Chapter 18: Secrets and Threats

I woke to urgent knocking. Maya was already at the door, speaking in hushed tones with someone. Morning light filtered through the windows. I’d slept longer than intended.

“What’s going on?” I asked, sitting up. My wounds ached but felt better. Wolf healing was working.

“It’s Elder Thorne. He says it’s urgent.” Maya looked worried.

Elder Thorne entered quickly, his usual calm replaced with concern. “We have a problem. Someone broke into Victor Kane’s room last night. Stole all the documents he’d gathered for the investigation.”

I was on my feet instantly, ignoring the pain. “What? How?”

“No one knows. The guards saw nothing. No scents, no traces. Whoever did it was professional.” He handed me a note that had been left behind. “This was on his desk.”

The note was simple. Written in elegant script. “Drop the investigation or face consequences.”

“Seraphina,” I said immediately.

“That’s my thought too. She knows about the Council’s assignment. Knows that exposing Kane’s abuses might lead to questions about other Alphas. Including her.” Elder Thorne’s expression was grim. “She’s trying to protect herself.”

“Do we have any other evidence? Anything not in those files?”

“Some. But Kane’s personal records were the strongest proof. Without them, building a case will be much harder.”

I paced, thinking. “Then we talk to his wolves directly. Get their testimonies. Physical evidence can be destroyed, but memories can’t.”

“That will take time. And if Seraphina is involved, she might try to intimidate witnesses.” Elder Thorne watched me carefully. “This investigation just became dangerous.”

“Good thing I’m not afraid of danger.” I grabbed my jacket. “Let’s go talk to Kane. See what he remembers from those files.”

Victor was in his room, furious about the break-in. “Twenty years of records. Gone. Everything I needed to prove my innocence.”

“Or your guilt,” I pointed out. “Which is it?”

He glared at me. “I’m not a saint. I’ve been harsh with wolves who break pack law. But I’ve never tortured anyone. Never killed without just cause. Those files showed the truth.”

“Then help me find new evidence. Give me names of wolves I can interview. Show me your territory so I can see conditions myself.”

“You’d trust what I show you?”

“No. But I’ll trust what I discover when you’re not looking.” I crossed my arms. “You made a deal. Either honour it or admit you’re guilty.”

Victor considered this. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. My pack is two days from here. Come whenever you’re ready. Just don’t expect a warm welcome. My wolves don’t trust outsiders.”

After leaving his room, I found Kaden waiting in the hallway. Of course he was.

“I heard about the break-in.” He fell into step beside me. “You think it was Seraphina?”

“Yes. And I’m going to prove it.” I kept walking toward my room.

“Let me help. I have access to security footage. Can review what the cameras caught last night.”

I stopped, turning to face him. “Why are you doing this? Helping me investigate your own wife?”

“Because she’s not really my wife. Not in any way that matters.” His voice was bitter. “The marriage is political. Cold. We barely speak unless others are watching. And if she’s willing to break laws, to threaten innocent wolves, then she needs to be stopped.”

“Even if it destroys your alliance? Embarrasses your pack?”

“Some things matter more than politics.” He met my eyes. “You taught me that. Even if I learned the lesson too late.”

I wanted to stay angry. Wanted to keep that wall between us. But his sincerity was hard to ignore.

“Fine. Review the footage. Report anything useful to Elder Thorne, not me.” I started walking again. “I don’t want anyone saying I’m collaborating with you for personal reasons.”

“Understood.”

Back in my room, Maya had news. “Three of the alliance requests want to meet today. They’re leaving tomorrow and want to finalise agreements before the Summit ends.”

“Schedule them. We need these alliances.” Building Crescent Ridge’s political position was crucial. Especially if I was making enemies like Seraphina.

The meetings took most of the day. Each Alpha wanted different things. Trade routes. Mutual defence pacts. Access to our territory for hunting during specific seasons.

I negotiated carefully, taking nothing at face value. Elder Thorne had taught me that every agreement had hidden costs. Had to look for the traps.

