Flora's pulse raced as the revelation about Bianca's betrayal sank deeper. The camp was on edge, its atmosphere thick with fear and anticipation. The pack, usually united in their purpose, had now been divided by a hidden threat that had infiltrated their ranks.
Maxwell's hand rested lightly on her shoulder as they walked through the dense forest toward the main gathering place. The pendant in Luke's hand had confirmed their worst fears. Bianca, someone Flora had trusted, had been playing a dangerous game, one that would cost them all dearly.
Maxwell's silence spoke volumes as they moved through the shadows of the trees. His presence beside her felt heavier now, like a weight Flora could feel pressing against her chest. She wanted to speak, to ask him what they should do, but the words caught in her throat. How could she have missed it?
They reached the clearing where the pack had gathered, their faces filled with anger and confusion. Luke stood in the center, still holding the pendant.
"Everyone's here," Luke called out, his voice filled with authority. "We need to act now. The vampires know where we are."
Maxwell stepped forward, his eyes scanning the group. "We'll need to make plans. Prepare for anything." His voice was firm, but there was a flicker of something else—something deeper, darker, that Flora couldn't ignore.
Luke nodded, meeting Maxwell's gaze. "We have no time to waste. Bianca's already made contact with them. She's moving fast."
The urgency in Luke's voice spurred the group into action. There was no room for hesitation. Each member of the pack had their part to play, their training to fall back on. They had spent years preparing for this moment, but none of them had expected the fight to come from within their own ranks.
Flora stood off to the side, her hands clenched into fists. She needed to be part of the plan, but her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Betrayal. Fear. Guilt. She had been the one to bring Bianca into the fold, the one to trust her. And now that trust had been shattered in an instant.
Maxwell approached her, his eyes searching hers. "We'll get through this, Flora. We have no choice but to fight back."
Flora nodded, but her stomach twisted. She couldn't shake the image of Bianca's face, that smug expression she had worn when she revealed the truth. It was like she had been toying with them all along.
"What's the plan?" Flora asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
Maxwell's eyes softened, but there was no time for comfort now. "We'll split the pack into smaller teams. Each group will take a different section of the territory. We need to secure the area and prepare for an ambush. I want every entrance covered. If Bianca or the vampires make a move, we'll be ready."
Flora clenched her fists tighter. "What about Bianca? How do we deal with her?"
Maxwell's gaze turned cold, his jaw set. "We confront her. She knows too much. We can't let her run free."
Flora's heart raced at the thought. What if Bianca was leading them into a trap? What if the vampires were already too close?
"We can't be sure she's alone," Luke added, stepping closer to the group. "If we confront her, we need to be prepared for anything. She might be working with others inside the pack."
The weight of Luke's words hung in the air. They couldn't trust anyone now—not even their own people.
"Then we do this by the book," Maxwell said. "No mercy. We take back control."
Flora nodded, her resolve hardening. This was no longer just a matter of survival. It was about reclaiming everything they had lost. The trust. The safety. The unity.
As the teams were assigned their roles, Flora's mind raced. She needed to find Bianca. Confront her. Find out what she was planning and stop her before it was too late.
"Flora," Maxwell called, drawing her attention. "I need you with me. We're heading to the western border. If Bianca's planning something, she'll likely make her move there first."
Flora's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to protest, to say she could handle it alone, but she didn't. Maxwell's presence gave her the courage she needed.
Together, they moved out of the clearing and toward the western border. The night felt colder than before, the air thick with tension. Every rustle of leaves, every crack of a twig underfoot, made Flora's senses sharpen. She couldn't afford to let her guard down—not now.
Maxwell led the way, his every movement precise and deliberate. Flora stayed close behind, her eyes scanning the surrounding trees for any sign of movement. The closer they got to the border, the more the silence grew unbearable. It was as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
"Stay alert," Maxwell said quietly. "Bianca will try to lure us into a false sense of security."
Flora nodded, her hand instinctively reaching for the silver knife strapped to her side. It was a weapon she had grown accustomed to, its weight a constant reminder of the danger they were facing.
They reached the edge of the territory, where the trees began to thin and the faintest outlines of the pack's outposts could be seen in the distance. But something wasn't right. Flora's senses screamed at her that they were walking into a trap.
"Maxwell," Flora whispered, her voice barely audible. "This feels wrong."
He stopped, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. "I know. Stay close."
They moved forward cautiously, their steps light and careful. The silence pressed in on them, thick and suffocating. Flora's heartbeat echoed in her ears, drowning out everything else.
Then, suddenly, there was a rustle in the trees. A shadow flitted across their path, and before Flora could react, a figure emerged from the darkness.
It was Bianca.
Flora's breath caught in her throat as she faced the woman she had once called a friend. Bianca stood tall, her dark eyes gleaming with an unsettling calmness.
"Did you really think I wouldn't find you?" Bianca's voice was smooth, almost mocking.
Flora's heart pounded in her chest. This was it—the moment they had all been waiting for. The confrontation.
But Flora wasn't ready for what came next.
Bianca's eyes flickered toward Maxwell, and in an instant, the air around them shifted. The tension brok
e, and Flora realized too late that they had walked straight into the trap.