Chapter 24: Dangerous Territory

Two weeks later, I stood at the border of my next investigation target. Ironwood Pack. The territory was massive, easily three times the size of Crescent Ridge. Dense forests stretched as far as I could see.

“This is Alpha Garrett’s territory,” Elder Thorne had warned me. “He’s powerful. Connected. And he has a reputation for being ruthless with anyone who questions his authority.”

Perfect. Just what I needed.

Maya and Dax flanked me as we crossed into Ironwood land. Immediately, warriors surrounded us. At least twenty of them, all battle-scarred and hostile.

“State your business,” the largest one growled.

“I’m Alpha Aria Silvermoon of Crescent Ridge. I’m here on official Council business to conduct a territory investigation.” I kept my voice calm and authoritative.

“Alpha Garrett doesn’t take kindly to investigators.”

“Then Alpha Garrett should have nothing to hide.” I met his eyes without flinching. “Take me to him. Now.”

The warrior hesitated, then gestured for us to follow. We were led deep into the territory. Ironwood Pack’s main compound was impressive. Stone buildings. High walls. Everything is designed to project power and intimidation.

Alpha Garrett waited in his office. He was huge, easily six feet six with muscles like steel cables. Grey hair despite looking only in his forties. Cold blue eyes that assessed me like prey.

“So you’re the little investigator the Council sent.” He didn’t stand or offer a greeting. “You’re younger than I expected.”

“Age doesn’t determine competence.” I pulled out my authorisation papers. “I’m here to review your pack’s practices. Interview wolves. Ensure you’re following pack law.”

“Pack law.” He laughed, the sound humourless. “I’ve been Alpha for twenty-five years. Built this pack from nothing into one of the strongest territories on the continent. And now some child is here to question my methods?”

“The Council questions them. I’m just gathering evidence.” I set the papers on his desk. “You can cooperate and make this easy. Or resist and make it difficult. Either way, I’m doing my job.”

Garrett stood slowly. His dominance pressed against me, trying to force submission. It was powerful. Overwhelming. The kind of Alpha presence that made most wolves cower.

I pushed back with my own power. Silver light flickered around me. Our dominance clashed in the air between us.

For a long moment, neither of us gave ground. Then Garrett smiled. It wasn’t friendly.

“You’ve got spirit. I’ll give you that.” He sat back down. “Fine. Do your investigation. But know this, little Alpha. You won’t find anything worth reporting. My wolves are loyal. Disciplined. They won’t speak against me.”

“We’ll see.” I turned to leave.

“One more thing.” His voice stopped me. “I knew your parents. Marius and Celeste. They were idealistic fools who died for their naive dreams.”

I spun back, anger flaring. “Excuse me?”

“They wanted to change the system. Make everything fair and equal. Weakness masquerading as compassion.” Garrett leaned forward. “The strong should lead. The weak should follow. That’s natural order. Your parents tried to fight nature. Look where it got them.”

“It got them murdered by cowards afraid of change.” My power flared brighter. “And their vision lives on through me. So be careful how you speak about them.”

“Or what? You’ll fight me?” He laughed again. “You beat Victor Kane. Impressive for your age. But I’m not Victor. I’ve fought hundreds of battles. Killed more wolves than you’ve ever met.”

“Then maybe it’s time someone reminded you that power doesn’t make you right. Just makes you dangerous.”

I left before my temper got the better of me. Outside, Maya grabbed my arm.

“That was tense. Are you okay?”

“I’m furious. He basically admitted he agreed with my parents’ murder.” I took a deep breath, forcing calm. “But we need to stay focused. Let’s start interviewing wolves. Find out what’s really happening here.”

The first day was frustrating. Every wolf we tried to talk to refused. Some claimed they were too busy. Others simply walked away. All of them looked scared.

“They’ve been threatened,” Dax observed. “Told not to cooperate with us.”

“Probably. But we keep trying.” I spotted an omega carrying water from a well. “Excuse me. Can I ask you some questions?”

She looked terrified. “I can’t. Alpha’s orders. No talking to investigators.”

“You don’t have to be afraid. The Council protects wolves who give testimony.”

“The Council isn’t here at night. When Alpha gets angry.” She hurried away before I could stop her.

By the third day, we hadn’t gotten a single useful testimony. Every wolf was too scared to speak. Garrett had them completely controlled through fear.

“This is impossible,” Maya said in frustration. “How do we investigate if no one will talk?”

“We find the one wolf brave enough to break the silence. There’s always at least one.” I thought about Emma back at Shadowpine. The young omega who’d thanked me. “We find the one who’s angry enough or desperate enough to risk speaking up.”

That night, someone knocked on my temporary quarters. I opened the door cautiously.

A young male wolf stood there, maybe nineteen or twenty. He was thin, scarred, and trembling.

“Are you the investigator?” he whispered.

“Yes. Come in.”

He entered quickly, looking over his shoulder. “I shouldn’t be here. If Alpha finds out I talked to you, he’ll kill me.”

“Then why risk it?”

“Because someone has to. Someone has to tell the truth about what happens here.” He met my eyes, and I saw desperation. “My name is Thomas. I’ve been in this pack my whole life. And I’ve watched Alpha Garrett destroy anyone who questions him.”

“Tell me everything.”

Thomas talked for two hours. About public beatings for minor infractions. About wolves who disappeared after challenging Garrett’s authority. About food being withheld from families as punishment. About a culture of fear that kept everyone in line.

