Chapter 30: The Trial Month

The month with Ghost’s rogue pack was enlightening and challenging. They camped in the northern meadow as agreed, setting up temporary shelters that somehow looked both desperate and hopeful.

I visited daily, observing. Assessing. Looking for red flags.

Ghost proved to be an excellent leader. He kept his wolves disciplined. Organized. They worked hard on the tasks we assigned. Clearing brush. Repairing fences. Helping with harvest. Never complaining. Never causing trouble.

But I noticed other things too. The way some flinched when I approached too quickly. The scars that spoke of serious abuse. The hollow looks in younger wolves’ eyes.

“They’ve been through hell,” Maya observed during one visit. “Most of them, anyway. A few might be lying about their backgrounds, but the majority? They’re genuine refugees.”

I pulled Ghost aside one evening. “Tell me the truth. All of it. Where did these wolves really come from?”

He was quiet for a moment, weighing whether to trust me. Finally, he spoke.

“Most came from Steelclaw Pack. Alpha Martin’s territory.” His voice was bitter. “He’s a tyrant. Brutal. He exiles anyone who questions him. Kills those who resist too strongly. We’re the survivors.”

My blood ran cold. Steelclaw. The same pack I was supposed to investigate in a week.

“Alpha Martin did this to you?”

“To all of us. Some directly. Others through his enforcers.” Ghost pulled up his shirt, showing a mass of scars across his back. “I questioned his treatment of omegas. Suggested we follow the pack law about fair treatment. He had me whipped publicly. Then exiled. That was three years ago.”

“And the others?”

“Similar stories. Speaking up. Protecting the weak. Refusing immoral orders. Martin doesn’t tolerate dissent.” Ghost met my eyes. “I heard you’re investigating him. That’s why we came. To help if we can. To see justice finally served.”

This changed everything. These weren’t just random rogues. They were witnesses. Evidence. Victims who could testify against Martin.

“Does he know you’re here? That you’ve found sanctuary?”

“Probably. He has spies everywhere. But he won’t move against us openly. Not on your territory. That would mean war with you and the Council.” Ghost’s smile was grim. “He’s cruel, not stupid.”

I made a decision. “The month trial is over. As of now, you’re all full members of Crescent Ridge Pack. If you want to be.”

Ghost’s eyes widened. “Just like that? You trust us?”

“I trust that you’ve been wronged. That you deserve a second chance. And that you can help me bring Martin down.” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Welcome to Crescent Ridge, Beta Ghost.”

“Beta?” He looked shocked.

“You’ve led these wolves for years. Kept them together through impossible circumstances. That’s leadership quality. I could use another Beta.” I glanced at Maya. “If my current Beta agrees.”

“Absolutely. We need more senior leadership as the pack grows.” Maya extended her hand to Ghost. “Welcome aboard.”

The integration happened faster than expected. Ghost’s wolves were so grateful for acceptance that they worked twice as hard to prove themselves. Within days, they felt like they’d always been part of Crescent Ridge.

But the celebration was short-lived. My investigation departure date arrived too quickly.

I gathered my team. Maya, Dax, Kaden, and now Ghost, who insisted on coming.

“I know Martin’s territory. His routines. His weaknesses.” Ghost’s expression was determined. “And I have a score to settle.”

“This is an official investigation, not revenge,” I warned. “We do this by the book. No unnecessary violence.”

“Understood, Alpha. But if necessary violence happens, I want to be there.”

The Council provided six guards as promised. Plus Kaden brought ten warriors from Shadowpine. We looked more like an invasion force than an investigation team.

“Martin will see this as a threat,” Elder Thorne warned before we left. “Be prepared for hostility. Don’t give him any excuse to claim you’re the aggressor.”

Steelclaw territory was three days’ travel south. The land was beautiful. Rich. Clearly wealthy from the impressive infrastructure we passed entering the territory.

But underneath the beauty, I felt wrongness. Fear. The same oppressive atmosphere I’d sensed in Victor’s and Garrett’s territories, but stronger.

The Warriors met us at the border. Twenty of them. All large. All hostile.

“State your business,” the leader growled.

