Chapter 27 THE TRAITOR AMONG US

Chapter 27 THE TRAITOR AMONG US
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Branches whipped violently against Anna’s arms as she and Chris sprinted through the forest toward the eastern ridge. Another agonized howl shattered the night, it was closer now.

Chris’s grip on her hand tightened painfully as panic surged through the mate bond. Around them, warriors rushed through the trees in partial shifts, fur and claws flashing between shadows. Something had gone terribly wrong.

By the time they reached the eastern patrol line, chaos had already erupted. Two Blood Moon wolves lay bleeding near the ridge while healers scrambled around them. Warriors crowded the area snarling furiously at the dark forest beyond.

Steve stood near the center of the clearing with blood streaked across his jaw.

Chris immediately moved toward him. “What happened?”

Steve looked furious. “The western patrol were ambushed.” Anna’s guts flipped awkwardly.

“How many?” Chris demanded.

“Three were injured and one missing.”

The clearing fell silent.

Chris’s expression turned deadly calm. “Who was leading the patrol?”

Steve hesitated. “Tyler.”

Anna felt Chris go still beside her. He stood staring blankly.

“Where is he now?” Chris asked quietly.

“That’s the problem,” Steve muttered darkly. “Nobody’s seen him since the attack.”

A ripple of alarm spread instantly through the gathered wolves. Anna’s pulse quickened. “No,” she whispered instinctively.

Chris looked toward her sharply. “You think he betrayed us?” she asked.

Steve crossed his arms tightly. “The patrol route was private information. Draven’s wolves walked straight into position like they knew exactly where everyone would be.”

“And Tyler disappeared,” another warrior added grimly. Murmurs broke out amongst them immediately.

Anna felt the pack bond twisting violently now, emotions colliding into something ugly, fear becoming suspicion.

Chris raised his voice sharply. “That’s enough.”

There was instant silence but tension still crackled heavily through the clearing.

One injured wolf near the healers suddenly groaned weakly. “It wasn’t Tyler…”

Everyone turned instantly towards him. The wolf coughed painfully before continuing. “He fought them.”

Steve knelt beside him quickly. “What happened?”

“There were too many,” the injured warrior rasped. “Rogues surrounded us from the trees. Tyler stayed behind so we could run.”

Anna’s chest tightened painfully as silence crashed down across the ridge. Chris looked toward the forest immediately.

“He’s alive,” Anna said suddenly.

Steve frowned. “How do you know?”

She pressed a trembling hand against her chest. “I can feel it.”

The Luna bond pulsed sharply inside her, it wasn't Tyler specifically but something deeper. A connection.

“He’s still out there,” she whispered firmly.

Chris didn’t hesitate another second. “Gather trackers,” he ordered immediately. “We move now.”

Steve grabbed his arm sharply. “Chris, wait.”

“What?” he said sharply.

“This could be bait Chris.” he said calling him by his name for the first time, concern written over his face.

The possibility hung heavily in the air and everyone knew it.

Draven was clever enough for traps. Chris’s jaw flexed dangerously. “I’m not abandoning one of my wolves.”

Steve lowered his voice carefully. “And if Draven wants you isolated?”

For a brief moment, uncertainty flickered across Chris’s face. Anna stepped closer immediately.

“He’s right Chris,” she said softly, touching his shoulder lightly.

Chris looked at her in disbelief. “You want me to leave Tyler out there?”

“No,” Anna replied quickly. “But rushing blindly is exactly what Draven wants.”

The frustration radiating from Chris nearly burned through the bond because this was killing him.

Every injured wolf. Every terrified pack member. Every impossible decision. It was tearing pieces off him one by one.

Anna touched his chest gently. “Think first, then react second.”

His eyes closed briefly. Then finally, he nodded. Steve looked visibly relieved.

“We track carefully,” Chris ordered. “No splitting up.”

The patrol moved out minutes later beneath heavy moonlight.

Anna stayed close beside Chris as warriors followed the broken trail deeper into unfamiliar parts of the forest. The farther they traveled, the colder the woods became.

