Chapter 160- Marked for Justice
Lexy
Adrian thinks I can’t keep up with his way of thinking. That’s his greatest weakness—underestimating me. After weeks of watching his every move, collecting fragments of conversations,
tracking inconsistencies in reports, and listening closely to those who had once called him ally, I’ve built a roadmap of his mind. His logic, his patterns, his pride—they're as familiar to me now as my own reflection.
And this morning, that roadmap bore fruit.
Tarria had returned just before dawn, winded and scraped, eyes alight with frustration and success all at once. She had done what she does best—observe, analyze, and track. She'd
followed Adrian, Kael, and several of their loyal men when they realized the summit had already taken place. The fury in their eyes when they realized they'd been outmaneuvered... Tarria said it was palpable, almost comical.
That move had been a gamble on my part—holding the summit a day early. I knew Adrian wouldn’t be able to resist a grand entrance, especially if he believed he could manipulate the
alliance. But by the time he moved, it was too late. The alliance had already heard what they needed to hear. His chance was gone, and Tarria had watched his ego crumble.
She had tried to follow them after they vanished into unfamiliar territory. I hadn't told her to take that risk. In fact, I’d told her not to. And yet... I understand why she did. Tarria moves on instinct, especially when she senses an opportunity.
But she’s smart—she knew when to pull back.She marked the trail.
Not just with scent, but with subtle signs—scratched bark, twisted grass, a thin thread tied between two low branches. A path only she would recognize and one she could easily lead us back through.
Now, as I stand before the stone hearth in the war chamber, staring at the map sprawled across the table, I feel something I haven’t let myself feel in weeks.
Hope.
CJ stands beside me, arms crossed, reading the note Tarria had delivered with her report.
“She got close,” he murmurs. “Too close, maybe.”
“She’s alive,” I say. “And that means she knows where to take us. That’s all that matters.”
He exhales through his nose, eyes meeting mine. “We leave nothing to chance.”
“We won’t,” I assure him. “Tomorrow morning, a small unit will accompany her. No more than six. Fast, silent, and disciplined.”
“Who’s leading it?”I hesitate for only a moment.
“I will.”
CJ’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t argue. He knows better. If I trust Tarria enough to follow her into unmarked land, then I must be willing to go myself. This is no longer about politics or diplomacy. This is about ending something dangerous before it grows beyond our reach.
I pulled out a red marker and circled the region where Tarria said she lost their trail. It’s dense woodland bordered by ridges and cliffs—easy to hide in, impossible to take by force without being noticed. Smart. Cowardly, but smart.
“I want you to gather the alliance leaders within the hour,” I tell CJ. “They need to hear this from me directly. We have proof now. Not just suspicions, not just words. A location. And likely, a base of operations.”
CJ nods and leaves the room with purpose, already moving into action.
The moment he’s gone, I allow myself a breath.
I’ve known this would come to a head eventually. Adrian has slipped through too many cracks, smiled through too many lies. Each time we challenged him, he found a way to get away from our grasp. But this? A hidden retreat, concealed from the alliance, stocked with loyal soldiers and who knows what else? That’s no misunderstanding. That’s rebellion.
I run my fingers over the edges of the map, tracing the area again, memorizing it.
Tarria risked everything to get that close. She could have been captured—worse. But she didn’t back down, and now her courage may be the key to ending this.
A soft knock sounds at the door.
“Enter,” I say.
Tarria steps in, already cleaned up but still carrying the weariness of her trek. Her shoulders are squared, and there’s a quiet confidence in her posture despite her exhaustion.
“You shouldn’t have followed them,” I say evenly.
“I know.”
“But you did.”
“I had to.”
I nodded once. “And you made it back. With more than I expected.”
She steps closer to the map, eyes scanning the markings. “They were on foot for most of it, but they had mounts waiting past the ridge. I couldn’t track that far without being exposed. But I marked everything up to that point. There’s something hidden there, Lexy. I can feel it.”
“Good,” I say. “You’re leading us back in the morning.”
Her lips twitch upward—relief, maybe pride—but she quickly schools her expression. “Understood.”
“You’ll rest until then,” I add. “No arguments. This mission doesn’t work without you at full strength.
”“I’ll be ready.”
As she leaves, I feel the room shift. Like the walls themselves are leaning in, listening.
The day is finally approaching.The day we move.
An hour later, the alliance leaders are gathered in the Grand Hall. Each stand in their traditional colors, faces drawn with fatigue, suspicion, and frustration. They’ve been patient long enough. They want results. Answers.
I give them both.
“We’ve located a potential base linked to Adrian’s movement,” I begin, keeping my voice steady. “This information came at great personal risk, but it is confirmed and credible. We move at dawn with a small unit to verify. If what we suspect is true—if this location reveals weapons, documents, personnel tied to Adrian’s rebellion—we will have the final proof we need.”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd.
“What then?” one of the elders asks. “Do we strike immediately?”
“No,” I say. “Not yet. If the proof is there, we will call a full alliance session and move according to the treaty’s guidelines. We will not descend into chaos. We will act with the unity and strength we forged together.”
“We will decide then on the members of every pack and tribe to attack as one.”
CJ steps forward to reinforce my words. “This is not just about a rogue leader. This is about ensuring the alliance stands for what it was built on—accountability and truth.”
The elders nodded, slowly, their eyes moving from CJ to me and back. The tension in the room begins to shift—not disappearing but settle into purpose.
They will wait. One more day.
And tomorrow, I will give them the justice they’ve been craving.
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