77

The days that followed were tense as we worked diligently to gather how we were going to take the traitors into custody. Each evening, we met to discuss our findings, piecing together the puzzle of betrayal. The atmosphere in the pack was palpable; fear and anxiety rippled through our members, and we had to maintain a façade of strength while we strategized.
One evening, as we gathered in our usual spot, I could feel the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me. “I’ve talked to some of the sentinels,” Kallen said, breaking the silence. “They reported seeing certain members sneaking out at odd hours, heading toward the old training grounds. It’s suspicious.”
Stuart nodded; his expression thoughtful. “That area has been abandoned for years. It’s not the kind of place anyone would go unless they had a specific purpose. We need to investigate further. If they’re meeting there, we might catch them in the act.”
“What about the others?” I asked, looking between them. “Do we have any leads on who’s coordinating with them?”
My mother leaned in; her voice low. “I’ve spoken to a few trusted members, and it seems there’s chatter about a new alliance forming. Someone is trying to create a faction within the pack, and it’s gaining traction. If that’s true, it could be linked to the attack. Even if not, it’s still dangerous.”
Kallen’s brows furrowed. “We can’t let that happen. A divide within our pack could lead to chaos. We have to address this head-on before it escalates.”
“We should consider confronting the traitors we suspect,” Stuart cautioned. “If they know we’re onto them, they may bolt or turn violent.”
As we continued discussing strategies, a sense of urgency swelled within me. The more we dug, the deeper the web of betrayal seemed to grow. I could feel the knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach, but I pushed it aside. The safety of our family depended on us.
“I think we should plan a stakeout,” I suggested, my voice firm. “If we can catch them in the act, it might scare them into revealing more about their plans.”
Kallen looked intrigued. “I like that idea. If we can get a group together and stay hidden, we might gather enough evidence to expose them. And even if not expose, then capture them.”
My father nodded, a proud smile creeping onto his face. “It’s risky, but it could pay off. We need to ensure our safety while we execute this plan.”
As we began to finalize our plans, I felt a surge of determination. This was our pack, our family, and we would not let anyone tear us apart. Together, we were a force to be reckoned with.
The night of the stakeout arrived, and the air was thick with tension. We positioned ourselves near the old training grounds, hearts pounding as we waited for any signs of movement. Hours passed, and just as doubt began to creep in, I noticed movement at the far end of the clearing. A figure emerged from the darkness, followed by another.
My heart raced as I strained to listen. “Did you bring the information?” one of them asked, their voice low.
“Yeah, but we have to be quick. If the Alphas catch wind of this—”
I exchanged glances with Kallen and Stuart. They were discussing plans. We crept closer, straining to hear.
“They think they’re invincible,” one of the traitors hissed. “But we hold the power now.”
Anger surged within me. How could they do this to us? To our family? To think that Dad and Mom weren’t capable of protecting the pack?
Just then, more traitors appeared. I caught my breath as I recognized a trusted pack member among them. “You’re sure this is the right way?” they asked, their voice trembling.
“We’re in this together. Either you’re with us, or you’re against us,” one of the traitors snapped.
The gravity of the situation hit me like a punch. Our pack was more fractured than I’d realized. We had to act, and we had to act now.
I signaled to Kallen and Stuart, and we stepped out of the shadows, ready to confront the traitors head-on.
The tension in the air was palpable as I looked around at the gathered traitors. Their disbelief was clear, mixed with a touch of fear as Kallen and Stuart stood at my side, their unwavering presence adding weight to my words. I could feel my pulse racing, but I forced myself to stay calm. We had the upper hand now, and I wasn’t about to let that slip away.
Bringing my wolf forward to make my mark glow which I knew would tell everyone that I am the fated mate to Kallen and Stuart. Emily’s eyes darted between us, her expression a mix of hesitation and confusion. “Fated mates?” she muttered, almost as if testing the words on her tongue. “That’s impossible. You’re supposed to be...”
“Dead? Broken? Chosen? Bought? Unfit to lead?” I cut her off, my voice steady. “I’ve heard it all. But you’re wrong. We’ve healed. We’re stronger than ever.”
The other traitors exchanged nervous glances, clearly shaken. It was one thing to undermine the Alphas in secret but facing us head-on—facing the truth of our bond—was another matter entirely. Their once confident expressions faltered.
