Jensen's Point of View I gesture toward the chair across from my desk, and Bruce steps forward, his movements a little slower than usual, still clearly burdened by the weight of everything that’s happened. He takes his seat, his shoulders squared despite the exhaustion evident in his eyes. I lower myself into the chair behind my desk, the familiar leather creaking quietly as I settle in. “Let’s start by getting everything in order,” I say, folding my hands together on the desk between us. “For tonight, you can stay here. That way, you’ll be present for the alliance agreement signing tomorrow. Do you need additional accommodation until you can rebuild your pack?” Bruce shakes his head, his voice calm but firm. “No. It was mostly just the pack house that took the brunt of the damage. We still have other housing options, guest quarters and some of the family cabins are untouched. Until the main house is repaired, that will do. Besides…” he pauses for a second, his expression tighten
Rosalee's Point of View As I step off the porch, the morning sun peeks just over the tops of the trees, casting a soft golden glow across the clearing. The cool air brushes against my skin, crisp and invigorating, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. It settles some of my nerves, though not all. I spot Josh walking towards me from the direction of the pack house, his posture relaxed, a slight smile already on his face. “Good morning,” I say with a smile of my own. “Good morning to you too,” he replies warmly, falling into step beside me without missing a beat. Our footsteps crunch lightly on the gravel path as we begin our walk towards the training center. The silence between us is comfortable, but my thoughts aren’t nearly as calm. I can already feel the tight knot of anxiety beginning to form in my chest. Training with Nyx has never exactly been easy, but after yesterday, after the way she kept looking at me, analyzing me, it’s worse. There’s something about her gaze t
Jensen's Point of ViewAlpha Lillian sits across from me, calm and composed, the last of the Alphas I need to speak to in my investigation. Her posture is confident, but not defensive. She answers each of my questions clearly, directly, and more importantly, without hesitation. Everything about her tells me she has nothing to hide. Just like all the others.It’s frustrating.None of the Alphas seem to be the leak. I can’t ignore the fact that someone is feeding information to our enemies, but the trail keeps running cold.I shift the conversation. “Alpha Lillian, I was hoping you might spare one of your wolves to help train Rosalee, in her wolf form. We’ve been working on her human combat, but I want her to be able to defend herself fully. She’s a strong wolf, but she needs real practice with someone experienced.”Lillian taps her fingers lightly against the armrest of the chair, thoughtful. Then she gives a small nod of her head. “Of course. I’ll take a look at my warriors and see wh
Jensen's Point of View The door clicks shut behind the last person I had to question, and I let out a long, frustrated sigh as I lean back in my chair. That was everyone. Every Alpha, every Beta, every representative from the alliance meeting. And none of them, none, gave even a hint that they could be the mole. Either I’ve spoken to the world’s most talented liar, or… it’s someone else entirely. Someone I’ve overlooked. Someone hiding in the shadows. The thought gnaws at me, and I sit up straighter, reaching out through the Alpha’s mind link. "Marcel, can you please meet me in my office?" "Sure. I just entered your pack lands again. I’ll be there soon." I cut the link and sit in the silence, my turning over every interaction, every detail. Nothing adds up. A few minutes pass before there’s a knock at the door. “Come in,” I call. Marcel steps inside with a slight smile, but it fades quickly as his eyes lock onto mine. His brows knit with concern. “Is everything okay?”
Rosalee's Point of ViewI wander aimlessly through the house after having lunch with Jensen, my fingers trailing along the edge of the walls and furniture. I’ve tried reading one of his books again, something to quiet the noise in my mind, but the words keep blurring together. My thoughts are too loud, too restless. I consider calling Freya, but what would I even say to her? There’s nothing new to share, nothing she doesn’t already know about.With a sigh, I find myself drawn to Jensen’s home office. The space smells like cedar and old paper, a now familiar, welcoming smell. I slip into his chair behind the desk. The leather feels cool beneath my fingers. My eyes wander and I spot some blank paper and pencils nearby. Without much thought, I pick one up and begin to sketch.At first, it’s just random lines, soft, swirling shapes, but soon it becomes more intentional. I let the pencil move on its own, trying to capture this tight feeling in my chest, the sense of being watched and quest
Jensen's Point of View The fresh night air feels grounding as Rosalee and I walk side by side, leaving the hall and all the tension behind us. The stars are out, scattered across the sky, and the cool breeze is a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the signing. I feel lighter now that it's over, one major task off my shoulders, but there's a heaviness that settles just beneath the surface, pressing into me with every quiet step. Rosalee walks beside me, her arms relaxed at her sides, her face soft in the moonlight. She seems... happy. At ease. There’s no trace of the weight I carry visible in her expression, and for a moment, I envy that kind of calm. I want to believe this peace is real. That she’s exactly who she seems to be, gentle, curious, and trying to find her place here. But my thoughts twist back to Nyx’s words, and Ronan’s warning. Nyx doesn’t throw out suspicions lightly. Her instincts are sharp, honed over years of dealing with situations others would miss entirely.