“I’m Alpha Aria Silvermoon, here on official Council business to conduct a territory investigation.” I handed him my authorisation papers. “Take me to Alpha Martin.”

The warrior barely glanced at the papers. “Alpha Martin doesn’t appreciate unannounced visitors. Especially ones who bring small armies.”

“These are Council guards and my personal security. Standard for investigations.” I kept my voice level. “Now, take me to your Alpha or explain to the Council why you’re obstructing official business.”

The threat worked. Reluctantly, they escorted us deeper into the territory.

Steelclaw’s main compound was massive. Stone buildings. High walls. Guard towers. It looked more like a fortress than a pack house.

Alpha Martin waited in a throne-like chair in his main hall. He was enormous. Easily seven feet tall. Muscles like carved stone. Cold grey eyes that assessed us like a predator sizing up prey.

“So you’re the little investigator causing trouble across the territories.” His voice was deep. Menacing. “Victor. Garrett. Now you’re here for me.”

“I’m here to ensure you’re following pack law. Nothing more.” I refused to be intimidated. “You can cooperate and make this easy, or resist and make it difficult.”

“I don’t make anything easy for people who threaten my authority.” He stood, his size even more imposing up close. “But I’ll play along. For now. Ask your questions. Waste your time. You won’t find anything worth reporting.”

“We’ll see about that.” I turned to my team. “Set up our quarters. We’ll be here a while.”

The accommodations they provided were deliberately terrible. Small rooms. Barely any furniture. A clear message that we weren’t welcome.

“Charming hospitality,” Kaden muttered, surveying our sparse quarters.

“It’s a power play. Trying to make us uncomfortable enough to leave early.” I unpacked my investigation materials. “We’ll endure worse before this is over.”

Ghost was staring out the window, his body tense. “I know some wolves here. Former pack mates. If I can contact them quietly, they might talk.”

“Be careful. Martin will have eyes everywhere.” I handed him a small communication device Elder Thorne had provided. “Stay in contact. Any trouble, signal immediately.”

Over the next few days, we tried to conduct standard investigations. Interviewing wolves. Reviewing records. Observing pack dynamics.

But everywhere we went, Martin’s enforcers followed. Intimidating potential witnesses. Interfering with interviews. Making our work nearly impossible.

“This is worse than Ironwood,” Maya said in frustration after another failed interview attempt. “No one will talk. They’re too terrified.”

“Then we find evidence in other ways.” I reviewed the limited financial records Martin had provided. “These numbers don’t add up. He’s hiding something.”

Kaden leaned over my shoulder. “There. See those regular payments? Large sums are going to unmarked accounts. That’s suspicious.”

“Could be legitimate business expenses.”

“Or bribes. Payments to Council members to look the other way.” Kaden pointed to dates. “Notice they always happen right before Council reviews?”

He was right. The pattern was too consistent to be a coincidence.

“We need the real records. The ones he’s hiding.” I looked at Ghost. “Any ideas where he’d keep sensitive documents?”

“His private office. Third floor of the main building. Heavily guarded. But there’s a ventilation system that runs through the walls.” Ghost pulled out a rough map he’d drawn from memory. “If someone small and quiet could get through there…”

Maya held up her hand. “I volunteer. I’m the smallest one here.”

“Too dangerous,” I protested.

“Everything we’re doing is dangerous. But we need evidence. Real evidence. Not just testimony that can be dismissed.” She looked at me seriously. “Let me do this, Aria. Let me help.”

I hated it. But she was right. We needed those documents.

“Fine. But you take a guard. And we provide distraction so security is focused elsewhere.” I turned to Kaden. “Think you can cause a scene?”

“Causing scenes is one of my few talents.” He grinned. “What kind of distraction?”

We planned carefully. The next evening, during dinner in the main hall, Kaden staged a loud argument with one of Martin’s wolves. Accusations flew. Tensions escalated. Martin’s enforcers rushed to control the situation.

While everyone was distracted, Maya slipped away. Into the ventilation system. Toward Martin’s office.

I felt every second like an hour. The mate bond hummed with Kaden’s false anger as he continued the distraction. My own anxiety spiked with every minute Maya was gone.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Maya’s voice came through the communication device. “I’m in. Gods, there are files everywhere. This is going to take time.”