“Look,” one of them, a lanky man with dark hair and a sneer, stepped forward. “We don’t need to fight. This pack is big enough for change, for new ideas. We don’t want to hurt anyone. But your parents... they’re holding us back.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Holding you back? How, exactly? By keeping this pack safe? By protecting everyone within these walls, including you?”
He opened his mouth to retort, but Kallen cut him off. “We know you’ve been meeting in secret, undermining the very foundation of what we stand for. You think you can just overthrow our parents and take control? It’s not going to happen.”
The man’s sneer turned into a frown, and he shifted uncomfortably. “We’re only trying to make things better.”
“And this is your way of doing that? Plotting in the shadows?” Stuart added, his voice cold and sharp. “We gave you every chance to prove yourselves as loyal members of this pack, and this is how you repay us?”
A heavy silence followed his words, the gravity of the situation sinking in. I could see the traitors starting to falter, doubt creeping into their eyes. They weren’t just facing us—they were facing the weight of their own choices, their betrayal.
Emily stepped forward; her voice soft but resolute. “I... I didn’t want this,” she whispered. “But I thought we had no choice. I thought... I thought we were helping.”
My heart ached at the sight of her torn expression. Emily had always been a trusted member of the pack; someone I had considered a friend. The betrayal stung more because of that. But I couldn’t afford to show weakness now. “Helping?” I echoed; my voice low. “You’ve been feeding enemies information that can help them take on the Alpha King and Luna Queen, Emily. You’ve been giving them the means to tear us apart.”
“I didn’t know,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I didn’t realize how deep it went, how much damage it would cause.”
I studied her for a moment, trying to gauge whether her remorse was genuine. The others remained silent; their faces grim. The truth was finally out in the open, and there was no going back now.
“You didn’t realize,” I repeated, more to myself than her. I turned to Kallen and Stuart, who both gave me a slight nod. We were united in this. We couldn’t let sentimentality cloud our judgment.
“You’re all going to have to answer for this,” I said, my voice firm. “We can’t just let this slide.”
Emily wiped at her eyes, nodding slowly. “I understand. We’ll accept whatever punishment you decide.”
Dad stepped forward then, his presence commanding the field. “There’s still hope for this pack,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with sadness. “But it will take more than words to rebuild the trust you’ve shattered.”
The traitors remained silent; their heads bowed in shame. Dad continued, his tone growing more authoritative. “We’ll be placing all of you under close supervision for the time being. There will be no leniency for any further betrayal. This pack is our family, and family means loyalty.”
I could see the weight of his words settling on them. This wasn’t just about punishment; it was about restoring the balance, the trust that had been broken. And it would take time.
“Your fate is in your hands,” Dad said finally. “Prove that you’re still worthy of being part of this pack. All of you feel that can’t protect the pack. I mean granted it took months of building evidence to even figure all this out. I… I have to say I find your summation of Mom and Dad’s, let alone our inability to protect the pack quite funny. Because then you stated we’re holding you back. Which adds to our confusion as to the motive behind all this. Tobias is going to be devastated to find out that you were a part of this. I mean… Emily. Your brother is there every day for training. How could you of all people think that we can’t protect the pack. None of you knows what it’s like to be unprotected. I do and the ranked members of pack do everything they can to protect everyone in this pack. Yes, there was a killer. We’ve already taken care of that. I have to say that some of you need to really understand that this pack has over two hundred thousand members. The fact is that thinking like that is only going undermine the effectiveness of the protection that they are able to implement. If you confess to being traitors and agree to probation so long as no one continues this unwise train of thinking, Kallen, Stuart and I will help show you that the Enwell bloodline is the only line meant to handle such a daunting task. If not then the time you are about to spend in a cell will be longer than even I feel truly necessary.”
With that, Dad turned and walked back to the packhouse as warriors arrested the traitors, Mom following close behind. The rest of us lingered for a moment, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on us. But we had taken the first step. The truth was out, and now we had to deal with the consequences.
As the traitors were led away under the watchful eyes of the sentinels, I felt a mixture of relief and exhaustion wash over me. We had exposed the rot within our pack, but the battle wasn’t over. There were still enemies lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike again.
Kallen placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We did the right thing.”
I nodded, though the knot of anxiety in my stomach hadn’t fully loosened. “I know. But it doesn’t feel like it’s over.”
“It’s not,” Stuart said, his voice low. “But we’ll be ready for whatever comes next.”
I looked between the two of them, feeling the strength of our bond, the unwavering support they offered. Together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, we would protect our pack.
And together, we would ensure that the Enwell bloodline remained strong.