Jensen's Point of View I stir awake, a soft breath leaving my lungs as I blink against the morning light filtering through the window. For the first time in what feels like days, I feel... grounded. Not entirely at ease, but focused. Yesterday, the alliance agreement was signed. The plan to root out the mole is in motion. And today... today, I’ll cross one more name off the list. I’ll talk to Rosalee. With that goal settling like a quiet resolve in my chest, I throw back the covers and swing my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cool beneath my feet as I rise and stretch, working out the stiffness in my shoulders. My steps are purposeful as I walk to the closet and grab something simple to wear, dark jeans and a fitted charcoal t-shirt. Comfortable, clean, unassuming. Today’s not about appearances. Once dressed, I take a moment to run my fingers through my hair, smoothing it back before I open my bedroom door and head down the hall. The house is quiet, the kind of silence
Rosalee's Point of View Jensen and I are still sitting across from each other at the kitchen table, the warmth from breakfast lingering between us like a quiet comfort. Our plates are mostly cleared, just a few crumbs of pancake and the faint scent of coffee hanging in the air. The morning light filters in soft and golden, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I don’t feel the weight of secrets pressing on my chest. At first, when he started asking about Crimsonclaw, the leak, and Shadow Vale, I felt that old familiar knot of fear tightening in my stomach, afraid that maybe he suspected me. But as we talked, that fear started to dissolve. He wasn’t accusing, he was reaching out, needing someone to talk to. And the fact that he chose me… it means more than I can put into words. Now, I feel like it’s time to give something back. Trust for trust. I’ll call Freya later today and tell her I’m done. No more spying. I’ve found something here that I don’t want to lose, a place
Jensen's Point of ViewThe early morning light spills through the office windows in soft gold streaks, casting long shadows across my desk. The house is quiet, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall and the subtle creak of old wood beneath the walls. I take a deep breath, rubbing my hands together before opening a mind link.“Nyx, Ronan—please meet me in my office.”Their responses are almost immediate, overlapping with precision.“On my way.”I close the link and sit back in my chair, fingers laced in front of me as I gather my thoughts. This plan could change everything—or backfire spectacularly. One wrong move, and we risk everything we’ve built, everyone we’ve sworn to protect.A sharp knock pulls me from the spiral.“Come in,” I call.The door opens and Ronan steps in first, Nyx right behind him. They both move with purpose, slipping into the chairs across from me without a word. Their expressions are focused, waiting.I don't waste time.“We’ve got a situation,” I begin.
Rosalee's Point of View The walls feel like they’re closing in on me as I pace the living room again. I’ve already circled the coffee table at least a dozen times, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my sweater as my thoughts race. I can't sit still. I tried. The silence is too loud, too accusing. Every second that ticks by just feeds the knot in my stomach. Jensen is at that alliance meeting right now, and I have no idea how it’s going. What if they turn on him because of me? What if I’ve ruined everything? I glance out the window, Nyx and Josh are still there, casually keeping watch like I’m a prisoner in my own home. I know they’re just doing their job. Jensen asked them to. But it still stings. That after everything, I still need to be watched. Suddenly, a sharp knock at the front door freezes me in place. My heart leaps into my throat. For a second, my breath catches, did something go wrong? Did Jensen send someone back? My feet move before my thoughts can catch up, and I
Jensen's Point of View I brace myself for the sting of Celine’s words, expecting anger, blame, maybe even a demand that we disband the alliance entirely. But what she says takes me completely by surprise. “I have seen firsthand what Crimsonclaw is capable of,” she says, her voice steady despite the residual weakness in her frame. “So I will do anything to stop them. If that means overlooking what Rosalee did, then Shadow Vale will join the alliance too.” For a moment, I can’t speak. Relief washes over me in a heavy wave, loosening the tension in my shoulders. I incline my head towards her, grateful beyond words. “Thank you, Alpha Celine.” Her nod is small but resolute, and it carries more weight than anything said in this room so far. I glance towards Dorian and Elias, hoping, maybe foolishly, that Celine’s words might sway them. But Elias explodes. He shoves back from the table so violently his chair screeches across the floor. “You’re all idiots,” he spits, eyes flashi