Anna hated the stillness of the wood instantly, there were no sounds of insects or birds.

“You feel that too, right?” she whispered.

Chris nodded slightly. “Like we’re being watched.”

The trackers finally stopped near an abandoned logging camp hidden between thick pines.

One of the warriors crouched near the dirt carefully. “Fresh blood.”

Chris’s expression darkened instantly. A voice suddenly echoed weakly through the trees.

“Help…”

Anna’s breath caught.

“Tyler!” one of the wolves shouted.

Chris immediately moved toward the sound but Anna grabbed his arm violently.

“Wait.”

Every instinct inside her screamed danger. The voice came again, weaker this time.

“Please…”

Chris frowned. “Anna…”

“That’s wrong.” The words came out shaky but certain.

Steve’s expression sharpened instantly. “What do you mean?”

Anna scanned the dark woods desperately. Then she realized that there was no scent or heartbeat, nothing at all. The voice sounded real.

The forest felt empty. Suddenly laughter echoed softly through the trees.

Cold, cruel and familiar.

It was Draven's.

“Very good, little Luna,” his voice purred from the darkness.

The entire patrol snapped into defensive positions instantly. Anna’s heart slammed against her ribs.

The shadows between the trees shifted slowly, then Draven stepped into view. He wasn't alone.

Tyler staggered beside him bloodied and barely conscious, held upright by one of Draven’s rogues gripping his throat.

Several Blood Moon wolves snarled furiously. Tyler’s swollen eyes widened slightly when he saw them. “Alpha…”

Chris’s voice dropped dangerously low. “Let him go.”

Draven smiled lazily. “You came. I was starting to wonder if Blood Moon abandoned its own.”

Chris took a threatening step forward. The rogue holding Tyler immediately dug claws deeper into his neck.

Anna saw Tyler wince in pain.

“Easy,” Draven mocked softly. “Wouldn’t want him bleeding out before the conversation starts.”

Steve growled beside Chris. “What do you want?”

Draven’s crimson eyes shifted toward Chris thoughtfully.

“I wanted to see what kind of Alpha risks himself for one reckless wolf.”

Chris said nothing.

Draven studied him carefully. “Interesting.” His smile faded slightly. “You really do love them.”

Anna noticed something strange then, Draven sounded almost confused by it. As though loyalty itself was unfamiliar to him.

“You could’ve ruled half the northern territories already,” Draven continued calmly. “But instead you waste strength protecting weak wolves who question you behind your back.”

Tyler lowered his head shamefully.

Chris’s expression never changed. “He’s still mine to protect.”

Something dark flickered across Draven’s face at those words.

“You know,” Draven murmured softly, “that kind of loyalty gets people killed.”

“And fear turns people into monsters,” Chris shot back.

For the first time Draven stopped smiling. The temperature in the clearing seemed to rise instantly.

Anna felt danger spike violently through her instincts. Then Draven looked toward her suddenly.

“Tell me, Luna,” he said softly. “When you dream about Blood Moon dying… does he survive?”

Chris immediately moved in front of her again. But it was too late, the question had already struck like a knife.

Anna didn’t know. Deep inside… It terrified her.

Draven noticed the hesitation instantly. His smile returned slowly. “Oh,” he whispered. “There it is.”

Chris’s power exploded outward violently. The ground beneath them cracked slightly under the force of his rage.

“Touch her again,” Chris snarled, voice no longer fully human, “and I will tear your heart out.”

Several rogues visibly recoiled. Even Draven’s expression sharpened with interest.

Then suddenly Tyler drove his elbow backward into the rogue holding him.

Chaos erupted instantly. Chris lunged forward as his pack shifted immediately.

Snarls tore through the forest. Anna barely had time to react before wolves collided violently around her.

Draven stepped backward into the shadows calmly, watching the battle unfold with terrifying amusement.

Before disappearing completely, he looked directly at Anna one last time.

“You should keep dreaming,” he said softly. Then he vanished into the darkness.