By evening, I’d secured two solid alliances and politely declined the third. The rejected Alpha wasn’t happy, but I wouldn’t make deals that hurt my pack just to seem agreeable.

“You’re getting good at this,” Dax observed after the last meeting. “You spotted that clause about mining rights that would have given them access to half our territory.”

“Almost missed it. The language was deliberately confusing.” I rubbed my temples. Politics was exhausting. “Are we done for today?”

“One more thing. Alpha Catherine wants to see you. She said it’s personal, not business.”

I found Catherine on the same terrace where I’d talked to Kaden. She was watching the sunset, a glass of wine in her hand.

“Alpha Aria. Thank you for coming.” She gestured to the seat beside her. “I wanted to talk to you. Woman to woman, not Alpha to Alpha.”

“About what?”

“About being a female Alpha in a world run by men.” She smiled slightly. “It’s not easy. I’ve been doing it for fifteen years and still face challenges every day.”

“What kind of challenges?”

“Being taken seriously. Having my authority questioned. Male Alphas assuming I’m weak or emotional.” She took a sip of wine. “I’ve watched you this week. You’re strong. Capable. But you’re also young. You’ll face things I never had to deal with.”

“Like what?”

“Like Alpha Kaden.” She looked at me directly. “Everyone can see the history between you two. The tension. The unfinished business. Other Alphas will try to use that against you. Make you seem weak or distracted.”

“I’m not distracted.”

“I know. But perception matters in our world.” Catherine’s voice was kind but firm. “You need to make a clean choice. Either reconcile with him publicly or cut ties completely. This middle ground makes you vulnerable.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It never is. But complicated doesn’t mean impossible.” She finished her wine. “I’m not telling you what to choose. Just that you need to choose something. Uncertainty is a weakness other Alphas will exploit.”

She left me alone with those thoughts. The sun was setting, painting the sky in oranges and purples. Beautiful and temporary.

Like everything else.

“Thought I’d find you here.” Seraphina’s voice made me tense.

She stood in the terrace doorway, looking perfect as always. But there was something different about her tonight. Something cold and dangerous.

“Come to threaten me again?” I didn’t bother standing.

“No. To warn you.” She moved closer. “I know you think you’re clever. Playing detective. Building alliances. Making yourself important.”

“I don’t think I’m clever. I am clever.”

“Confident. I like that.” Her smile was predatory. “But confidence won’t save you from what’s coming.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a fact. You’re making enemies, Aria. Powerful ones. People who don’t appreciate young upstarts questioning the established order.” She leaned against the railing. “Victor Kane has friends. Allies who won’t appreciate you digging into their business. Even if the Council sanctioned it.”

“Let them be unhappy. I have a job to do.”

“And I have a marriage to protect. A position to maintain. An alliance worth millions.” Her voice dropped to ice. “So here’s what’s going to happen. You’ll drop this investigation. You’ll stop making eyes at my husband. You’ll go back to your little pack and stay there.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll make sure Crescent Ridge ceases to exist.” She said it calmly. Like discussing the weather. “I have resources. Connections. I can have your territory declared unstable. Your Alpha status is challenged. Your wolves scattered to other packs.”

“You’d hurt innocent wolves to protect your pride?”

“I’d do whatever necessary to protect what’s mine.” Seraphina straightened. “You have until the Summit ends. Two days. Make the right choice, Aria. For everyone’s sake.”

She walked away, leaving me alone on the terrace.

My hands were shaking with rage. She was threatening my pack. My family. The wolves who depended on me.

I pulled out my phone and called Elder Thorne.

“I need to talk to you. Now. It’s about Seraphina.”

“I’ll be right there.”

While I waited, I touched the pendant from my mother. Felt its cool metal against my skin.

My parents had died fighting for what was right. For justice. For a better system.

I wouldn’t dishonour their memory by backing down from a bully.

Even if that bully had the power to destroy everything I’d built.

Some things were worth fighting for.

Even if you lost.

Especially if you lost.

Because surrender meant letting evil win.

And I’d rather die fighting than live on my knees.