CHAPTER 23: UNRAVELLING THE CONSPIRACY

Around midnight, I woke up to use the restroom and couldn't go back to sleep. So, I decided to go to my office so I wouldn’t wake up my mates with my tossing and turning.

With the light on at my desk, I began to think about the last few days' events. So much has happened in the short time that I have been here.

I was given Urk as a mark. I was attacked and paralyzed. I heard the conversation outside the room that helped us find the missing pups. We were attacked by rogues. We learned about Anastasia’s abuse, and now her father, a councilman, is abusing pack members.

So many pieces of a puzzle. Where do we start to put the pieces together so it all makes sense? I was starting to get a headache.

“There are too many coincidences for them not to be connected; we just don’t know how, yet. The attack bothers me. They seemed too organized for it to be a normal rogue attack. I don’t know, it’s just that something just feels off about the whole thing,” Cece said, very insightfully.

I was thinking the same thing. Let’s go see the bodies. Maybe there are tattoos, scars, or brands that can tell us who these people are. Maybe after we identify them, then we can start looking into how they all fit, I said, not knowing where else to start.

“I think that’s a good place to start,” agreed Cece.

I put a block on my mind, so I wouldn’t wake up my mates, and also so they wouldn’t pick up on what we’re doing. I work best alone.

We headed over to the infirmary. It was a hot night out, and I was sweating halfway to the building. Once we got there, we saw Doc coming out of his office.

“Hey, Doc. On duty or can’t sleep?” I asked.

“A little of both. You’re up late, Luna,” replied Doc. He sounded a little tired. Not sure if it was from too much working or if it was because he’s up there in age.

“Actually, early. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I thought I would be productive. Can I see the bodies from the attack? Something feels off, and I was hoping that there was something on them to help us figure out where they came from or if they belong to an organization.” I was hoping that he was willing to help, especially since I was not officially Luna.

“Actually, I was going to call you all in the morning for that exact reason. I found something,” he said, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Lead the way, Doc.” I couldn’t wait to finally have an answer to at least one of the riddles.

Doc guided us down the hallway to the elevator. After stepping inside, he pressed the button for the basement. One of the things I appreciate about Doc is his quiet nature—he rarely speaks unless it’s necessary, so when he does, you pay attention.

When the elevator doors opened, he turned left, leading me toward the autopsy room. Inside, he walked straight to the wall lined with refrigerator doors and pulled one open.

“This one has the fewest tattoos, but the design matches all the humans,” Doc said.

“They were human?” I asked, surprised. “I assumed they were shifters. Though, now that you mention it, they didn’t feel as strong as the ones I’ve fought before.” I narrowed my eyes. “You’re sure no shifters had this mark?”

He gave a single nod.

I studied the tattoo—a serpent coiled through a three-headed skull, each skull bearing the distinct features of a mamba, a cobra, and a viper. A flicker of recognition stirred in my memory, but I couldn’t place it. Pulling out my phone, I snapped a picture.

“I’ve seen this before—just can’t remember where. I’ll dig into it from my office. Thanks, Doc.”

He acknowledged me with another nod before sliding the body back into its cold drawer.

We left the autopsy room and rode the elevator up to the ground floor. As we passed his office—on my way out—I paused. “How many bodies bore that tattoo?”

“All forty-two humans,” he said. “Goodnight, Luna.” Without another word, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.

On the way back to the pack house, I started throwing out scenarios, starting from the beginning, to see if we could work anything out.

What if the rogues that attacked me on the road were the same ones who attacked the pack? Maybe they are after me, but why? Is it because I survived? Then again, my mates left no one alive, so how did they know it was me or my mates?

No, that doesn’t sound right. I think my first attack was a standalone event.

Then we rescued the pups, and a couple of days later, we were attacked. If the attack on the pack is connected to rescuing the missing pups, how did they find out it was us that rescued them? I mean, after all, there were four packs to choose from. Did someone follow us back? I mean, there could have been more that regrouped after losing so many. They could have decided that following was better than attacking.

Then I had an idea. Let’s go review the footage from the attack. What if we looked for a familiar face from the facility? I don’t really remember much, but sometimes our subconscious remembers things we don’t.

“It’s worth a shot,” replied Cece.

I went downstairs and pulled up the footage, and rewatched the monitors with this new thought in mind.

The spot they came through is the thinnest entry during an attack, I thought as I watched the footage. The setup is a little easier for me.

“Okay? So what are you thinking?” asked Cece.

Watching this on that day, I remember thinking this attack may run deeper than just distractions. I said in thought, testing the theory.

“Continue,” said Cece sensing I am on to something.

They are obviously working with the rogues, but there could be someone else behind the scenes. How else did they know where our thinnest entry point was or the quickest route to the pack house? How the hell did they know exactly where we would take the children during a rogue attack?

I rewound the footage because I felt I was onto something. They made a direct line to the pack house, then, without missing a step, headed straight to the basement and to the gym door.

Then I gasped as a realization hit me. God, I am so stupid and slow. It was literally right there in front of us.

“What? What did you realize?” asked Cece.

Anastasia. She told the attackers how to get onto pack grounds the easiest and where the pups would go in an attack. She must have been trying to regain control of the situation to get the pups back to the facility.

“That bitch, I am going to kill her the next time I see her,” promised Cece, scaring me a little. My kindhearted Cece was turning into a bad girl. We chuckled at that thought.

Don’t worry, I will have her begging for mercy. What she put the pups through will look like child’s play when I am done with her, I promised back voice dripping with venom.

