Thorne's P.O.V
As I observed the conflict from a distance, my face twisted and distorted in a really unpleasant sneer. I intended to divert Ryker and his group from the sanctuary by means of a well thought-out diversion.
At this point, however, Ryker's crew seemed to have survived the onslaught. How had all the preparation, meetings, and monitoring that had gone to waste, along with the days of aggressively watching them, gone? For this, I'm going to have someone's head!
"What went wrong?" I turned to Luke, my second-in-command, and spit.
The guy shuffled uneasily. "Sir, we misjudged Ryker's troop. They were more prepared than we thought they would be.
My eyes became slitted. "What about Kael? Has he finished his assignment? I inquired impatiently.
The guy paused, then answered. "Sir, we haven't heard from Kael yet. But we have no doubt that he will succeed.
My face became completely icy. "Observe his actions. It is essential to our whole strategy. I'll have your head for that, so you'd better make sure nothing else goes wrong.
Luke gulped in terror and muttered, "Yes, Alpha," before bowing and walking away.
Mark's P.O.V.
I watched carefully from the shadows as Thorne's rage boiled, my thoughts churning with the consequences of the abortive attempt. How did Kael fit into Thorne's plan, and what was it? What was the overall picture? Since there is undoubtedly mine.
I became more aware that I was most likely in over my head as I studied more. However, I'm adamant on finishing this, no matter the price.
My mind keeps returning to the things I discussed with Tristan. Had I sinned by letting my alpha know more of Thorne's scheme and failing to change my ways before it was too late? Did Tristan have a secret of his own?
I realized I needed to take action as the sun began to set, bathing the surrounding area in a warm orange light. I couldn't merely watch Thorne's scheme come to pass.
What could I do, though? And whom could I believe? Who could I trust?
I felt uneasy and uncomfortable as the questions whirled about in my head. However, one thing was certain: the stakes were greater than ever, and failure would have disastrous repercussions, particularly for me.
I stepped aside, watching the event with a sharp eye back at the council meeting in the Lycan king's palace.
Surrounded by the lavish décor of the castle's great hall, Councilor Vasquez and Elder Reyes sat at a large wooden table with the other councilors and elders.
The tension in the air was emphasized by the bright sunshine coming through the windows.
The sound of Tristan and Lucy's footfall reverberated off the stone walls as they entered the big hall. As they walked to the table, they looked around the room.
"What's happening here?" Tristan said in a quiet voice.
Councilor Vasquez's grin fell short of his eyes. "Just discussing the recent... unpleasantness."
Lucy squinted her eyes. "You mean Thorne's attack?"
Elder Reyes gave a nod. "Yes. We're attempting to ascertain the most effective line of action.
I observed the conversation while his thoughts were buzzing with potential outcomes.
The mood and the minor shifts in these two men's behavior patterns told me that something was wrong. What did they have to conceal? And how can I make the most of that knowledge?
I saw that Elder Reyes and Councilor Vasquez seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Tristan and Lucy as the talk went on. Even though it was slight, my trained eyes were able to see the warning indications.
It seems like Tristan sensed something was wrong as well. He regarded the elders and councilors with narrowed, penetrating eyes.
"I think we need to consider the possibility that Thorne's attack was just a diversion," said Tristan in a forceful voice.
For a brief period, Councilor Vasquez's grin wavered before he composed himself. "A distraction? For what purpose? His voice was louder than usual as he inquired. Win! I was aware that something was wrong.
The councilor's gaze met Tristan's. "I haven't decided yet. However, I plan to find out."
The tension between Tristan and the elders and councilor was evident as the room grew hushed. I stared in silence, my thoughts whirling with potential.
What were the elder and councilor concealing? What lengths would they go to in order to conceal such secrets?
Lucy's countenance was serious as her gaze shifted between Tristan and the councilors. She added, "I think Tristan might be onto something," in a measured tone. "We can't just assume that Thorne's attack was a random act of violence."
Elder Reyes moved in her chair uneasily. She added, "I'm not sure I quite agree with you Luna," in a cautious tone. "We have no evidence to suggest that Thorne's attack was anything more than a desperate attempt to gain power."
Tristan's gaze became strained. He said, "That's exactly my point," in a forceful voice. "The information we have is insufficient. And we can't rule out anything until we do."
As they spoke, I saw that Elder Reyes and Councilor Vasquez seemed to be glancing at each other. Their communication seemed to be concealed from the other members of the group.
I couldn't be duped so easily, but a casual observer may assume it was a covert affair between the two people. It was something far deeper, whatever it was. But how can I know for sure?
With my eyes silently searching the hallways for any indication of life, I crept out of the big hall. I'm determined to uncover whatever it is that I strongly believe Councilor Vasquez and Elder Reyes were concealing.
His footsteps were soft on the stone as he walked to the east wing of the castle. The creaking of the ancient wooden beams was the sole sound coming from the empty east wing. Mark's senses were on high alert as his eyes adapted to the low light.
I kept thinking about the discussion I had just seen in the great hall while I was walking. With their eyes darting back and forth like snagged animals, Vasquez and Reyes had both seemed anxious. I have a gut feeling that they are concealing something.
I paused before a big wooden door and put my ear to the panel. The sound of voices, muted yet distinct, was audible to me. My senses were on high alert as my heart raced.
My face broke into a slow grin. It seems to me that I'm about to discover a secret that has the power to alter everything. A huge jackpot.
The door creaked open with a soft creak, exposing a darkened room beyond. Slowly, my eyes adjusted to the folks gathered around a big, elaborate table.
The flickering flames lit the features of Vasquez and Reyes, who were seated at the head of the table. And a figure that made my heart skip a beat was sitting next to them...
With my thoughts spinning with astonishment and uncertainty, I fixed my gaze on the person. I had never anticipated seeing someone who was meant to be on "our side" in this situation.
The person glanced up and caught my eyes just as I was starting to take in what I was seeing, and I grinned broadly.