The Search Begins
The atmosphere in the packhouse was charged, the tension barely contained as visiting Alphas and their entourages crowded the hall. Draven stood at the head of the room, his imposing presence the only force keeping the chaos from boiling over entirely.
“This is an insult!” snarled Alpha Garren of the Iron Fang Pack, his heavy fist slamming onto the long table. “You detain us like common criminals, Draven? My pack will not stand for this!”
Draven’s gaze turned cold, his amber eyes sharp as a blade. “Someone tried to kill my mate and my heirs,” he said, his voice measured but dangerous. “Until I find out who, no one is leaving.”
Another Alpha, Elyra of the Silver Moon Pack, folded her arms across her chest, her icy gaze fixed on Draven. “Your tragedy doesn’t give you the right to hold us hostage, Draven. The council won’t look kindly on this.”
Susan stepped forward, her tone biting. “The council can wait. Unless you have something to hide, Elyra, you’ll cooperate.”
Elyra’s silver brows lifted, her voice dripping with disdain. “If this is how Crimson Fang treats allies, perhaps we should reconsider the arrangement.”
“Then reconsider,” Draven said, his voice cutting through the room like a whip. “But until we’re sure none of you are responsible, none of you are leaving.”
The tension thickened as murmurs spread among the gathered wolves. Isla stood at Draven’s side, her silver hair catching the flickering light of the torches. She raised her voice, calm but commanding. “If you were in our place, would you do any differently? A pack’s Luna and future heirs were targeted. This isn’t about pride or insult—it’s about survival.”
Alpha Roth of the Crimson Vale Pack leaned forward, his lips curling into a smirk. “Spoken like a true Luna. But tell me, Lady Isla, what proof do you have that one of us is involved? Or is this lockdown just paranoia disguised as authority?”
Draven growled low in his throat, his claws curling into fists. “Watch your tone, Roth, or you’ll regret it.”
Roth chuckled, unfazed. “Careful, Draven. Threats don’t win allies. They make enemies.”
Susan slammed a hand on the table, silencing the room. “We’ve already got enemies, Roth. If you’re not one of them, act like it.”
Jamie, standing near the door, whispered to Isla, “This is going south fast.”
Isla nodded subtly before stepping forward, her voice cutting through the rising noise. “Enough,” she said, her tone ringing with quiet authority. “No one here is above suspicion—not even us. But until we find who’s responsible, we must work together. Our lives depend on it.”
Her words silenced the room, the other Alphas grudgingly conceding to the logic of her argument. Garren muttered under his breath, but even he sat back, his shoulders tense with barely concealed anger.
As the meeting adjourned, Draven turned to Isla, his voice low and laced with frustration. “They’ll make this harder than it has to be. Garren, Roth, Elyra—any one of them could be involved.”
“Or none of them,” Isla replied, her silver eyes meeting his. “But we’ll find out soon enough.””
