Chapter 16

Zaiden’s POV

The footsteps of the warriors could be heard, the metallic scent of weapons mixing with pine and damp earth. My warriors fanned out in silence, trained, sharp-eyed.

But still, my wolf prowled inside me, uneasy. Something wasn’t right.

I cast a glance at Cole, who padded beside me. His eyes burned with the same restless anger mine did. Or maybe too much of it.

“We shouldn’t waste time on bait patrols,” he muttered, low enough only I could hear. “We should strike first.”

I cut him a look. “We’ll strike when we know where to aim. Until then, we flush the snake out.”

His jaw ticked, but he nodded.

Behind us, Gamma Rowan jogged closer. “Alpha, are we certain about this ridge? It’s usually quiet.”

“That’s the point,” I said flatly. “If the rogues show, we’ll know someone fed them the plan.”

The patrol continued. The forest was heavy with shadows, every sound amplified. An owl screeched. Branches rustled. My wolf pressed forward, hackles high.

“Howl!” one of the guards shouted.

Shapes exploded from the trees. Rogues.

Snarling, reeking of blood and sweat, they lunged from the dark. My warriors collided with them in a storm of claws and steel. The forest erupted into chaos.

I shifted partially, claws tearing through my hands, and ripped into the first rogue that came near. His blood sprayed the leaves, hot and sharp. Another dove at me I caught him mid-air, slammed him into the ground, my boot on his throat.

“Alive!” I barked. “Keep one alive!”

It was harder than it sounded. My pack fought with fury, and rogues rarely left openings to surrender. Still, Cole and Rowan pinned one down, thrashing and snarling, his teeth snapping.

When the last body fell silent, only that one remained, bloodied but breathing.

I stalked toward him, chest heaving, my wolf close to breaking free. “Tie him,” I ordered.

Chains bound his wrists. He spat blood at my feet, eyes gleaming with a feral kind of triumph.

Cole crouched, snarling. “Why here? How did you know we’d be at the ridge tonight?”

The rogue grinned, split-lipped. “You think you’re clever, Alpha. But you’re predictable.”

I stepped forward, shoving Cole back with one arm. My claws pressed lightly to the rogue’s throat, just enough to pierce skin. His pulse jumped beneath my hand.

“Who sent you?” I demanded.

His grin only widened. “Kill me if you want. Another will take my place.”

My wolf roared, but I held it down. There was something off his bravado was too polished, too rehearsed. He wasn’t afraid of me.

And that made my blood burn hotter.

“Take him back,” I snapped. “Lock him beneath the fortress. I’ll deal with him myself.”

The warriors obeyed, dragging the rogue away. But unease gnawed at me. He’d been waiting for this. Expecting it.

Which meant Karen’s words might be right.

The guilty one wasn’t here. He was higher and also closer

***********

Karen’s POV

The healer told me to rest. Zaiden told me to stay in bed. But the bond wouldn’t let me. I felt his rage tearing through the night, his wolf prowling at the edge of his control.

When they dragged the captured rogue into the fortress dungeon, I was already waiting, leaning against the stone wall for support.

Zaiden’s eyes widened when he saw me. “Karen,” he growled, striding over, his hands gripping my arms. “Why are you here? I told you….”

“I had to,” I interrupted softly. “I felt it. Through the bond. You caught someone, didn’t you?”

He didn’t answer. His silence was enough.

I slipped past him, ignoring the ache in my legs, and looked at the rogue chained to the wall. His smirk faltered when our eyes met.

My wolf stirred, low and certain. She whispered into me, her voice sharp as glass: He’s not the one. He’s only the knife, not the hand that wields it.

I straightened slowly, turning to Zaiden. “He’s lying.”

Zaiden’s brows furrowed. “You heard him. He knew we’d be at the ridge.”

“Because someone told him,” I said firmly. “But he’s not the traitor. He’s the message.”

The room went silent. Cole shifted uncomfortably near the back. Rowan frowned.

Zaiden’s golden gaze bored into me. “Explain.”

I stepped closer to the rogue, who flinched before quickly covering it with another sneer. “He’s afraid,” I said quietly. “Not of dying. Of failing. Whoever sent him he fears them more than you.”

The rogue’s lips twitched, betraying a flicker of truth.

Zaiden’s claws dug into the stone wall beside him. His voice was thunder. “Then tell me who holds your leash.”

The rogue laughed, blood dripping down his chin. “Why should I? My death buys me honor.”

“Honor?” I scoffed. My wolf pressed forward in me, burning hot. “No. It buys you silence. That’s all.”

The rogue’s smirk wavered again, sweat beading on his brow. My wolf was pushing through me, making my voice sharper, more certain. “Your master is higher than you. Higher than the rogues. That’s why you won’t speak because if you do, you’ll suffer worse than death.”

Zaiden stepped in then, snarling. His claw gripped the rogue’s jaw, forcing him to meet his eyes. “If your fear of me isn’t greater than your master, then I’ll have to change that.”

The rogue shook, trembling now despite his bravado. His breath came harsh, uneven.

And then he laughed again, but it was thinner this time, desperate.

“You’ll never find them,” he rasped. “You’re looking in the wrong place, Alpha.”

Zaiden’s claws pressed deeper. “Where should I look?”

The rogue’s eyes flickered, darting toward Cole for the briefest second so quick anyone could have missed it. My wolf growled inside me.

The rogue’s voice dropped to a whisper, ragged but cutting.

“The real snake… is closer than your shadow.”

The words sent a chill through the dungeon.

Zaiden froze, fury trembling through every muscle. My own wolf howled in my chest, warning, warning, warning.

The rogue slumped back, grinning through blood. He’d said enough. And yet not nearly enough.

Zaiden’s golden eyes met mine across the dark chamber. The bond between us pulsed, thick with rage and dread.

Closer than your shadow.

Which meant the traitor wasn’t just inside the walls.

They were inside our circle.