Devin 's POV
Angela 's eyes never left mine as the weight of the situation began to sink in. We were in this together now, whether we liked it or not. And the thought of facing Nikolai, vampires, and whatever else came our way was daunting. But the moment she agreed to fight alongside me, something inside me shifted—an unspoken bond that couldn't be broken, no matter how much I tried to deny it before.
"I'll contact the pack," she said, her voice more confident, even though I could see the hesitation in her eyes. "But we'll need a plan. They won't just listen to me after everything that's happened."
"I'll figure out the details," I replied, pacing the small room as I thought it through. "We need leverage, something that'll convince them this is in their best interest too."
"Leverage?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow. "They're werewolves, Devin . They don't respond well to threats."
"Not threats," I corrected, pausing mid-stride. "Incentives. They'll want something in return for helping us. Protection, resources, something."
Angela was silent for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "There's something else," she said finally, her tone cautious.
"What is it?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"I don't think Nikolai's working alone," she confessed, her voice low.
My blood ran cold at her words. A werewolf, someone from her own world, conspiring with Nikolai? That changed everything.
"Do you know who it is?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
She shook her head. "No."
"We'll need to send someone in," I said, thinking fast. "A spy. Someone who can get close to Kaida's pack, figure out who's betraying them."
Angela 's gaze sharpened, understanding dawning on her. "You mean me."
"You're the only one who could pull it off," I admitted. "They know you, and with your history, you could play the part of someone trying to make amends."
"I'm not a spy, Devin ," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm a fighter. I can't just lie my way into a pack."
"You won't have to lie," I said, stepping closer to her. "You'll be telling the truth—at least, part of it. You'll go back as someone seeking redemption, someone who wants to help protect the pack."
"And when they ask why I'm really there?"
I held her gaze, unflinching. "You tell them the truth. That Nikolai's coming for them, and they need to trust you if they want to survive."
Angela looked away, the weight of what I was asking settling heavily between us. "This could get me killed, Devin ," she said softly.
"I confess," I whispered quietly. "It is the sole method available."
Both of us remained silent for an extended period of time. The tense silence around us was charged with unspoken emotions, as the harsh truth of our situation became undeniable. It wasn't just a matter of staying alive now; it had become a question of relying on each other. I was aware that I was requesting from her more than she may be inclined to offer.
At last, she glanced back at me, her determined gaze aflame in her blue eyes. "I will take care of it," she stated confidently. However, in order to succeed, we must act quickly. Nikolai is not going to wait.
I nodded, feeling relieved, but I didn't display it. I will reach out to my team to gather information before you proceed. We must have a clear understanding of the challenges ahead.
"Okay," she stated, getting up from the sofa. "If this fails, we won't have another opportunity."
I advanced towards the door; however, I extended my hand and gently grabbed her arm. "Angela ..."
She looked at me with a cautious expression.
"I was sincere in what I said before," I informed her, speaking with a quiet yet resolute tone. "I will stand by your side through this, you won't have to go through it by yourself."
For a brief moment, her gaze softened before she pulled her arm away. "Let's just make it through this initial challenge."
And just like that, she disappeared, leaving me alone in the dusty boathouse, feeling the burden of everything weighing heavily on me.
The cat jumped up onto the table and knocked over the vase.
Angela 's perspective
As I exited the boathouse, the chilling night breeze felt like a sudden slap, causing me to wrap my jacket more securely around myself. I was frantically trying to make sense of all that had occurred and all that was about to come.
Nikolai. Greetings, Kaida. A werewolf turning against their own species. It seemed like a bad dream from which I couldn't rouse myself.
However, I needed to remain concentrated. From my previous experiences, I had come to understand that revealing vulnerability could be fatal. I wasn't going to allow that to happen once more.
I had accepted Devin 's plan because, in my heart, I understood it was the sole choice. However, that did not make it any less difficult. Returning to the group was the final task I wished to complete. They had left me, betrayed me during my time of greatest need. And now I was expected to casually return and act as if I was there to offer assistance?
I was unsure if I could accomplish it.
If it meant halting Nikolai and safeguarding the pack from the traitor, I had no other option.
I made it to the edge of the dock, feeling my heart beat faster as I gazed at the dark, flowing water. Nikolai was scheming his next move, and I needed to be prepared for anything that might happen.
Inhaling deeply, I retrieved my phone and dialed a number that I hadn't contacted in a while.
"Angela ?" - Is there something you need? The voice coming from the opposite side sounded unsure and perplexed.
"I said, it's me," I stated, my voice unwavering as a storm brewed within me. I require a discussion with Kaida. "At this moment."
A moment of silence followed, and his apprehension was evident in his voice. "What is happening?"
"I will provide an explanation once I arrive," was my response. "Just ensure that she is aware of my arrival."
I ended the call before he could inquire further, quickly putting the phone in my pocket. There was no going back at this point.
As I started walking toward the pack's territory, a thousand thoughts raced through my mind. I didn't know who I could trust, didn't know if the pack would even accept me back. But I had to try.
For the pack. For Devin .
And for myself.