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There was a Whiterose among them.

Not a prisoner. Not a hostage. Because they were moving around freely, their heart pumping with enough liveliness to suggest that they weren’t injured either. One of Henry’s young, vital pack members was in that camp, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out why.

Betrayal is common among other packs, but not the Greenbriars. We are too bound by traditions, too faithful to the old ways. More recently formed packs, however, often struggle with the constraints and nuances of hierarchy. Alphas butt heads. Betas bicker and backstab. Omegas are used as metaphorical cannon fodder.

I never thought the Whiterose pack would ever stoop to such a status.

I ran back as fast as I could, the conspiracy unraveling in my wolf mind with ease. And when I reached Alina’s house and sensed her within, I was relieved, but then I immediately noticed that someone was missing.

I realized that Noah wasn’t home.

So, now, here we are, squaring off against each other with a Whiterose healer to bear witness.

“I’m not going to tell you where Noah is,” Alina tells me firmly, arms crossed against her chest. “He’s with his friends and he’s having fun. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“You don’t understand. He’s in danger.”

For all I know, the family that my son is staying with is involved in this conspiracy behind Henry’s back.

Alina huffs loudly in frustration. “As I said, Rowan, he’s perfectly safe. I can’t even tell you how many times he’s spent the night at theirhouse before. They’ve been friends since kindergarten. Susie’s boys have been over here plenty of times, too.”

Knowing that I won’t get through to Alina, I whirl around to face the friend.

Zahra, I think her name is. Alina mentioned it once or twice.

To her credit, the wolf knows her place. Her eyes are lowered, and she’s doing everything she can to appear nonthreatening. I might not be her Alpha, but she understands what will happen if she makes one wrong move. It’s instinctive, this submission. And yet, even despite her careful stance, the young woman’s jaw is set in stubborn anger.

“Look at me,” I snap.

Zahra obeys, lifting her face and letting the full force of her glare strike me. A low growl slips out of me before I can stop it.

“Rowan!” Alina gasps.

She steps forward, positioning herself between me and her friend.

“Relax,” I grumble at my mate. “I just need to ask this healer some questions.”

“It’s fine, Lina,” Zahra murmurs.

With a resigned sigh, Alina steps aside.

“Where were you last night?” I ask the Whiterose wolf.

She quirks a challenging eyebrow at me, but doesn’t hesitate to answer. “I was at home.”

“Are you one of the healers that Henry has sent to the western border to treat the elderly population out there?”

This time, she looks more confused than anything. “What’s happening on the border?”

“Answer my question.”

“No,” she replies automatically. “No, I mostly treat pack members who live here in West Pond. I’m still an apprentice, for the most part. I assist my mother.”

“Rowan, what is the point of this?” Alina hisses.

I ignore her, stepping closer to Zahra. “Could you tell me what reason a Whiterose might have to cross the western border?”

Her confusion deepens. “Into Blackburn territory? They’d have no reason at all. We avoid that border as best we can. Many of us believewe should relocate the pack further away from the Blackburns, especially now with the recent trouble.”