I headed back to my office, happy that we figured out this major bit of information. Now we just have to figure out who her accomplice is, which I had a hunch about.

Just as I entered my office, it hit me. I knew where I saw that tattoo. I rushed to my desk and pulled up my email.

There it was, at the bottom of the email, the serpent crawling through a skull with three heads: a mamba, cobra, and viper.

“Here’s proof that it was Urk’s men who were working with Anastasia, and who planned the attack on the pack. Now, we just need to figure out how Anastasia got involved with Urk and to what extent,” Cece said. Both of us had the same thought path.

I was right, it was Urk who wanted the kids back. They thought that if they distracted our warriors with the rogues, Urk’s men could come and get them all back. What about Anastasia’s accomplice? What role do they play in all this? What do they get out of it?

Still, there were so many questions without answers.

Then I had another realization. We also need to warn the other packs that they may have a mole, too. The pups knew and trusted Anastasia; that is why they went with her. What if Urk bribed someone in the other packs to do their dirty work, too?

“I don’t like it, but I think you're right. There’s only one way to get those answers. Use that skill set you have for extracting information,” suggested Cece.

Will you take a step back? I don’t want you to see me like that, I pleaded moving toward the door.

“You forget – I have seen your memories. I already know what you’re capable of. These monsters kidnapped and tormented our pups. The Ghost is exactly what they deserve,” Cece said her voice laced with cold certainty.

“You scare me sometimes,” I said with a nervous laugh. “Let’s go get some answers, shall we.”

“I thought you would never ask,” Cece replied, her tone lethal. As much as her bloodthirsty side unnerved me, I was grateful to have her by my side—my ruthless little partner-in-crime. Cece is too much of a kind soul that when she gets bloodthirsty, it terrifies me.

“How do you know it’s not you who is my partner in crime?” Cece shot back with a dark chuckle.

The moment I opened the door, Zane stood there—his hand frozen mid-reach for the handle. Normally unreadable, his face betrayed a flicker of emotions in the briefest slip of control: worry, surprise, relief, fury, then back to that infuriating blank mask.

“You shut the bond and never came back to bed.” His voice was low, rough with something sharper than irritation. “I about tore the damn house apart looking for you. I was seconds from waking the others when I heard you in here. Where the hell were you?” I didn’t need to see his eyes to feel the anger rolling off him.

I exhaled, forcing patience. “I’m sorry, Zane, I couldn’t sleep, so I came here to think. After everything that’s happened, I needed space to sort it out—without disturbing you.”

His jaw clenched. “Where. Were. You?” Each word was a blade.

Oh, hell no. I will not be controlled! My own temper flared. I wouldn’t be interrogated—not even by him.

“I get it,” I bit out. “Alphas protect their mates. But I’ve spent my life surviving alone. I don’t need a keeper. So before you start dictating my every move, understand this: If I want to get up and work at midnight, I will. That’s not a request.”

The silence thickened. Zane’s stillness was worse than shouting.

Too harsh. I backtracked, softening my voice. “I’m sorry. I know you’re just worried.” I waited as he dragged in a sharp breath, his shoulders rigid.

“Having the four of you doesn’t mean I’ll stop being who I am,” I added, quieter now. “So trust me enough to call when I need you. Don’t make me choose between us and what I do.”

The tension bled from him by degrees. “You’re right.” His voice was raw. “I overreacted. But when you were gone—when the bond went dark—” He swallowed hard. “Why lock me out?”

“To let you rest,” I admitted, closing the distance between us. His arms opened before I took the second step, pulling me in the moment I reached for him. I pressed my face against his chest, his heartbeat steady under my ear. “You’re all exhausted. I was safe here. I just… needed to space to think.”

For minutes, we stood tangled together, the silent reconciliation louder than any argument.

Finally, he released me enough to look into my eyes. “What did you discover?” He asked as he led me to the couch in our office. He sat right next to me and turned to face me.

“How do you know I discovered anything?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. I was curious how he knew or if he was just guessing.

Zane just crossed his arms and stared at me like a statue. I mean, I was racing off somewhere, and people only do that if they discover something.

“Fine,” I shared all of tonight’s thoughts and revelations. Zane listened to every word I said and did not interrupt. “I was about to head down and talk to Anastasia to see how she plays into all of this. She has to get something out of it. I just can’t figure out what. I want to know what she knows. I also want to see if Ortiz is her accomplice.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Zane said as I started walking down the hallway.

“Actually, I was wondering if you would wait for me up here. I wasn’t going to ask her nicely, and I don’t want you to see me like that,” I pleaded with Zane and lowered my head.

What the heck is going on? First, I plead with Cece, now Zane, I thought to no one in particular.

Zane raised my head and waited until I met his eyes. “Mi alma, never hide yourself from me. I am all too familiar with torture, both receiving and giving. You cannot scare me away,” said Zane sweetly.

I never knew he had a soft side. It was sweet. I gave him a quick kiss.

“Then let’s get this show on the road,” I said, still not convinced to let Zane stay.

There are different levels of torture. I don’t know Zane’s past, so I can’t tell what level he has used, but I designed a whole new level. There's a reason I don’t want them to see me, because I am a true emotionless monster when I am in that room.

“Will you at least keep the others out?” I asked Zane. He looked at me and nodded, knowing what I was asking.

I didn’t want Dean, Luke, or Jason to watch. I was okay with Zane watching because, one, I knew he wouldn’t let me do it alone. Two, he has tortured so he wouldn’t judge me as harshly as my other mates.

When we got to the cell’s entrance, there were two guards posted outside. They are only there when there are occupants in the cells below. One of them opened the door and held it open for us.