Chapter 245

As the crowd began to disperse, Alina’s gaze focused on Rowan. Her smirk was gone, replaced by something colder, sharper.

“This isn’t over,” she muttered, her words addressed to no one in particular, but the look in her eyes told me the battle was far from won.

I watched Alina leave, her steps slow and calculated, Rowan trailing behind her like a shadow. The crowd reduced, wolves murmuring amongst themselves as they returned to their homes. Dane stood beside me, his jaw clenched.

“She’s not giving up,” he said.

“I know,” I said, my voice low. “And Rowan is too entangled in her web to see the truth. She’s feeding off his doubts, and if we’re not careful, she’ll tear this pack apart before we can stop her.”

Dane’s hand came down on my shoulder, anchoring me. “We need a real plan. Something that doesn’t just counter her lies but exposes her for what she is.”

Chapter 245

Trajan, Piper, Warrick, and Joclyn all sat around the table in the council room, their faces as taut as the silence.

“Alina’s more dangerous than we thought,” I started. “She isn’t just working against unity; she is actually planning some heavy-handed means of bringing us down. Tonight was proof.”

Piper leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly. “It is only Rowan’s hesitation that is holding this back from completely spiraling out of control, but the more Alina pushes him, the likelihood that he may act before we are ready increases.”

“She’ll do more than push,” Trajan said. “She thrives on chaos. If we don’t act soon, she’ll have enough wolves on her side to make a real move against you.”

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “We need to weaken her hold on the pack, but we can’t do it alone.”

Joclyn cocked her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What are you suggesting?”

I hesitated, looking at Dane. He nodded slightly, still supportive. “There’s someone outside the pack who might be able to help. Someone who knows Alina’s tactics better than anyone else.”

Chapter 245

Piper’s face furrowed into a frown. “You’re talking about bringing in an outsider? You really think the pack is going to trust them?”

“They won’t have to know,” I said. “Not at first. This person doesn’t need to integrate into the pack; they just need to give us the information we need to expose Alina.”

Warrick crossed his arms over his chest. “And you trust this person?”

“I do,” I said, confident. “They have dealt with Alina before. If anyone can aid us, it is them.”

Trajan leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. “Keeping it on the down low could actually work in our favor. If she doesn’t think they’re part of our crew, she won’t try to counterbalance the influence.”

“That’s the idea,” Dane said. “Bring them in, and continue gathering information until we can piece her schemes together bit by bit.”

Later that night, when the others had gone to their quarters, I found myself alone with Dane in the stillness of his. The fire crackled softly in the hearth; the warmth was a welcome comfort after the tension of the day.

Chapter 245

“You really think the pack’s going to make it through this?” he asked in a low tone.

I stared into the fire, the weight of leadership heavy on my shoulders. “It has to,” I said. “But it won’t be easy. Alina poisoned more minds than I realized. Even if we stop her, the damage she’s done will linger.”

Dane reached out and squeezed my knee. “You’ve held this pack together through worse. We’ll get through this too.”

I looked at him, his faith in me unwavering, stirring something deep inside. “Thank you,” I said softly.

“For what?”

“For always being my anchor,” I replied.

Dane leaned in a little closer, his lips against mine in a soft, promise-filled kiss. His hand moved to my cheek, angling my head to deepen the kiss, while his other slid around my waist, tugging me closer. I let go of myself during this moment—the tension in my chest loosening under the warmth that resided within his touch. Dane’s kisses turned more desperate as his hands moved across my skin tenderly yet urgently.

“You’re amazing,” he said against my mouth.

Chapter 245

I smiled, hooking my fingers within his hair before responding in whispered words, “And you are mine.”

That was when the moment broke, as the soft knock on the door interrupted us.

I pulled back, my heart still racing, as Dane stood to answer it. Trajan stood on the other side, his face somber.

“They’re here,” he said simply.

The stranger sat in the darkened room, his hood pulled low over his face. I knew him instantly, but none of the others did. Dane stood beside me, his presence a silent reassurance as I stepped forward.

“Thank you for coming,” I said.

The stranger looked up, his piercing gaze meeting mine. “You said it was urgent,” he replied.

His voice was calm but carried a sharp edge.

“It is,” I said, taking a seat across from him. “Alina is trying to dismantle the pack. We need your help to stop her.”

He leaned back, almost a contemplative look crossing his face. “Alina’s tactics haven’t changed. She lives in fear and insecurity. To beat her, you will have to bring out her weaknesses.”

“And how will we do that?” Dane asked.

Chapter 245

The stranger smiled wryly. “By playing her very own game against her. Find the issues in her mask, and make use of them.”

As the night wore on, the stranger detailed a string of countermeasures against Alina’s influence. He spoke with a specificity that was as stunning as it was unnerving, his grasp on Alina’s game painfully clear.

As the visit was at an end, I saw the stranger at the edge of the packhouse.

“Will you stay?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No. My presence would only raise questions, but I’ll be watching. If you need me, you know where to find me.”

I watched him disappear into the night, feeling a surge of hope mixed with fear. The battle against Alina was far from over, but for the first time, I felt like we had a chance.

But as I turned back toward the packhouse, a figure stepped out from the shadows. It was Rowan, his face unreadable.

“We need to talk,” he said.