Page 48

We moved fast.

Alec veered left, I darted right—closing in on the shadow that didn’t belong. The traitor barely had time to react before Alec was on him, slamming him against the stone wall with enough force to make the air shudder.

Alec’s grip was brutal, his silver eyes glowing with fury. “Who sent you?”

The spy—a pack warrior, one of our own—struggled against his hold, but Alec didn’t budge. The raw power radiating off him was enough to make even the most hardened warrior cower.

I stepped forward, flipping my dagger in my hand, my voice sharp as steel. “If you lie, I’ll know.”

The spy’s breathing hitched. His gaze flickered—not with fear, but hesitation.

And that’s when I knew.

He was more afraid of someone else than he was of us.

Alec must have realized it too. His grip tightened like a vice. “Who are you working for?”

The spy exhaled shakily, his muscles going rigid. “I can’t.”

Alec’s snarl was deadly. “You can’t, or you won’t?”

The spy’s jaw clenched. Then, so quietly I almost missed it—

“They’re already inside.”

A sharp chill ran down my spine.

Inside?

I turned to Alec. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel his rage boiling beneath the surface, barely restrained.

The spy struggled again, voice low, desperate. “You don’t understand. You think this is about rogues?” His gaze snapped to me. “It’s bigger than that.”

My chest tightened. “Then tell us.”

His lips parted—

But before he could speak—

A silver blade shot through the air, piercing his throat.

I gasped, stepping back as warm blood splattered onto my boots.

Alec cursed, jerking backward as the spy collapsed to the ground.

Dead.

Executed before he could reveal the truth.

I whirled around, scanning the rooftops, the shadows, anywhere the attacker could be hiding.

But whoever had thrown the blade?

They were already gone.

---

The castle was too quiet.

Too still.

I paced in my war room, the tension in my muscles coiling tighter with every second.

The spy was dead.

Silenced before he could talk.

And the worst part?

He was right.

This wasn’t just about rogues. This was something deeper. Something inside these walls.

A traitor.

Cassie stood across from me, arms crossed, her expression thunderous. “We need to find them.”

I exhaled sharply. “And we will.”

She shook her head. “No, Alec. We need to do it fast.”

She was right.

The problem?

We had no idea who to trust.

And whoever was behind this?

They were already watching.

---

The war room was silent.

Every council member, every high-ranking warrior, every trusted ally stood in a tight circle around the long wooden table.

And yet?

One of them was a traitor.

Alec stood beside me, arms crossed, his silver eyes cold. Calculating.

The list of suspects was short.

Damon. Sophie. Jack. Edgar. Amara. Elias. The generals.

Every one of them had access to information. Every one of them was close enough to strike if they wanted to.

I clenched my fists. “We need to figure this out before they attack again.”

Alec nodded. “We start with who had access to the spy before he was killed.”

Silence.

Damon frowned. “We all did.”

Jack raised a brow. “So… we’re just gonna start pointing fingers?”

Alec’s voice was razor-sharp. “If we have to.”

Elias leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You sure about that, Your Highness?”

Alec’s jaw ticked. “Something to say, Elias?”

Elias’s eyes flickered. “Just that if you start hunting your own people, it won’t take long for the real traitor to slip away.”

I exhaled. Damn it.

He was right.

We needed proof.

Because if we weren’t careful?

We’d start turning on each other—and that’s exactly what the traitor wanted.

Silence stretched thick between us, heavy with tension.

Then Jack dramatically exhaled. “Alright. Fine. It was me.”

The entire room turned to him.

He placed a hand over his heart, face solemn. “I was the traitor all along.”

Silence.

Then—

Jack grinned. “But in my defense, they paid really well.”

Sophie groaned. “Jack.”

Amara smacked the back of his head. “Not the time.”

Edgar just pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about killing him himself.

Alec didn’t even blink. “Do you want to die?”

Jack grinned wider. “Not particularly.”

“Then shut up.”

Jack raised his hands in surrender. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”

I sighed, resisting the urge to smack him myself. “Jack, you have the absolute worst timing.”

He winked. “And yet, you’d all miss me if I was gone.”

Alec exhaled sharply, turning back to the map. “Let’s focus.”

Jack leaned in, whispering to me, “I’m just saying, if I was the traitor, I’d be a damn good one.”

I rolled my eyes. “And we’d be the first to kill you.”

His grin didn’t falter. “Fair point.”

---

The attack came that night.

Fast. Silent. Precise.

I woke to the scent of blood.

Cassandra was still asleep beside me, her breathing steady, her body curled into mine.

Then—

BANG.

The doors to the royal wing burst open.

I was on my feet instantly, claws extending.

Cassie bolted awake, grabbing her daggers in a single fluid motion.

Jack was already in the hall, sword in hand. “We’ve got a problem.”

I didn’t need to ask.

I could smell it.

Blood.

I grabbed Cassie’s wrist, pulling her behind me as we moved toward the entrance—just in time to see the bodies.

Guards.

Four of them.

Dead.

Their throats slit.

Cassie stilled, her jaw tightening. “They were our men.”

My vision darkened.

The traitor wasn’t just inside the castle.

They were getting bold.

Jack exhaled. “What’s the plan?”

I clenched my jaw, my voice dropping into something lethal. “We shut this castle down. No one leaves. No one enters.”

Cassie’s voice was quiet but firm. “And then?”

I turned to her.

My voice was low. Dangerous.

“Then we hunt them down.”