the enemy within

Chapter 14– The Enemy Within

The celebration didn't last.

By dawn, the territory was on edge.

The attack had been repelled, but nobody believed it was over.

Not Liam.

Not Lia.

And certainly not Elena.

The moment the sun rose over the forest, Elena was already awake.

Standing by her bedroom window.

Watching.

Waiting.

Something felt wrong.

Not outside.

Inside.

Somewhere within the territory itself.

A shadow moved across her vision.

A flash.

A scream.

Blood on stone.

Then—

A silver eye staring back at her.

Elena gasped and stumbled backward.

The vision vanished.

But the feeling remained.

Someone was coming.

And this time, they weren't attacking from outside.

Downstairs, breakfast was unusually quiet.

Ethan sat with his arms crossed, still annoyed that he had been ordered to stay behind during most of the battle.

Lia placed food on the table.

"Eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"You said that yesterday."

"I'm still not hungry."

Liam looked up from his coffee.

"Then you'll train hungry."

Ethan glared.

Liam ignored him.

Lia hid a smile.

Some battles never ended.

As everyone settled into their seats, Elena suddenly spoke.

"There was someone watching us."

The room went silent.

Liam immediately focused on her.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"What did you see?"

Elena hesitated.

"A silver eye."

The room grew colder.

Liam exchanged a look with Ryan.

A look Lia didn't miss.

"What?" she demanded.

Ryan looked uncomfortable.

Liam sighed.

"Kaiden."

The name landed heavily.

Ethan frowned.

"The guy from the forest?"

Liam nodded.

"He's not just a rival Alpha."

Lia's stomach tightened.

"What is he?"

Ryan answered this time.

"He's the son of Alpha Magnus."

Even Ethan recognized the name.

"The warlord?"

"Yes."

Silence followed.

Because everyone knew the stories.

Entire territories destroyed.

Packs forced into submission.

Alphas disappearing without explanation.

Lia's hands tightened around her cup.

"Why would someone like that care about our children?"

No one answered immediately.

Because everyone already knew.

Power.

The twins were powerful.

Dangerously powerful.

And people would kill to possess that kind of power.

Outside, the training grounds were crowded.

Security had doubled.

Patrols moved constantly.

The atmosphere felt different now.

Fear had entered the territory.

And fear spread quickly.

Later that afternoon, Lia found Liam standing alone near the edge of the forest.

Watching the trees.

Thinking.

She approached quietly.

"You haven't rested."

"I don't need rest."

"You say that every time."

A faint smile touched his lips.

Only for a second.

Then it disappeared.

Lia stood beside him.

For a while neither spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

Not anymore.

Years ago it would have been.

Now it felt familiar.

Safe.

"I almost lost you last night."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Liam turned toward her.

His expression softened immediately.

"You didn't."

"But I could have."

The memory of seeing him wounded still made her chest ache.

For a long moment neither looked away.

The bond between them felt stronger than ever.

Not magical.

Not forced.

Chosen.

Slowly, Liam reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

The gesture was small.

Gentle.

Unexpected.

Lia's heartbeat betrayed her instantly.

"Liam..."

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

Then back to her eyes.

The air between them tightened.

One step.

That was all it would take.

One step.

A loud shout shattered the moment.

"ALPHA!"

Both of them turned instantly.

A guard was running toward them.

Panicked.

Breathless.

Terrified.

Liam's expression darkened.

"What happened?"

The guard stopped abruptly.

"We found him."

"Found who?"

The guard swallowed hard.

"The traitor."

Every muscle in Liam's body went rigid.

Lia felt dread crawl down her spine.

A traitor?

Inside the territory?

Inside their home?

Minutes later the entire family stood in the council hall.

The captured wolf knelt in chains.

Head lowered.

Shaking.

Ethan frowned.

"I know him."

Lia's heart sank.

So did Liam's.

Because they all knew him.

He had lived in the territory for years.

Trusted.

Respected.

Family.

Ryan stepped forward holding several documents.

"We searched his quarters."

He dropped the papers onto the table.

Maps.

Patrol routes.

Security records.

Information about the twins.

Lia felt sick.

Someone had been feeding information to outsiders.

For months.

The prisoner finally laughed.

A cold, ugly sound.

"You think you've won?"

Nobody answered.

The wolf slowly lifted his head.

His eyes were filled with madness.

"No one can stop what's coming."

Liam's voice became ice.

"Who sent you?"

The prisoner smiled.

Then spoke a single name.

"Magnus."

The room erupted.

Growls.

Shouts.

Chaos.

But Liam remained still.

Dangerously still.

Because now he understood.

This wasn't about a border attack.

It wasn't about intimidation.

It wasn't even about territory.

It was about the twins.

Someone powerful wanted them.

And they were willing to start a war to get them.

That night, long after everyone had gone to bed, Elena stood by her window again.

Watching the forest.

Listening.

Waiting.

Then suddenly—

She saw him.

Far beyond the trees.

Silver eyes glowing in the darkness.

Kaiden.

Watching the house.

Watching her.

A slow smile crossed his face.

And for the first time since her powers awakened—

Elena felt fear.

Real fear.

Because she realized something terrifying.

Kaiden wasn't hunting the territory.

He wasn't hunting Liam.

He was hunting the twins.

And he was getting closer.