139
Alina’s POV
The dim glow of the moon seeped through my window, casting long, wavering shadows on the walls. The silence in the pack house was almost unnerving, a stark contrast to the turmoil in my mind. Finn’s death haunted me relentlessly—his smile, his laugh, the way he always seemed to hold the pack together. Now he was gone, and we were left scrambling in the dark to uncover who had ripped him away from us.
But I wouldn’t rest until I knew.
A soft knock on my door startled me. My heart raced as I got up cautiously. No one should have been awake at this hour. Opening the door, I was met with a familiar face—Dean.
I pulled him inside quickly, locking the door behind him. “You shouldn’t be here,” I whispered sharply.
Dean leaned against the wall, his face etched with exhaustion but his eyes burning with determination. “I couldn’t stay hidden any longer, Alina. We’re running out of time.”
I nodded, knowing he was right but unwilling to admit it aloud. Dean had been staying in one of the abandoned cabins on the outskirts of the territory, far from prying eyes. He was supposed to be safe there, invisible to the pack, but he’d risked exposure to come here tonight.
“What have you found?” I asked, motioning for him to sit on the edge of my bed.
He lowered himself, running a hand through his hair. “Not much, but enough to know that Bianca and Jenny are lying about something. They’re always together, whispering, avoiding questions about that night.”
I frowned. “Bianca’s smart. She knows how to keep her tracks clean. If she’s involved, she won’t slip up easily.”
Dean leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Then we push harder. We need to get inside her head and make her paranoid. The guilt will eat away at her if she’s hiding something.”
A lump formed in my throat at the thought of manipulating someone like that, but Dean was right. This wasn’t about playing nice; it was about finding the truth.
“And Jenny?” I asked. “Do you think she’s capable of…”
“Murder?” Dean finished for me, his expression grim. “No. But she might know something. Bianca’s the leader—Jenny just follows.”
I bit my lip, my mind churning. “If we’re going to confront them, we need solid evidence first. Otherwise, they’ll just deny it, and we’ll lose the element of surprise.”
Dean nodded. “Agreed. I’ll keep digging. In the meantime, stay close to them. Watch their movements, listen to what they’re not saying.”
I met his gaze, a surge of gratitude and determination swelling within me. “Thank you, Dean. For being here.”
He smiled faintly. “For Finn, I’d do anything.”
\---
Bianca’s POV
The weight of the world seemed to press down on me as I wandered through the quiet halls of the pack house. Jenny was asleep—finally—after I’d spent hours convincing her that everything would be fine. But even as I spoke those words to her, I wasn’t sure I believed them myself.
I’d lied before, covered for mistakes, but this… this was different. Finn’s death wasn’t something I could brush under the rug. Alina’s eyes, sharp and accusing, were constantly on me, and Lia wasn’t far behind. They could smell the fear, the guilt, no matter how hard I tried to hide it.
Reaching the kitchen, I poured myself a glass of water and leaned against the counter. My reflection in the window stared back at me, pale and drawn. I hated what I’d become—hated the lies, the deceit, the constant fear of being caught.
A creak behind me snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned sharply, my heart racing, but the kitchen was empty.
“Get a grip,” I muttered to myself.
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching.
\---
The next morning, I forced myself to act normal, even as my insides churned. Alina was in the dining room, her usual spot at the head of the table. She didn’t look at me directly, but I could feel her scrutiny.
“Morning,” I said casually, taking my seat.
“Morning,” she replied, her tone clipped.
Jenny joined a moment later, her movements stiff and awkward. I shot her a warning glance, silently willing her to pull it together.
“So,” Alina began, her eyes flicking between us, “have you two remembered anything useful about that night?”
“No,” I said quickly. “We’ve already told you everything we know.”
Jenny nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was chaos. I can’t remember much.”
Alina hummed thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on me a moment too long. “Funny how everyone else seems to recall where they were, what they were doing. But you two… your stories are always vague.”
I clenched my fists under the table, forcing a calm smile. “We’ve been through this, Alina. We didn’t see anything suspicious.”
“Hmm,” she said again, leaning back in her chair. “Well, let me know if you suddenly remember anything.”
The tension was unbearable, and I excused myself as soon as I could. Jenny followed, her face pale.
“She knows,” Jenny whispered as we stepped outside. “Bianca, she knows.”
“She doesn’t,” I snapped, more harshly than I intended. “She’s fishing for a reaction. Don’t give her one.”
Jenny nodded, but her fear was palpable. I needed to keep her calm, or she’d unravel everything.
\---
Alina’s POV
I watched Bianca and Jenny retreat, their fear as plain as day. Dean was right—they were hiding something. I just needed to figure out what.
After breakfast, I made my way to the forest, where Dean was waiting in the shadows.
“They’re cracking,” I told him. “Jenny’s barely holding it together, and Bianca’s doing everything she can to cover for her.”
Dean nodded, his expression serious. “Then we press harder. Let the pressure build until they can’t take it anymore.”
I hesitated, a pang of guilt tugging at me. “And what if we’re wrong? What if they’re just scared because they think we’ll blame them for something they didn’t do?”
Dean’s jaw tightened. “Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But right now, they’re our best lead.”
I nodded reluctantly. “What’s our next move?”
Dean’s eyes gleamed with determination. “We follow them. Tonight, after everyone’s asleep. If they’re up to something, we’ll catch them in the act.”
\---
Bianca’s POV
That night, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Every creak of the floorboards and every rustle of the wind set my nerves on edge.
Jenny had fallen asleep early, but I couldn’t rest. Something about Alina’s questions this morning had rattled me more than I wanted to admit.
Unable to sit still, I slipped out of my room and headed for the woods. The darkness was oppressive, but the cool air helped clear my head.
I didn’t notice the figure trailing me until it was too late.
“Out for a midnight stroll?”
I spun around, my heart pounding. Alina stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
“I couldn’t sleep,” I said quickly. “What are you doing out here?”
“Same,” she said, stepping closer. “Funny how we keep running into each other.”
Her gaze was piercing, and I felt like she could see right through me.
“What do you want, Alina?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“The truth,” she said bluntly. “About that night. About Finn.”
I forced a laugh, even as my stomach churned. “I already told you—”
“Stop lying, Bianca,” she snapped, her voice low but dangerous. “I know you’re hiding something, and I won’t stop until I find out what it is.”
My breath caught, but I managed to keep my composure. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She stepped even closer, her eyes blazing. “You can deny it all you want, but the truth always comes out. And when it does, I hope you’re ready for the consequences.”
I held her gaze, refusing to back down, but inside, I was crumbling. If Alina kept digging, it was only a matter of time before she uncovered everything.
And when she did, there’d be no turning back.