The grand hall erupted into chaos. Moments ago, the meeting between the two packs had been strained but orderly. The news of a border ambush hit like a storm, scattering any type of peace the packs had managed to maintain. Shouting filled the air as accusations flew back and forth, each word like a dagger to a wound.
"This is an act of war!" "This was your doing!" Elder Thorne mentioned with a sharp voice which cut through the clamor as he pointed an accusing finger at one of Gabriel's advisors. With his eyes filled with anger. "Your pack has been plotting this all along!"
"We would never attack without cause," the advisor shot back. "Your pack is known for always trying to control others." Accusations flew across the room like arrows, each one increasing the fire.
Aveline watched from the edge of the room, her heart beating a lot faster. Her thoughts raced as she tried to process what this meant. Could Gabriel's pack be behind this? she wondered. But something about the situation didn't sit right. She clenched her fists, trying to make sense of the uproar. The council table which was formerly like a symbol of uneasy diplomacy, now felt like a battlefield.
Aveline's gaze shifted toward Gabriel. He just stood motionless in the middle of the storm, his face calm but his jaw was tight. He didn't argue or defend himself against the accusations. His silence only increased the fire. He was good at hiding his emotions, but she had known him too long to notice signs of pretense.
Still, doubt tormented her mindset. She wanted to believe he had nothing to do with the attack, but how sure could she be? Gabriel had changed, and his loyalties were no longer clear.
"Enough!" Aveline's father shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. He stepped forward with a commanding posture. "We need proof before we escalate this further. Pointing fingers solves nothing."
Her father's voice broke into her thoughts. "Aveline," he said sternly, pulling her aside. "This is why you can't afford distractions. You need to stay focused and remember where your loyalties lie."
The room fell into an uneasy silence, though the tension went just below the surface. Aveline's gaze dashed toward Gabriel. He met her eyes briefly, and she kept wondering what he was thinking.
When she returned to her quarters, Aveline paced restlessly in her room. Her thoughts were a storm of doubts and emotions. The accusations against Gabriel's pack echoed in her mind.
She wondered if his pack was behind this. She had no evidence, but the possibility went through her mind.
Her father's strict voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts. He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. "You need to focus, Aveline," he said firmly.
"I am focused," she replied, though her voice was not with the expected affirmation.
"No, you're not," he said while stepping closer. "I have seen the way you look at him. You're letting old feelings overshadow your judgment."
Aveline bristled. "This isn't about him."
"It's always about him," her father shot back. "Gabriel is a complication we can't afford. Our pack's future depends on these negotiations, not on whatever unresolved emotions you're carrying around."
She turned away, his words striking a nerve.
"Just remember," he added as he left, "loyalty to the pack comes first."
Aveline volunteered to join the scouting party sent to investigate the ambush. She needed answers—answers that no one else seemed willing to find.
The forest near the border was very quiet as the group moved cautiously through the trees. The air smelled of ash and blood, the telltale signs of a recent battle.
When they arrived at the site, the scene was a mess. Broken weapons and torn banners littered the ground. The scattering remains of a campsite sent lots of smoke into the sky.
Aveline crouched to examine the tracks in the dirt. Her sharp eyes noticed something unusual. The footprints were scattered, they appeared in ways that didn't make sense.
"This isn't right," she murmured.
One of the scouts moves closer. "What do you mean?"
She pointed to the ground. "These tracks are chaotic, almost as if whoever was here wanted to leave a trail. It's too obvious."
Her words stayed in the air as the group exchanged uneasy glances.
"It's staged," she said finally, the realization sinking in. "This wasn't an ambush. It was meant to look like one."
Before anyone could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears. Aveline stood and turned toward where the sound came, her hand instinctively going to her weapon.
Gabriel's pack emerged from the tree line, their movements were deliberate. Their presence was an immediate provocation.
"Hold your ground!" Gabriel commanded, raising a hand to his warriors. His voice carried a weight that made even Aveline's group hesitate.
The two sides faced each other, weapons already half-drawn, the air filled with hostility.
"Gabriel," Aveline said, stepping forward. "What are you doing here?"
He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "The same thing you are. Looking for answers."
"And we're supposed to believe that?" one of the scouts snapped.
Aveline's chest tightened. She didn't answer, unsure if she even could.
Gabriel turned to address both groups, his voice strong and steady. "This attack was not carried out by my pack or yours I assume. This was the work of a third party am certain. Someone who wants to see us destroy each other."
His words brought a ripple of disbelief. Murmurs spread through both groups, some filled with doubt, others with reluctant consideration.
"What proof do you have?" one of Aveline's scouts demanded.
Gabriel gestured to the scene around them. "Look for yourself. The tracks, the scattered weapons—it's too perfect. This was meant to bring war, not to win a battle."
Aveline's mind raced. She had reached a similar conclusion, but hearing it from Gabriel made her doubt her instincts. Was he being honest, or was this another ploy?
"If we go to war now," Gabriel continued, "we'll weaken ourselves and leave our packs vulnerable. Whoever orchestrated this will win, and we'll both lose."
The silence that followed was heavy. Aveline could see the disbelief on her father's face, the calculation in Elder Thorne's eyes. No one trusted Gabriel, but his argument was hard to refute.
"What do you propose?" her father asked, his tone softened.
Gabriel took a step forward. "A temporary alliance. We work together to find the real culprits and stop them before more blood is shed."
The tension was already intense as both sides considered Gabriel's proposal. No one wanted to trust the other, but the alternative was far worse.
Elder Thorne finally spoke, his voice sharp. "Fine. A truce. But don't think for a second that we trust you."
Gabriel nodded. "I wouldn't expect you to."
Weapons were slowly lowered, though the atmosphere remained filled with suspicion.
Gabriel turned to Aveline, his expression softening. "I need you by my side for this," he said quietly.
Her heart skipped as his words were filled with things she wasn't prepared for after all that had happened and her mind raced with the implications.
Before she could respond, a messenger appeared with a pale face and gasping for breath. "There's been another attack," he said urgently. "This time, it's worse."
Everyone was agape at the news, and the uneasy peace became shattered.
Gabriel's jaw clenched, and Aveline felt a chill run down her spine. Whoever was behind this wasn't finished and the next move could plunge them all into chaos.