Flora paced the quiet confines of her room, her fingers brushing against the cool metal of the dagger Maxwell had given her for self-defense. Her mind replayed Bianca's cold words, the venom in her voice seeping into every syllable.
"Stay out of my way."
What did Bianca mean by that? And why now, when the pack needed unity more than ever?
Flora couldn't let it go. If Bianca was a threat, Flora had to find out how deep it went. But she couldn't confront Bianca outright—not yet. She needed to be smart about this, careful. A plan was forming in her mind, risky but necessary.
The next morning, Flora slipped into the forest before dawn. She'd noticed Bianca leaving the lodge at odd hours, always alone. Flora intended to follow her, hoping to uncover answers.
The forest was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Flora's heart pounded as she crouched behind a cluster of bushes, her gaze fixed on the lodge's rear entrance.
Minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last. Just as doubt began to creep in, the door creaked open. Bianca emerged, her movements quick and purposeful.
Flora stayed low, trailing her at a safe distance. The pale light of dawn barely penetrated the thick canopy above, casting eerie shadows along the forest floor. Bianca moved with confidence, as if she knew the terrain well.
After what felt like an eternity, Bianca stopped. Flora ducked behind a tree, peering out to see her standing in a small clearing. She was speaking softly, though there was no one in sight.
Flora strained to hear, but the words were muffled. Then, Bianca extended her hand, and a figure emerged from the shadows.
Flora's breath hitched. The figure was tall, clad in dark clothing, and his face was obscured by a hood. She didn't recognize him, but the aura of danger he exuded was unmistakable.
"Is everything in place?" the man asked, his voice low and gravelly.
Bianca nodded. "The pack suspects nothing. They're too focused on the vampires to see what's happening right under their noses."
Flora's blood ran cold. What was Bianca planning? And why was she working with this stranger?
The man stepped closer, his tone laced with warning. "Good. But remember, if you slip up, it won't just be your life on the line."
Bianca's confident demeanor faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "I won't fail."
The man nodded, then disappeared back into the shadows as swiftly as he'd appeared.
Flora's mind raced. She needed to warn someone, but who? Maxwell? Damian? Would they even believe her without proof?
She shifted her weight, and a branch snapped beneath her foot.
Bianca's head whipped around. "Who's there?"
Flora's heart leapt into her throat. She ducked lower, pressing herself against the tree trunk.
"I know someone's there," Bianca said, her voice sharp. "Come out, or I'll find you."
Flora's pulse thundered in her ears. She couldn't let Bianca catch her, not when she was this close to uncovering the truth. She waited until Bianca took a step toward the sound, then bolted in the opposite direction.
Branches clawed at her clothes as she ran, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She didn't dare look back, afraid of what she might see.
When she finally reached the lodge, she slipped inside and pressed her back against the door, her chest heaving. The weight of what she'd just witnessed pressed down on her, but she couldn't let it paralyze her.
"Flora, you look like you've seen a ghost," Luke said, concern etched across his face.
She had run into him in the kitchen, her hair disheveled and her breathing uneven. She couldn't tell him the full truth—not yet.
"I just needed some air," she said, forcing a smile.
Luke didn't look convinced. "You're a terrible liar. What's going on?"
Flora hesitated. Luke had always been there for her, but this felt bigger than the two of them. Still, she couldn't do this alone.
"Bianca," she said finally. "She's hiding something. I followed her this morning and saw her meeting with someone in the forest."
Luke's expression darkened. "Who was it?"
"I don't know," Flora admitted. "But they're planning something, and it's not good. We need to figure out what before it's too late."
Luke nodded, his jaw set. "All right. Let's figure it out together."
That night, Flora and Luke met in the pack's common room, where they were less likely to be overheard. They spread out a map of the forest, marking the clearing where Bianca had met the stranger.
"If we're going to confront her, we need evidence," Luke said.
Flora agreed. "We'll have to watch her movements, see if she goes back to the clearing or meets with that man again."
Luke frowned. "What about Maxwell? Shouldn't we loop him in?"
Flora hesitated. Maxwell had been kind to her, but she wasn't sure how he'd react to this. "Not yet. Let's gather proof first."
The following days were a blur of careful observation. Flora and Luke took turns keeping an eye on Bianca, but she didn't leave the lodge again. Flora began to wonder if Bianca suspected she'd been followed.
Then, one evening, Flora overheard a conversation in the dining hall that sent chills down her spine.
"You'll have what you need tomorrow," Bianca said, her voice low. "Make sure everything's ready."
Flora peeked around the corner to see Bianca handing a small package to one of the newer pack members, a wiry young man named Jared.
Jared nodded. "Don't worry. It'll be done."
As Bianca walked away, Flora slipped back into the shadows, her mind spinning. Whatever was happening, it was happening soon.
She found Luke in the training yard, sparring with one of the other pack members.
"We don't have much time," she said, pulling him aside. "Bianca just gave Jared something and told him to be ready for tomorrow."
Luke's eyes narrowed. "Do you think she's planning an attack?"
Flora nodded. "I don't know what else it could be. We have to stop her."
Luke placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We will. But we need a plan."
That night, Flora barely slept. Her thoughts were consumed by the danger Bianca posed to the pack and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
As the first light of dawn broke through her window, Flora made a decision. She couldn't wait any longer. Bianca was a threat, and Flora would do whatever it took to protect the pack—even if it meant facing Bianca head-on.
With renewed determination, she dressed quickly and headed for the clearing.
It was time for answers.