“Copy everything you can. Photos, documents, whatever you find.” I tried to keep my voice calm. “How long do you need?”

“Ten minutes? Maybe fifteen?”

Kaden couldn’t maintain the distraction that long without it becoming suspicious. We needed something else.

A fire alarm suddenly blared through the building.

Ghost stood near a pulled alarm, looking innocent. “Oops. My hand slipped.”

Chaos erupted. Wolves rushed to investigate. Guards abandoned posts to check for fire. Perfect cover.

“Maya, you’ve got maybe five more minutes before they realise it’s false. Work fast.”

“Almost done. Just a few more files.”

Those five minutes were agony. Martin’s enforcers were already figuring out the alarm was fake. Returning to positions. Getting suspicious.

“Maya, get out. Now.”

“Coming.”

She emerged from a service door two minutes later, slightly dusty but carrying a data drive full of stolen documents.

“Got everything important. Let’s get out of here before they realise what happened.”

We returned to our quarters quickly. Locked the doors. Began reviewing Maya’s findings.

The evidence was damning. Detailed records of bribes paid to Council members. Documentation of wolves killed for minor infractions. Financial exploitation of pack members. Systematic abuse that violated dozens of pack laws.

“This is enough to bring him down,” Kaden said, scanning through files. “More than enough.”

“If we can get it to the Council before Martin realises we have it.” I copied the files to multiple devices. “Ghost, can you get a message out? To Elder Thorne?”

“Already done. Sent while you were reviewing files.” Ghost smiled grimly. “Council guards are mobilising. Should be here within twelve hours.”

Twelve hours. We just had to survive twelve hours.

The attack came at dawn.

Martin’s enforcers surrounded our building. At least fifty of them. Armed. Prepared for war.

“Alpha Aria!” Martin’s voice boomed from outside. “You have something that belongs to me. Return it, and you might leave here alive.”

I stepped onto the balcony, looking down at the army below. “These documents are evidence of your crimes. I’m taking them to the Council. You can’t stop me.”

“Can’t I?” He gestured, and his wolves moved closer. “You’re in my territory. Surrounded by my warriors. Outnumbered five to one. What makes you think you’re leaving here at all?”

“Because attacking a Council investigator is a capital offence. Because this compound is surrounded by Council guards who arrived an hour ago. And because if you harm me, every Alpha on the continent will hunt you down.” I let my Alpha power flare, silver light visible even in daylight. “It’s over, Martin. Surrender now and you might survive.”

For a moment, uncertainty flickered across his face. Then rage replaced it.

“If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me. Attack!”

His warriors surged forward. Our smaller force is prepared to defend.

But before the first blow landed, Council guards poured in from all sides. Hundreds of them. Surrounding Martin’s forces. Trapping them.

Elder Marcus himself stepped forward. “Alpha Martin, you’re under arrest for corruption, abuse of authority, and attempting to harm a Council investigator. Surrender or face destruction.”

Martin looked around at the overwhelming force. At his trapped warriors. At the evidence of his crimes being held safely in my hands.

Slowly, reluctantly, he shifted to human form and knelt.

“I submit to Council authority.”

It was over. Another corrupt Alpha defeated. More wolves freed from tyranny.

But as they led Martin away in chains, as his pack began the process of choosing new leadership, I felt exhausted. Worn down.

“How many more?” I asked Kaden quietly. “How many more corrupt Alphas are out there?”

“However many there are, we’ll handle them.” He wrapped an arm around me. “Together. Always together.”

“I’m tired, Kaden. Tired of fighting. Tired of seeing abuse. Tired of risking my life for investigations.”

“Then we go home. Rest. Take time for ourselves.” He kissed my temple. “You’ve done enough for now. The Council has other investigators. You don’t have to carry this burden alone.”

He was right. I’d broken three major corrupt Alphas. Freed hundreds of wolves from abuse. Changed how investigations were conducted.

It was time to rest. To focus on my own packs. My own life.

Time to stop saving everyone else and start taking care of myself.

At least for a while.