Fifty Two

Fifty Two
Warren’s P.O.V.

I spent the next few days watching Carden more closely than ever, convinced he was on the verge of making a mistake that would finally give me the ammunition I needed. But no matter how hard I looked, no matter how many small confrontations I tried to provoke, he kept his composure. Even though I knew he was struggling with his feelings for Aria, he refused to let it show.

It was infuriating.

I had expected him to lose control, to crack under the pressure, but instead, he seemed more focused than ever. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he clenched his fists when I challenged him during strategy meetings, but he never gave me the outburst I was hoping for.

My frustration was growing by the day, and the more I tried to push Carden, the more it felt like I was the one losing control. Caleb had been keeping an eye on him like I’d asked, but even he hadn’t seen anything suspicious.

“You’re overthinking it,” Caleb said one afternoon, after another patrol returned with no new information about Kane. “Carden’s just doing his job. We’re all on edge because of Kane, but that doesn’t mean he’s slipping up.”

I gritted my teeth, feeling the tension mounting inside me. “He’s distracted,” I insisted. “He’s too caught up in Aria to be focused on the pack. You’ve seen the way he looks at her.”

Caleb frowned, but there was doubt in his eyes. “I’ve seen it, but that doesn’t mean he’s not doing his job. He hasn’t missed a single patrol or skipped a meeting. If anything, he’s been working harder since Kane escaped.”

I clenched my fists, frustration boiling inside me. “He’s not as dedicated as you think,” I said through gritted teeth. “If you watch him closely enough, you’ll see it.”

Caleb shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “Warren, I respect you, but you’re letting this thing with Aria cloud your judgment. If you’re going after Carden, you need something solid. Right now, all you’ve got is jealousy.”

His words stung, but I couldn’t deny the truth in them. I was jealous—furious that Carden still held a part of Aria’s heart, no matter how hard she tried to deny it. But that didn’t change the fact that he was a distraction, and distractions were dangerous in times like these.

“Just keep an eye on him,” I muttered, turning away. “We can’t afford to be careless, not with Kane still out there.”

Caleb sighed but nodded. “Alright. But don’t push this too far, Warren. The pack needs unity right now. We can’t be divided.”

I didn’t respond, my mind too consumed with finding a way to expose Carden for the threat I knew he was.

\---

A few days later, Carden organized a large-scale training session for the pack warriors, pulling together a strategy he’d been working on for weeks. He led the training with precision and focus, the younger wolves following his commands without question. Watching him from the sidelines, I could feel my stomach churning with frustration. He was still playing the part of the perfect leader, and everyone else seemed to be buying into it.

I was supposed to be sparring with one of the newer warriors, but my mind was elsewhere, fixated on Carden. I couldn’t understand why no one else seemed to see the cracks in his facade, why they were so willing to trust him. He wasn’t thinking clearly—his mind was too wrapped up in Aria, and that was putting all of us at risk.

“Warren!” A voice snapped me back to reality, and I turned to see Caleb standing in front of me, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Are you even paying attention?”

I blinked, shaking my head. “Sorry, just… distracted.”

“Yeah, I noticed,” Caleb said, crossing his arms. “Look, I get that you’re on edge because of everything going on with Aria and Carden, but you’ve got to stay focused. The pack needs you.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew he was right. I’d been so consumed with trying to take Carden down that I hadn’t been paying attention to the things that really mattered—like the threat Kane still posed, or the fact that our defenses needed to be stronger if we were going to survive whatever came next.

I glanced over at Carden, who was instructing one of the younger wolves on defensive techniques. He was calm, focused, and completely in control. My frustration only grew, but I forced myself to look away.

Maybe Caleb was right. Maybe I was letting my emotions get the better of me. But that didn’t change the fact that Carden was a problem.

I just needed to figure out how to handle it.

\---

That evening, after the training session had wrapped up, I made my way to the eastern border of our territory. It had been a few weeks since Kane’s escape, and we still hadn’t found any trace of him. The tension in the pack was mounting with each passing day, and I knew we couldn’t afford to be caught off guard.

The sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow over the forest as I walked along the border, my thoughts still spinning. I needed to get my head on straight, to stop obsessing over Carden and focus on the real threat—Kane.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Carden was a ticking time bomb, and that if I didn’t do something soon, it would be too late.

As I reached the edge of the forest, I saw a figure approaching from the distance. At first, I tensed, thinking it might be a rogue, but as the figure came closer, I recognized the familiar silhouette.

It was Aria.

She spotted me and waved, her face softening as she drew near. “Warren,” she called, her voice warm. “I didn’t expect to see you out here.”

I smiled, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Just needed some air,” I said, keeping my tone casual. “What about you?”

She shrugged, looking out at the trees. “Same. It’s been… a lot lately. I needed to clear my head.”

I nodded, understanding all too well what she meant. “Yeah, I know the feeling.”

We stood in silence for a moment, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees filling the space between us. I wanted to say something, to talk to her about Carden, about everything that had been eating away at me, but I didn’t know how to start.

Finally, Aria broke the silence. “I know things have been tense,” she said softly. “Between you and Carden.”

I stiffened, but she continued before I could respond. “I know it’s not easy for either of you, but Warren… I don’t want to see you two at each other’s throats. We need to stay united, especially now.”

I clenched my jaw, feeling the frustration rising in my chest. “It’s not that simple, Aria. You know that.”

She sighed, turning to face me. “I do. But we can’t let this tear us apart. Kane is still out there, and he’s waiting for us to be divided. We can’t give him that chance.”

I looked at her, my heart aching. She was right, of course. But that didn’t change the fact that Carden was a threat—to us, to the pack, to everything we had built.

“I know you care about him,” I said quietly, my voice rough. “But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s distracted. He’s not focused on the pack, and that’s dangerous.”

Aria’s expression softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on my arm. “Warren, Carden is doing everything he can to protect the pack. He’s not the enemy here. Kane is.”

I looked away, my jaw clenched. “It’s not just about Kane,” I muttered.

Aria sighed, her hand dropping back to her side. “I know you’re worried, but you need to trust me. Trust that I know what I’m doing.”

I met her gaze, my heart heavy. “I do trust you, Aria. But I don’t trust him.”

She frowned, her eyes searching mine. “Why? What has he done to make you doubt him?”

I hesitated, unsure of how to answer. I couldn’t tell her the real reason, couldn’t admit that my mistrust was fueled by jealousy, by the fear of losing her to him. So instead, I said nothing.

Aria sighed again, turning to look out at the forest. “Warren, we need to focus on what matters. Kane is still out there, and we need to be ready. That’s where our attention should be right now.”

I nodded, knowing she was right, even if I didn’t want to admit it. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “You’re right.”

She smiled, though it was small and filled with the weight of everything unsaid. “Thank you.”

We stood there for a few more minutes, the silence between us no longer tense but heavy with unresolved feelings. Finally, Aria turned to leave, giving me one last glance before she disappeared into the trees.

As I watched her go, I felt a knot of frustration tighten in my chest. My plan to expose Carden was slipping through my fingers, and with every passing day, it became harder to justify my actions. Maybe Caleb had been right—maybe I was letting my jealousy get in the way.