“He killed my brother,” Thomas said, his voice breaking. “James questioned an order. Said it wasn’t fair to the omegas. Garrett challenged him to a combat. James had no choice but to accept. He lasted three minutes before Garrett ripped his throat out.”

“When was this?”

“Two years ago. Garrett claimed it was a fair fight. But James was barely trained. He never had a chance.”

I took detailed notes. “Are there others who would testify? Who’ve seen similar things?”

“Maybe. If they knew they’d be protected. But most are too scared.” Thomas looked at me with desperate hope. “Can you stop him? Can you actually do anything?”

“I’m going to try. I promise you that.” I squeezed his shoulder. “Thank you for being brave enough to speak up.”

After Thomas left, I reviewed everything. One testimony wasn’t enough. I needed more. Multiple witnesses. Concrete evidence of systematic abuse.

“This is going to take weeks,” Maya said, reading over my notes. “And Garrett will figure out what we’re doing. Try to stop us.”

“Let him try.” I was tired of bullies using fear to control others. “We’re not leaving until we have what we need.”

The next morning, I requested a formal meeting with Garrett.

“I need access to your pack records. Financial documents. Disciplinary reports.”

“Absolutely not. Those are private pack business.”

“The Council authorisation gives me the right to review them. Unless you have something to hide?”

His eyes hardened. “You’re pushing your luck, little Alpha.”

“I’m doing my job. If your records are clean, you have nothing to worry about.”

We stared each other down. Finally, Garrett gestured to an aide. “Give her the basic records. Nothing classified.”

It was something. Not everything I needed, but a start.

Over the next week, I worked through documents during the day and quietly interviewed wolves at night. Thomas helped, identifying others who might be willing to talk. Slowly, carefully, I built a case.

On the eighth day, things went wrong.

I was returning to my quarters after a late interview when warriors surrounded me. Six of them, all looking hostile.

“Alpha Garrett wants to see you. Now.”

They escorted me roughly to his office. He stood by the window, radiating fury.

“You’ve been conducting unauthorised interviews. Spreading dissent among my wolves. Violating the terms of your investigation.”

“I’m authorised to interview any pack member willing to speak. That’s standard procedure.”

“You’re manipulating scared wolves. Putting ideas in their heads. Making them question their Alpha.” He moved closer, looming over me. “That ends now. You’re done here.”

“I’m done when the Council says I’m done. Not before.”

“I don’t think you understand your position.” Garrett’s voice dropped dangerously. “You’re in my territory. Surrounded by my wolves. Far from any help. Accidents happen to investigators who overreach.”

The threat was clear. He was suggesting he might hurt or kill me.

“Touch me and the Council will remove you immediately. You know that.”

“Only if they find out. Only if there’s evidence.” He smiled coldly. “And evidence can be controlled. Destroyed. Made to tell whatever story I want.”

Fear spiked through me, but I didn’t let it show. “You’re threatening a Council-appointed investigator. That’s a serious crime.”

“Prove it. Your word against mine. Who do you think they’ll believe? A twenty-five-year Alpha with an impeccable reputation? Or a girl who’s been Alpha for less than a year?”

He had a point. Without witnesses or recordings, it was just my accusation.

“I’m giving you one day to pack up and leave,” Garrett continued. “Take your little friends and go. Write whatever report you want. I have enough Council allies to make it disappear.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then you’ll disappear instead. Another tragic accident. Rogue attack. Something unfortunate.” He leaned closer. “Choose wisely, Alpha Aria. Some fights aren’t worth dying for.”

I left his office with my mind racing. He’d essentially admitted to planning my murder if I didn’t leave. But I had no proof. No recording. Nothing.

“We need to leave,” Dax said urgently when I told them. “Tonight. Before he makes good on that threat.”

“No. We stay. We finish this.” I paced our quarters. “He’s scared. That’s why he’s threatening me. We’re close to something big. Something he really doesn’t want exposed.”

“Aria, he’s right about one thing. We’re isolated here. If he decides to kill us, who’s going to stop him?” Maya looked genuinely frightened. “Maybe we should regroup. Come back with Council backup.”

She had a point. We were vulnerable here. Three wolves against an entire hostile pack.

But leaving meant abandoning the wolves like Thomas. Meant letting another abusive Alpha continue hurting vulnerable pack members.

I couldn’t do that. Not and look at myself in the mirror.

“We stay,” I decided. “But we’re careful. No more night interviews. We stick together always. And I’m calling Elder Thorne for backup.”

Elder Thorne answered immediately. “What’s wrong?”

I explained everything. The threats. The danger. The evidence we’d found.

“Get out of there. Now. Tonight.” His voice was sharp with concern. “Garrett is more dangerous than we thought. I’m sending Council guards, but they won’t arrive for three days.”

“Three days might be too late. If we leave now, he’ll destroy the evidence. Intimidate witnesses. We’ll never get another chance.”

“Better that than you dying.”

“I’m not dying. But I’m not running either.” I made my voice firm. “Send the guards. We’ll hold out until they arrive. But I’m not abandoning these wolves.”

Elder Thorne was silent for a long moment. “You’re just like your parents. Stubborn and idealistic. It got them killed.”

“Then I’ll die for something worth dying for.” I hung up before he could argue more.

Three days until backup arrived. Three days to stay alive in hostile territory.

It was going to be the longest three days of my life.