.....
The tension in the battle training ground seemed to solidify as every Lycan warrior understood the weight of the moment, understanding that they could be facing no ordinary opponent; a force that would stop at nothing to crush them if they failed.
The warriors moved into action, a single unified thought running through their minds: there would be no room for mistakes. Not now that their Alpha wasn't happy with them; not anymore.
Every move was calculated, their instincts razor-sharp, not just for the battle that loomed ahead, but for the traitor that was lurking amongst them, an imposter who had betrayed their trust. They were on high alert, knowing that one wrong step could cause the reveal of the enemy hiding in plain sight.
.....
Cove had returned to his study, his mind still storming with the weight of different possiibilities and the unsettling truths that lurked beneath it. He poured himself a glass of vintage wine, gripping the wine glass tightly as he replayed the day's events. His mind racing, his jaw clenched. There was no room for weakness, not now.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Morrigana stepped in, her eyes catching Cove's gaze with a glimmer of hesitation.
"Nice speech out there" Morrigana said her voice laced with a hint of mockery.
She stood at the doorway, a quiet smirk playing on her lips as the tension in the room thickened with her presence.
"Was that supposed to be a joke or something?" Cove said, his voice low and cold, eyes burning with a quiet disgust. "This is no time for your silly games, Morrigana."
His tone was sharp, unwavering. He didn't have time to waste on her unnecessary tantrums. But deep down, his mind wondered, trying to figure out what she was at again.
"Oh no! You've got it all wrong Alpha Cove," she said, her voice calm and chilling, contrasting to the chaos swirling around.
Morrigana stepped forward, her gaze unwavering as she met Cove's eyes.
"And yes, I do know these are not the times for games," she continued. "Perhaps your expectations are too high. Not every warrior can live up to the height of perfection you've built for yourself."
She paused, letting the words sink in, before continuing. "Maybe the real problem is not their failure, but your inability to see that even the strongest can falter when led by someone who's too blind to notice the cracks in their own walls."
The Cove's attention shifted immediately to Morrigana. Her words hung in the air, biting and sharp, and Cove's fury flared immediately. His grip tightened on the edge of his desk as he took a step toward her.
"Morrigana!" he spat, his voice now icy and dangerous.
"You dare stand here and question me?" he growled, his voice low and lethal. "After everything I've done to keep this pack from crumbling beneath the weight of its past mistakes and betrayals?"
His hands tightened into fists at his sides, his breath steady but laced with barely contained rage.
"I have fought, bled, and sacrificed to ensure our survival. And you?" he pointed a sharp finger at her, his presence suffocating,
"You stand there mocking me as if you carry the burden of leadership on your shoulders."
His jaw tensed, his patience wearing out.
"If there are cracks in these walls, Morrigana, it's because I've spent every damn second holding them up while fools like you stand back and pick at the edges."
The room pulsed with raw tension from Cove, the challenge in her gaze unyielding. But Cove wasn't done talking.
"You came here with something to say," he said, his voice a deadly whisper. "So either spit it out, or get out of my sight before I start questioning where your loyalty truly lies.Or are you here to confess your part in this betrayal?"
Morrigna's expression hardened, and for a brief moment, the tension in the room seemed to fracture.
"Maybe it's not betrayal you should be concerned about, Alpha Cove," she said slowly, stepping away from Cove . "Maybe it's what you've been blind to all along."
The words hung in the air like a challenge, and for the first time, the thought of uncertainty crossed Cove's face. The storm that had been brewing shifted direction now; it was not just about betrayal, but something deeper, something even more dangerous. Before he could process what she'd said, his temper flared. With a sharp, irritated breath, Cove turned on his heel, eyes burning with anger.
"Enough of this!" he snapped, storming out of the study.
He made his way through the narrow hallways, each step heavy with frustration. His mind raced with the implications of Morrigana's words. What was she hinting at? What had he missed?
His fists had tightened as he walked toward the dark prison cells. The cold stone walls felt like they carried his anger, and the silence it was only making it worse. He pushed the door open hard, making the hinges shake. His eyes instantly found Lycia, seated in a corner of the room.
Cove's countenance became sterner as he stormed into her cell, the door slamming against the wall. The flames from the torches flickered, casting jagged shadows over the stone walls. Lycia jerked up but quickly masked it, her back pressing slightly against the cold wall as Cove made his way to side of the room where she stood.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" His voice was low, seething with barely contained fury.
Lycia swallowed hard, her throat dry. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, but she clenched them into fists, trying to keep control.
"I...I don't understand," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cove's got angrier with the passing second. His silver eyes burned into hers, demanding answers.
"Didn't know?" He let out a sharp breath, his patience snapping.
"Derek is out there circling like a vulture, waiting for a moment of weakness to attack. And Conan? Probably making moves we can't even fathom. And you're telling me that you don't understand. Do you expect me to just believe you just happened to stumble into the middle of all of this?"
Lycia shook her head quickly, her breath uneven. "I don't know anything about these people you've mentioned. Who is Conan or Derek? I was just… I mean I just needed to survive."
Cove's glare didn't waver.
"Then you're either a fool or a pawn." His voice dropped lower, colder. "And I don't have time for either."
The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken threats.
Cove took a step back, his decision made. "You have one chance to prove where you stand." he said, voice sharp as a blade. With that, he turned and called out, commanding a few warriors behind him.
Then, without another glance, he turned on his heel and barked an order. "Take her!."
The warriors behind him surged forward.
Lycia's breath hitched as rough hands grabbed her arms, yanking her to her feet. The cold fear that had been simmering in her chest finally erupted.
"No..wait!" she gasped, struggling against their grip, but it was useless.
Cove didn't stop. He didn't even look back. His steps were firm, unyielding, echoing down the corridor as the cell door slammed shut behind him.
Lycia trembled, her heartbeat hammering against her ribs. She had faced danger before, but this?
This felt like the beginning of the end.