Jensen's Point of View It’s 08:45 when Ronan and I pull up in front of Shadow Vale. The morning air is sharp, still laced with the earthy scent of damp soil and pine, but there’s a tension coiled in my chest that has nothing to do with the cold. As I scan the area, I spot several vehicles already parked, members of the alliance packs arriving early, likely just as anxious as we are. I let my gaze linger on the structure of Shadow Vale’s pack house. They are stil rebuilding after Crimsonclaws last attack. It’s quiet now, but I know inside there will be questions, possibly accusations, and it all starts with me. With what I have to say. I turn to Ronan in the passenger seat, watching him as he takes in the scene. He’s calm on the surface, but I can sense the same unease rippling through him. I ask, “How do you think they’re going to take it?” Ronan exhales through his nose, eyes flicking towards the windshield before meeting mine. “I really don’t know,” he admits. “Getting them
Jensen's Point of View I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of their eyes on me, Ronan’s expectant and unreadable, Nyx’s sharp and already narrowing like she’s halfway to the truth. I look between them and then to Rosalee. She won’t meet their eyes. She sits with her shoulders drawn in, fingers still twisting in her lap. I can feel her fear radiating off her, and I hate that I’m the one who has to say it out loud. “I need to tell you both something,” I begin, voice low but steady. “And I need you to hear all of it before you react.” That gets Nyx’s full attention. Her arms cross, jaw tight. Ronan leans forward slightly, eyes flicking from me to Rosalee. I run a hand down my face, then continue. “Rosalee… has been leaking information. To Crimsonclaw.” Nyx’s face hardens instantly. Ronan’s jaw ticks. “But...” I raise a hand to stop them before they can speak, “she didn’t know it was Crimsonclaw.” Nyx scoffs under her breath, but I push through. “She met her mother th
Jensen's Point of View I watch as Rosalee reaches out to me, her hands trembling, her expression full of fear and regret. But I can’t bring myself to let her touch me. I step back, shaking my head, the words slipping from my mouth before I even think about them. "No... Just... No.. I can't do this." The moment those words leave my lips, I see the fear in her eyes, and for a split second, I feel a flicker of doubt. But the anger and the betrayal have clouded everything, and I can’t bring myself to care. Not now. She doesn’t understand the depth of what she’s done. I thought we were building something real. I thought we had a connection. But now, it feels like a sick joke, and I can’t stand the thought of it. The betrayal is one thing, but what really stings the most is that what Rosalee and I could have been... it’s gone. Just like that. She opens her mouth again, probably to lie, to make excuses, and I can’t take it. I shake my head, my anger rising again. "I have to go." I need
Rosalee's Point of View Jensen shakes his head slowly, his movements stiff and mechanical like he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing. Then he pushes up from his chair so abruptly that it scrapes loudly against the floor, the sound making me flinch. He stays behind his desk, putting a solid barrier between us, but his eyes, those familiar, steady eyes, are stormy now, clouded with disbelief and something that looks dangerously close to hurt. Tears blur my vision, and I lift my hands in surrender, my body trembling so hard I can barely stand still. I shake my head too, desperate to make him understand, to make him believe me. "It’s true," I choke out, my voice breaking completely now. "But I promise you, Jensen, I didn’t know I was giving information to Crimsonclaw." His jaw tightens, muscles ticking furiously under his skin. When he speaks, his voice is low, hard. "Rosalee, what did you do?" I wrap my arms around myself like I can somehow hold myself together,
Rosalee's Point of View Nyx’s words hit me like a slap across the face, each one cutting deeper than the last. She doesn't even blink as she stares me down, her voice sharp and accusing. "How could you, Rosalee? Jensen trusted you. We took you in as one of our own, and this is how you thank us? By giving inside information to our enemy." I feel the sting of tears before I even realize they're falling, blurring my vision, making it harder to keep looking at her. I shake my head desperately, my voice cracking as I say, "No, Nyx, it's not like that. I didn't know. I promise you, I didn’t know." But she just shakes her head right back at me, disbelief and disappointment carved into every hard line of her face. "Why would you share private information with anyone? No matter the circumstances." The shame weighs down my shoulders, makes me feel so small. I hang my head, barely able to get the words out. "I thought I was making a difference," I whisper, my voice thick with
Rosalee's Point of ViewThe moment the word "Freya" leaves Alpha Celine’s lips, it feels like my entire world tilts sideways.Panic slams into me, sudden and violent, and my heart starts hammering so loudly in my ears that I almost miss what comes next.No, it can’t be, I think desperately. It’s just a common name. It doesn’t have to mean anything.I fight to keep my breathing even, my expression blank, because out of the corner of my eye, I catch Nyx watching me. Watching too closely.I force myself to focus, pulling my face into a neutral mask even though my insides feel like they’re being shredded apart.Jensen's voice cuts through the pounding of my heart."That’s great. Can you describe her?"His tone is calm, steady, as if he has no idea that the ground beneath me is crumbling into dust.Alpha Celine nods her head, her voice steady as she starts,"She is about my height, maybe a few inches taller. She has long pitch black hair and striking blue eyes. I’ll never be able to forget