“Maybe she isn’t the problem at all; she’s the key… she started all of this,” I said. An evil grin spread across my lips. “I will make her end it.”

I knew Orion’s army had fallen. I knew I had decimated half of his forces. I sat down, smiling as I recalled how I’d snuck into a merchant’s cart and easily passed through the pack’s gates. I’d rolled out and bruised my arm, but the pain was nothing; my mission was a success. Now, I had to address the problems within my own pack. I summoned Rowan and seated him.

“That symbol Piper found,” I said, leaning forward, “isn’t random. I know it’s connected to something dangerous. I need you to find out what it is.”

Rowan, still slightly uneasy around me, nodded. “I’ll look through the archives. I’ll find something.”

“Take Piper,” I suggested. “She has an eye for detail.”

Rowan hesitated, his jaw tightening. “No offense, but I’d rather work with someone who won’t start another argument with me.”

I sighed, understanding his desire to avoid Warrick’s volatile nature. Rubbing my head, I asked, “Lila, then?”

“Yes,” Rowan replied instantly. “Lila.”

After several hours, Rowan and Lila returned, explaining their findings from their late-night delve into the dusty archives. “After hours of searching, I finally found a tattered record with the same symbol as the dagger,” Rowan announced.

I raised an eyebrow, listening intently. “Well, here!” he exclaimed, holding it up. I leaned over, reading the faded text. “Calla had a rogue network, and it seems Orion’s pack used her channels to gather intelligence and destabilize nearby packs.”

Lila’s voice dropped. “They exploited weaknesses, internal conflicts, and strained leadership. This is exactly what’s happening to us.”

Rowan’s fists clenched. “It’s obvious. They’re trying to break us from within, just like Alina did.”

Her name hung heavy in the air, a bitter memory. “She was working with them all along, wasn’t she?” Lila asked softly.

“It makes sense,” Rowan said. “Alina wanted power. Calla wanted control. And Orion? He’s finishing what they started.”

I listened, my heart sinking, remaining silent. The picture was clear: Orion’s pack was systematically dismantling our unity, exploiting every fracture in our foundation.

“We need to dig deeper,” I said firmly. “I want every loose end tied up. Every ally, every enemy, every opportunity found.”

Rowan and Lila nodded, their determination evident.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I watched him sleep; I didn’t even realize when I drifted off myself.

The pale dawn light filtering through the curtains woke me. My hand instinctively reached for Dane’s warmth, only to find a cool, empty sheet. That jolted me fully awake. “Dane?” I called softly, sitting up and scanning the room. The silence was unnerving.

Putting on my robe, I rushed to the door, my heart pounding. The packhouse buzzed with chaotic energy—shouts and hurried footsteps. My unease intensified as I entered the hall.

“Where’s Dane?” I asked the first guard I saw.

The guard, wide-eyed and tense, stuttered, “I don’t know, Luna. But something’s happening near the main gates.”

Before I could question him further, a loud voice boomed from below. “Luna! Get down here!”

I ran downstairs, my mind racing. Rowan waited at the bottom, his face pale but resolute. “It’s Dane,” he said, his grip firm on my arm.

My stomach churned. “What do you mean? Where is he?”

He gestured toward the gates, where a small crowd had gathered. “He’s not in the packhouse, and there’s been activity. The guards spotted something.”

I pushed past him, my heart racing. Outside, the crisp morning air, which should have been refreshing, only heightened the sense of foreboding. Trajan met me halfway, his face somber.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

Trajan sighed deeply. “The gates were slightly ajar this morning. One of the guards swore he saw Dane leaving before dawn, but…”

My breath hitched. “But what?”

Rowan stepped forward, holding a crumpled piece of paper. “We found this near the gate. It’s from him.”

I snatched it from his hand, my fingers trembling as I unfolded it. The scrawled words chilled me to the bone: I can’t let this go on. I’ll find a way for myself.

“What does he mean?” I whispered, clutching the note.

“He’s gone,” Trajan said quietly.

“No,” I said vehemently, shaking my head. “He’s too weak; he won’t survive out there!”

Rowan placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Luna, what are we going to do?”

My voice was a near whisper, yet firm with resolve. “We find him. Now.”