The council hall was quiet, covered in the serious silence of the late hour. Aveline slipped down the corridor, her steps were against the stone floor. Her pulse quickened as she approached Elder Thorne's study, the door standing before her like a silent judge. She had no choice. Too many questions filled her mind, and Gabriel's warnings about Thorne's loyalty had only deepened her suspicions.
She took a deep breath, turned the doorknob, and pushed it open just enough to occupy him and allow his entrance inside the room. The room smelled of aged wood and old parchment. Shelves lined with ancient texts stretched from floor to ceiling, and a massive desk stood at the center, papers stacked neatly on its surface. The faint light of the moon entering through the window cast a slight shadow across the room.
Aveline hesitated and her conscience was at war with her determination. If she was wrong? if Thorne was truly loyal to their pack? this would be a betrayal of everything she believed in. But if Gabriel was right, if Thorne was playing a dangerous game, then she couldn't afford to ignore the truth.
Aveline began with the desk. Her hands moved quickly but carefully, checking through documents and letters. Most of them seem old and boring, territory reports, diplomatic requests, and records of council meetings. But then she found a small stack of sealed letters folded inside a drawer.
The wax seals bore no emblem, only an unfamiliar symbol—a crescent moon pierced by a dagger. She broke the seal of the first letter and read by the moonlight:
"The plan is progressing. Gabriel remains a useful pawn, though his resolve weakens. Ensure the next move disrupts any chance of peace. The packs must remain divided for the outcome to favor us."
Her breath went off at the end of the letter. The letters spoke of deliberate manipulation, of moves meant to destabilize the already fragile alliance. Gabriel's name appeared repeatedly, along with veiled references to an unnamed third party. One passage in particular sent a shiver down her body:
"The ambush at the border will serve its purpose. Let them believe it was an act of aggression. Their fear will drive them to us."
Aveline's hands shook as she pieced together the implications of the words in the letter. Thorne was not just involved in recent events, he was the architect of them. The ambush, the tensions, the mistrust, it all seemed part of a larger plan. But to what end? And who was this mysterious third party pulling the strings?
The weight of the discovery pressed down on her. Thorne, a man she had grown up admiring, was manipulating their pack and its enemies altogether. The thought disturbed her stomach. If Thorne could betray their pack, how many others on the council might be involved? And how could she possibly confront him without proof beyond these letters?
She tucked the letter into her cloak, her mind became hardened. Gabriel's warnings echoed in her mind. Not everyone who claims loyalty to the pack has its best interests at heart. Aveline knew she needed to act, but she also knew the risk. Thorne was powerful, and any misstep could cost her dearly.
As she moved toward the door, a soft creak sound broke the silence. Aveline froze, and her heart nearly entered into her throat. The door edged open, and a shadowed figure stepped inside.
Her first thought was Thorne himself, and she instinctively stepped back into the shadows. But when the figure stepped into the light, she caught her breath back, it was her father.
Beta Kellan stood in the doorway, his tall frame was firm, and his expression a mix of shock and disappointment.
"Aveline," he said, his voice low but firm. "What are you doing?"
She clutched the letters inside her cloak, her mind racing for an explanation. " I needed answers."
"By sneaking into Thorne's study?" he asked, stepping closer. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."
His words sent a chill through her. "You knew?" she whispered, the realization dawning on her. "You knew about Thorne's plans, didn't you?"
"I know more than you think," he said, his gaze filled with unspoken truths. "And you should've stayed out of this."
Aveline's anger increased sporadically. "Stayed out of what? Watching our pack be manipulated into war? Seeing
Kellan's had disappointment all over him. "You think this is simple? That the truth is black and white? You're wrong, Aveline. There are forces at play here far bigger than you could realize. If you push too hard, you'll get yourself killed."
"I can't just stand by," she replied with anger in her words. "Not when I know what's happening."
Her father sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly. For the first time, he looked lost and a show of his true self, he looked more like a man carrying an unbearable burden. "Aveline, you really think you are ready for the truth, but you are not. There are things I can't even protect you from."
"Then help me," she pleaded. "Tell me what you know."
Kellan hesitated, his eyes searching hers. For a moment, she thought he might relent. But then he shook his head. "Not here. Not now. Go back to your quarters, Aveline. Pretend you didn't find anything tonight."
"And if I don't?" she challenged.
His expression hardened. "Then you'll force my hand, and neither of us wants that."
Aveline stared at him, torn between anger and heartbreak. The father she had trusted all her life was now a stranger, withholding truths she desperately needed. But she couldn't back down, not now.
Without another word, Kellan stepped aside, letting her leave the study. As she passed him, he murmured, "Be careful, Aveline. You're walking a dangerous path."
She didn't respond as she walked past him with her mind filled with the repercussions of what she had just discovered. And now, she wasn't sure who she could trust, even her father included.
As she stepped into the cool night air, hanging unto the stolen letters, one thought burned in her mind: I will uncover the truth, no matter the cost.