A Risk Worth Taking
Jack’s POV
I pressed my ear against the door after hanging up, the faint hum of the corridor outside filling the silence. My hand tightened around the door handle, my heart pounding as I prepared to confront whoever had dared to eavesdrop on my conversation.
The risk of discovery was too great. Alpha Kane’s spies were everywhere, and even the slightest hint of disloyalty could end in bloodshed.
With a swift pull, I yanked the door open, only to find an empty hallway stretching out before me, bathed in the soft, dim glow of the torches mounted on the walls.
I narrowed my eyes, scanning every shadow, every flicker of light that could conceal someone lurking nearby. But the corridor was silent, save for the distant rustle of leaves outside and the occasional creak of the old wooden floors. Whoever had been there was long gone.
A cold knot settled in my stomach. I had been overheard, of that I was certain. But by whom? And what had they heard? I shut the door quietly, running a hand through my hair as I tried to assess my next move. The stakes had just risen—someone now knew that I was no longer the loyal beta Kane believed me to be. I needed to act quickly, to secure my alliance with Cleopatra and the exiled Beta before Kane’s spies could report back.
With a deep breath, I returned to my desk, my mind racing through his options. The woman in Alpha Kane’s quarters weighed heavily on me. Who was she? And why had Kane chosen to keep her hidden?
My instincts tell me she was more than just a prisoner—she was a key, a potential weapon against Kane. If I could free her and reveal Kane’s crimes, it might sway even the most loyal pack members to question their Alpha's rule.
My phone buzzed for the second time, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Thomas, the exiled Beta.
"We have to meet tonight. Kane's plans are moving faster than we thought. I have new information, but we don’t have much time."
My jaw clenched. The urgency in Thomas's words ignited a sense of purpose in me. Kane was escalating, pushing his schemes further and faster, and I had no choice but to keep up. I typed a quick response.
“I’ll meet you in the clearing near the old boundary stones. Midnight."
I pocketed my phone and began to gather what I would need, just in case: a knife strapped to my ankle, a concealed blade tucked into my belt, and the small, leather-bound journal where I had documented every one of Kane's plans.
The hours passed slowly, each second stretching as I waited for midnight. When the time came, I slipped out of the pack, moving with silent precision. I stayed to the shadows, evading the guards and patrols that Kane had stationed around the grounds.
The clearing came into view, illuminated only by the pale sliver of moonlight filtering through the trees. Thomas was already there, leaning against a tree, his face obscured by a hood. He looked up as I approached, nodding in silent acknowledgment.
"Jack," Thomas greeted, his voice low. "We don’t have long. You do know that Kane’s forces are assembling. He’s not just planning an attack—he’s planning an ambush that could destroy the whole realm. We need to move fast as well."
I took a deep breath, absorbing the weight of Thomas's words. "I already spoke to Cleopatra, she already has a plan. She also asked that we meet with her at the palace."
Thomas nodded his head. "Cleopatra’s aware? When are we leaving for the meeting?” he asked, eagerly.
“I’m thinking in two days time?” I said.
“The sooner, the better,” Thomas muttered with a grim expression.
My hands balled into fists. "Then we don’t have time to waste. Cleopatra is ready to move. We have to finalize a plan and prepare for what’s coming."
Thomas’s gaze sharpened. "Then let’s make it happen. I’ll go with you. The sooner we unite our forces, the better our chances."
We went over important details and then turned to leave, but a faint rustle in the bushes made us freeze. My senses flared, every instinct screaming that we weren’t alone. I exchanged a glance with Thomas, his hand instinctively reaching for the knife at his ankle.
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward—a young wolf, barely out of his teens, with a fearful look in his eyes. I recognize him as one of Kane’s newer squad members. He stared at us, eyes wide, realizing he’d stumbled upon something far beyond his understanding.
"You… you’re working against the Alpha," the young wolf stammered, voice shaking. "You’re… you’re traitors. I overheard your…conversation on the phone and followed you here.”
My mind raced, assessing the situation. The boy was terrified, torn between his loyalty to Kane and the sight of his own pack’s beta conspiring against the Alpha. If I let him go, he’d run straight to Kane, and all of our plans would be exposed. But if I silenced him, it would be a direct violation of the very morals I was fighting to uphold.
Thomas’s voice cut through the tension, cold and unyielding. "We don’t have time for this, Jack. He’s a liability."
I looked into the boy’s eyes, seeing the fear and confusion there. "What’s your name?" I asked quietly.
The young wolf swallowed hard. "E-Eli," he whispered, glancing nervously between Thomas and I.
"Listen to me, Eli," I said, my tone firm but gentle. "Everything you’ve heard tonight is the truth. Alpha Kane is not the leader you think he is. He’s hurt our pack—hurt our people—and he’ll keep doing it until someone stops him."
Eli’s gaze wavered, doubt flickering in his eyes. "But… he’s the Alpha. He’s supposed to protect us."
"And he stopped protecting us a long time ago," I replied, my voice tinged with sorrow. "If you trust me, if you believe in the pack we were meant to be, then you’ll keep quiet about this. You’ll give us the chance to save our people from Kane’s rule."
The boy hesitated, torn between fear and the quiet strength in Jack’s words. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained uncertain.
"I won’t say anything," Eli whispered, his voice barely audible.
Thomas scowled but kept silent, watching as Eli slipped back into the shadows and disappeared. When they were alone again, Thomas turned to me, a hint of frustration in his gaze.
"You’re taking a risk, letting him go," Thomas said. "If he betrays us, we’re done."
I nodded, my jaw set. "I know. He would have told Kane about this if he wanted to. I’d rather take the risk than become the kind of monster we’re trying to stop."
He nodded in approval and we both went our way, agreeing to meet back here in two days to visit Cleopatra.
But as I carefully made my way back to the Silverfang pack, it felt as though each step was bringing me closer to the final reckoning with Alpha Kane.
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