{"Don't make a hasty movement. Be like a mountain. Move silently and cautiously."}
TOR'S POV
Anxiety gnawed at the edges of my resolve, but patience kept me grounded. I never knew I had so much of it until today. My plans to return to Hanka Island had been derailed by the pack's constant meddling and the mountain of work piling up. Spark insisted we interrogate the mole together, so we left my office and headed to the Bay Shifter prison.
The minute we stepped into the dimly lit cell, Gale, my Lycan, stirred within me, his anger palpable. "The prisoner's blood reeks of vampire poison," he growled, his voice a deep rumble in my mind.
I moved forward, standing before the iron bars of the jail cell. Wave flanked me on my left, his presence steady as always. Rowen Aren, the supposed traitor, shot to his feet at the sight of me. Gale surged to the forefront of my mind, his power spilling out uncontrollably.
Rowen dropped to his knees with a sickening thud, his body convulsing as blood trickled from his ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. He bared his neck in submission, a desperate plea for mercy, but Gale was not about to grant it.
"This wolf has betrayed the Bay Shifter coven," Gale's voice thundered through the room, carrying the weight of undeniable truth. "His blood reeks of a vampire's poison. He is not a pure wolf, he is a half-breed!"
The revelation struck like lightning. Wave and Spark both took instinctive steps back, their eyes wide with shock. I could feel my anger surging, raw and untamed, radiating from me in waves of power that bounced off the cold stone walls.
"Spare me," Rowen croaked, his voice weak and trembling, but Gale was not listening.
Instead, Gale pushed further, his power intertwining with Rowen's mind in an invasive, brutal connection. I felt it too, a twisted link to the vampire who had tainted him. The bond was dark, parasitic, and wrong. With a final surge, Gale severed the vampire's control, pushing the dark power out of Rowen's wolf. Rowen collapsed in a heap on the floor, lifeless but not dead.
"Is he dead?" Wave asked, his voice low, hesitant.
"No," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "He is unconscious. He will wake up soon."
The room was heavy with silence, the tension thick and suffocating. Gale retreated into the recesses of my mind, exhausted but victorious. We had severed the link, but the damage had already been done. Rowen's betrayal was a bitter pill to swallow, but I was glad that Gale, my Lycan, had the power to see through what he had done.
An hour later, the guards informed us that Rowan had regained consciousness. I did not hesitate—we made our way back to the jail cell. As soon as Rowan spotted me, his eyes widened in sheer terror. He stumbled back until his shoulders hit the cold stone wall. His trembling was impossible to miss.
"So now you understand what it means to fear me?" I asked, my voice low and edged with authority. He nodded quickly, his fear palpable as he stammered out his words. "I-I never wanted to betray you. But, they had my sister—the vampires—they had her. I had no choice. They forced me to let them use my mind link to pass information to the Paradise Coven."
Wave stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Rowan. "What were they looking for?"
Rowan swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly as he struggled to speak. "They… they wanted to know about your Lycan wolf," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Spark's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Why?" he demanded, his tone like a whip cracking through the tense air. Rowan hesitated, his fear choking him, but he finally said, "The Vampire Coven Lord… he is afraid. Afraid of the Bay Shifter pack becoming too powerful. He wanted to know what kind of powers you have."
A humorless chuckle escaped my lips. "Oh, I'm just an ordinary wolf," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. I leaned closer to the bars, letting my presence dominate the space. "Unless someone crosses the line. But you already know what Gale can do, don't you, Rowan?"
Rowan raised his hands defensively, shaking his head. "Please, Alpha… My sister… She is all I have left. I had to protect her. I had no choice."
His desperation was real, but my trust had been shattered. I turned to Spark, keeping my voice steady. "Lock him up. Double the guards. And find out where his sister is. If she is alive, I want her rescued. If this is a lie…" I let the implication hang in the air.
Spark nodded. "Understood."
Without another glance at Rowan, I turned and made my way out of the cell. "I'm heading out for a run," I said over my shoulder, my voice curt.
The tension followed me as I left, but I needed the clarity only the open air and a long run could provide. Hanka Island could wait a little longer. The weather shifted sharply as I moved deeper into the forest. Snow began to fall steadily, carried by the biting wind that howled down from the mountains. It clung to my fur as I padded through the trees, my paws crunching softly against the frost-covered ground.
I had shifted into my wolf form to throw off any potential trackers, weaving through dense thickets and crossing streams to hide my trail. After what felt like an eternity, I finally arrived at the caves. The shadows inside were still and heavy, but I paused just outside, my ears twitching, listening intently to the silence.
Then Gale stirred. "We have a tail."
His words sent a rush of irritation through me. A smirk tugged at my muzzle as I let out a low growl of annoyance. Fine. If they want to play this game, let us see how far they are willing to go.
Rather than proceeding into the caves, I veered off toward the waterfall, moving swiftly through the snowy forest. The sound of rushing water grew louder as I neared the falls. I shifted back into my human form, the cold biting at my skin but doing little to cool the simmering frustration within me.
I stood still, the mist from the waterfall dampening my hair and clothes, as I waited for my pursuer to reveal themselves. Gale's voice echoed in my mind, his tone sharp. " It's Tiger Astor, the Deputy General. Rowan's boss."
The realization made my jaw tighten. Of all people, it had to be him. I turned back toward the forest, scanning the tree line with narrowed eyes. "Show yourself," I called out, my voice sharp and commanding.
To emphasize my words, I pushed Gale's power outward, letting it ripple through the air like an unspoken threat. Minutes passed, the silence stretching taut before a figure emerged from the woods. Tiger Astor stepped forward, his movements slow and measured as he approached. His expression was unreadable, but his presence was undeniable.
I squared my shoulders, my voice cutting through the cold air. "Why the hell are you following me?"
Tiger Astor stepped closer, his movements deliberate. As he neared me, he bared his neck in a gesture of submission and respect, then greeted me. "Hello, Alpha. I apologize for following you, but I had no choice."
I raised a brow, waiting for him to explain.
He straightened slightly, his tone cautious but steady. "I heard that Rowan was arrested and confessed to being a spy. That puts me in a precarious position. I would be the first suspect given his role under my command." He glanced over his shoulder before continuing, "I needed to speak with you about this… privately."
I studied him for a moment, weighing his words. Finally, I nodded and gestured for him to follow. Without another word, we moved beneath the waterfall, the rushing water masking any sound and providing the cover we needed.
The forest beyond was a tranquil scene, blanketed in snow that fell steadily from the gray sky. The cold bit at my skin, but the stillness of the moment settled some of my irritation.
Tiger broke the silence first. "Alpha," he began, his voice low, "someone used Rowan because they knew he was loyal to me. They knew he would never betray the Bay Shifter pack willingly."
His words were heavy with conviction, and I could sense the truth in them. I remained silent, letting him continue.
"The council hasn't been the same since your Lycan awakened," Tiger admitted. "It's caused… unrest." He hesitated, then added, "They were eager to rush your engagement to Aqua Colbat. Council Leader Thorn Colbat is a control freak, and he saw that as a way to maintain his influence."
A dry chuckle escaped my lips. "I am well aware of Thorn's schemes. But why involve Rowan?"
Tiger let out a weary sigh. "Rowan is not like the others. He has no interest in power, only in protecting the pack. That made him an easy target for manipulation."
His gaze darkened as he continued. "The truth is General Cobble Steel, my superior, has been restless. Your Lycan's awakening has made him anxious. He was one of the many who wanted you to be mated to Aqua. Him and Elder Thorn seem to have planned for it."
I leaned against the rocky wall, processing his words. "And what does that have to do with the Paradise Coven?"