The conspiracy

The conspiracy
"Morgana Blackthorn," Katherine said. "Marcus's contact. If Walter searches Marcus's office, he might find a way to reach her. And if anyone knows the full extent of this conspiracy, it's Morgana."

"Can we trust her?" Isabella asked.

"Absolutely not," Katherine said bluntly. "Morgana serves her own interests first, last, and always. But her interests include maintaining the current supernatural order. If someone's trying to overthrow that order with stolen Original Pack magic, she'll want to stop them."

Elena made a decision. "Call Walter. See if he found anything in Marcus's office. If there's a way to contact Morgana, do it. Tell her we'll trade information for assistance."

"What information?" Katherine asked.

"The location of Lucas and the full details of the ritual," Elena said. "That's valuable intelligence she won't get anywhere else."

Katherine nodded and pulled out a burner phone. As she dialed, Elena turned to Isabella. "How long until our followers realize we've stopped?"

"They'll be here in about three minutes," Isabella said, her eyes still glowing with magical sight. "What's the plan?"

"We set a trap of our own," Elena said, already forming the strategy in her mind. "We let them think they have us cornered. And then we turn the tables."

"You're going to ambush people who've been hunting supernatural creatures professionally," Isabella said. "That's insane."

"Got a better idea?" Elena challenged.

Isabella grinned despite the danger. "Actually, yes. If we're setting a trap, we might as well do it properly. Give me two minutes with my supplies, and I'll make this stretch of road very, very unpleasant for anyone with hostile intentions."

As Isabella began pulling out various vials and ingredients, Katherine came back on the line with Walter.

"Marcus's office was full of intelligence," Walter reported. "Files on dozens of supernatural organizations. But the most recent material is all about someone called The Architect. That name mean anything to you?"

"The Architect," Katherine repeated, her face going pale. "That's what we called the conspiracy's leader. The one who designed the whole plan. No one knows their real identity."

"Well, Marcus has been trying to find out," Walter said. "He has pages of notes, theories, potential candidates. And one name that he's circled repeatedly with question marks: Elijah Steele."

The name hit Elena like a physical blow. "Elijah? Harrison's older brother? But he's been dead for fifteen years."

"Officially dead," Walter corrected. "But Marcus has evidence suggesting otherwise. Photos from security cameras across Europe and Asia showing someone who looks exactly like Elijah. Always near major supernatural incidents. Always disappearing before anyone can confirm his identity."

"That's impossible," Elena said. "Harrison watched him die. He was killed in a pack war when Harrison was barely eighteen."

"Did he watch him die?" Walter asked. "Or did he watch him fall? Because according to Marcus's notes, Elijah's body was never recovered. It was assumed he died when he fell into the river during the battle."

"Why would Elijah fake his death?" Katherine asked. "What possible reason—"

"Because he believed the pack system was broken," Walter said. "I found old journals of Marcus's. Elijah argued constantly with their father about how packs were run. He thought the traditional hierarchy was oppressive. He wanted to tear it all down and start over."

"Creating new werewolves outside traditional bloodlines," Elena said, the pieces clicking together. "Using Original Pack magic to bypass the Moon Goddess's authority. That's exactly what someone who wanted to destroy the pack system would do."

"There's more," Walter said. "Marcus has a phone number with today's date written next to it. A time: midnight. Nothing else."

Elena checked her watch. 11:15 PM. "He was planning to call someone at midnight. Probably Morgana."

"I already tried the number," Walter said. "It went straight to voicemail. But the message was in a woman's voice saying, 'Leave your location and I'll find you.'"

"That's Morgana's style," Katherine confirmed. "She never gives out her actual location. She comes to you."

"Then we leave a message with our location and wait for her to show up," Elena decided. "Walter, make the call. Tell her we have information about The Architect and we need her help stopping a ritual. Tell her there's a Luna's favor in it if she cooperates."

"A Luna's favor is serious magic," Isabella warned. "You'll be bound to grant her one request, no matter what it is."

"I know," Elena said. "But we're out of options and out of time."

Through the phone, they could hear Walter dialing. A moment later, he left a brief message with their location and the offer.

"Done," Walter said. "Now what?"

"Now you get back to helping Harrison hold the pack house," Elena said. "We'll handle things here."

"Elena," Walter said hesitantly. "I know you don't trust me. And maybe you're right not to. But everything I've done has been to protect this pack. Even the things that look like betrayal."

"Like planting a tracker on our vehicle?" Elena asked coldly.

Walter was silent for a long moment. "That wasn't me. I swear on my life. But I know who it was."

"Who?"

"Dominic," Walter said. "He had people plant trackers on all the pack's vehicles weeks ago. He was monitoring everyone's movements, looking for leverage. When Harrison found out and ordered them removed, I thought they were all gone. But Dominic must have had more planted that we didn't find."

"Why are you telling me this now?" Elena asked.

"Because Dominic disappeared right after the Council left," Walter said. "He's not in his quarters. He's not with his supporters. He's just... gone. And given everything that's happened, I think he might be heading for the same place you are."

Elena's stomach dropped. "He's going after Lucas himself."

"Or he's been called to the monastery by whoever's been pulling his strings," Walter said. "Either way, you need to know he might be there."

"Understood," Elena said. "Walter, keep Harrison safe. And tell him..."

She trailed off, unsure how to finish that sentence. Tell him I love him? Tell him I'm sorry for all the fights and misunderstandings? Tell him that if I die tonight, at least I died trying to save our son?

"I'll tell him you're bringing his family home," Walter said quietly. "All of you."

The line went dead.

Elena looked at Katherine and Isabella. "Change of plans. We're not just rescuing Lucas. We might be walking into a confrontation with Harrison's supposedly dead brother and a corrupted Beta who's been working against us all along."

"So, a typical Thursday night then," Isabella said with dark humor, finishing her trap preparations. "Alright, our uninvited guests should be arriving right... about... now."

Three vehicles emerged from the darkness, moving fast. But as they crossed the stretch of road where Isabella had worked her magic, the lead vehicle suddenly swerved violently. Its tires exploded, sending it spinning into the ditch.

The second vehicle tried to brake but slid on the suddenly ice-slick road—another of Isabella's tricks. It crashed into the first vehicle with a shriek of metal.

The third vehicle stopped just in time, and doors flew open. Five figures emerged, moving with supernatural speed.

"Time to go," Elena said, already putting the truck in gear. "Isabella, can you slow them down more?"

"Already on it," Isabella said, her hands glowing with power. She threw something out the window—a small glass orb that shattered on the road.

The resulting explosion of light and sound made Elena flinch even from inside the truck. The five pursuers were thrown backward, temporarily blinded and deafened.