind her, she knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The threat from within had been revealed, but an even greater danger waited in the shadows. As the night deepened around them, Jessica and her mates prepared for a battle that would test not just their strength and strategy, but the very bonds that held their pack together.