FAZER LOGINKrista*I drank my soup slowly, forcing myself to savor each spoonful of warm broth even though every other instinct in my body screamed at me to stop wasting time. I wanted to demand that Jacob take me to the meeting room immediately. I wanted to know which of his trusted Elders had betrayed him, how long the treachery had gone on, and what else the rogues knew about Red Moon because of it. The uncertainty gnawed at me, making it difficult to sit still, much less concentrate on the meal Jacob had insisted I eat before we joined the others.But the broth was soothing, and I had to admit that he was right. I could not afford to enter that meeting with my stomach empty and my strength compromised, especially after what had happened in the dungeon. The nosebleed might have looked insignificant, but the sudden pain and the terrifying emptiness I had felt when I thought I had lost my wolf had frightened me more than I cared to admit.Earlier, I had called for Serah so I could find out how
Jacob*Krista glanced at my arms around her, then back at my face. I could practically see the argument forming behind her eyes. She was clearly not pleased with being carried as if she were incapable of walking on her own, but perhaps she had finally understood that I was in no mood to negotiate. For once, she did not insist.I held her closer and continued toward the manor, keeping my pace steady unnder the moonlit sky. We had an Elder to identify, a traitor to expose, and a pack to protect. Whatever awaited us in the meeting room, I would face it with Krista by my side. But I would not watch her destroy herself in the process. Not again.We were almost at the manor when we ran into Laurel. She appeared along the path leading to the entrance, moving toward us with a purpose that seemed to falter the moment she noticed Krista in my arms. For the briefest instant, anger flashed across her eyes. It was sharp enough that I caught it even in the dim moonlight, but it disappeared almost
Jacob*I could not afford to let my personal history with any of these women interfere with what needed to be done. When we reached the top of the stairs and stepped outside the dungeon, I stopped and turned to the three wolves who had accompanied us. Garrett, Leah, and Samuel were waiting for my instructions, their expressions grim and their bodies tense with the same anger that had settled in my chest.I pushed out a wave of compulsion. “None of you will speak of what the rogue revealed in that room. Not to another soldier, not to a member of the council, and not to anyone else in this pack. The identity of the spy and the fact that we know she is an Elder will remain between us until I say otherwise. Do you understand?”All three immediately dropped to their knees.“The Alpha's decree is ours to obey,” they answered together.I held the compulsion for another moment, ensuring my command had taken root before allowing the pressure to ease. Satisfied, I looked at Garrett. “Gather al
Jacob*There was no question about whom she meant. We could not afford to wait until morning, not when an Elder had been identified as the Waerloga's contact. Whoever she was, she had access to information that could put every member of Red Moon at risk. There was no telling what she might do to protect herself.I reached into my pocket and pulled out a clean cloth. When I lifted it to Krista's face, I noticed the thin stream of blood running from her nose.“Hold this,” I told her quietly.She accepted the cloth and pressed it beneath her nostrils, looking down at the red stain with a flicker of surprise. She had not even realized she was bleeding.The sight made my stomach tighten. She had pushed herself beyond what her body could comfortably endure, channeling my power through herself while weakened by the absence of her wolf's connection. Whatever strength she had found in the moment, it had come at a cost, and I had no intention of letting her continue until she collapsed entirel
Jacob*Krista frowned. The expression mirrored the displeasure coursing through me. Access to our records was bad enough, but our patrol routes meant something far more dangerous. It meant the Waerloga had known where our warriors would be, which borders might be vulnerable, and when our guards would be moving through the territory. The attack had not been a matter of rogues stumbling across an opportunity. Someone had helped create that opportunity for them.I looked at Krista, watching the slight crease between her brows deepen as she considered the implications. The man had already revealed more than he intended to, and I could see the uncertainty spreading among those of us gathered around him. We had confirmation that there was a spy within Red Moon, and evidence that the traitor had been feeding the Waerloga information about our patrol routes. What we did not have was the one thing that mattered most.A name.“Who is your spy in this pack?” Krista asked point-blank.The rogue
Jacob*Before Samuel could speak again, Krista stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.“I'll take it from here,” she said.Samuel glanced at her, then at me. I gave him a small nod, and he immediately stepped back, his posture deferential as he made room for her.Krista released my hand and moved closer to the prisoner. For a moment, she simply stood there, looking at the rogue as he sat with his eyes shut and his mouth clamped stubbornly closed. Then she drew in a deep breath, her shoulders rising as she filled her lungs.I watched her carefully. She was about to attempt something neither of us had been certain she could do. Her wolf had retreated into the deepest corners of her mind, leaving Krista without the familiar presence she had only recently regained. Now she had to reach for the power she believed she could access through me and make it work without the limitations of our bond.She exhaled slowly, seeming to steel herself. And the room fell silent as we waited t
KristaI stared at my reflection, willing the hollow look in my eyes to fade, forcing my lips to curve into a passable smile. But the result looked as tired and insincere as I felt inside. Tonight, of all nights, I couldn't afford to let my emotions slip through the cracks. Tonight was about duty,
KristaWhat had I expected? That Jacob would magically fall in love with me just because we’d spent a few years married? That he would look at me one day and suddenly see me, really see me, instead of the shadow I’d become in his life?I let out a bitter laugh, though it sounded more like a sob. Wh
Krista“And then there’s Liam,” she said, her tone dripping with drama. “I heard he’s been sneaking off to the human town again. You know what that means, don’t you?”I raised an eyebrow, leaning in just enough to show I was invested. “What does it mean?”Greta’s voice dropped even lower. “He’s see
KristaI watched from a distance as Greta chased after her three boys, her voice carrying on the wind, strained and full of exhaustion. They were darting in every direction, little whirlwinds of energy, their laughter ringing out in the warm afternoon air. It was a familiar scene, one that made me







