Chapter 51: Fifty One

Warren’s P.O.V.

The tension between Carden and me had been building for weeks, and it was getting harder to ignore. Every time I saw him near Aria, every time I caught them sharing one of those quiet, lingering looks, something twisted inside me. At first, I tried to convince myself that it was nothing, that whatever history they had was in the past. But I wasn’t blind. I could feel it, see it—there was something still there between them.

The worst part was Aria didn’t seem to notice how much it was killing me. She had assured me time and time again that we were just friends, that her feelings for Carden were a thing of the past. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the whole truth. There were moments, fleeting but undeniable, when I could see the conflict in her eyes. She might have chosen to stay with the pack, to fight by my side, but her heart wasn’t fully here. Part of it still belonged to Carden.

And I hated it.

I’d been patient, tried to focus on the pack, on Kane’s escape, but the longer this dragged on, the more desperate I became. I couldn’t let this continue. I couldn’t stand by and watch as Carden slowly wormed his way back into Aria’s heart. If I didn’t do something soon, I would lose her, and I couldn’t let that happen.

Not to him.

I’d spent the past few days going over every possible scenario in my head. I knew I couldn’t just confront Aria about it again—she had made it clear that she valued her friendship with Carden, and I didn’t want to push her further away by forcing her to choose. But I also couldn’t keep ignoring the problem. Carden was a threat—not just to my relationship with Aria, but to the balance of the pack. He was becoming a distraction, and if I didn’t find a way to deal with him, everything we’d built here could fall apart.

I needed to get rid of him.

The thought had crossed my mind before, but I had always pushed it aside, telling myself that it was too drastic, that there had to be another way. But now, standing in the training yard and watching Carden spar with some of the younger warriors, the idea took root. It wasn’t just jealousy anymore—it was about protecting what was mine. Aria, the pack, everything we’d fought for. Carden’s presence was undermining all of that, and I couldn’t let it continue.

I clenched my fists as I watched him move across the yard, his strength and agility obvious with every strike. The younger wolves looked up to him, admired him, and I could see why. He was a good leader, a strong warrior. But that didn’t change the fact that he was in my way.

I needed a plan.

\---

Later that evening, I found myself pacing the length of my cabin, my mind racing as I tried to figure out how to handle the situation. Getting rid of Carden wasn’t going to be easy. He was respected in the pack, and I couldn’t just accuse him of something without proof. If I went to Aria or the other pack leaders with my suspicions, it would only make me look paranoid. No, this had to be handled carefully.

As much as I hated to admit it, I needed to be strategic about this. I couldn’t let my emotions cloud my judgment.

I sat down at the table, resting my head in my hands as I tried to think. Carden was a strong fighter, but even he had his weaknesses. His loyalty to the pack, his sense of duty—those were things I could use against him. If I could find a way to exploit those weaknesses, to make him look like a liability rather than an asset, maybe the pack would turn on him. Maybe I wouldn’t have to lift a finger to get him out of here.

But how?

As I sat there, lost in thought, an idea began to form. It was risky, but if it worked, it could solve all of my problems.

\---

The next day, I approached Caleb, one of the warriors who had been with the pack for as long as I had. He was tough, reliable, and most importantly, he trusted me. If anyone could help me with this, it was him.

“Caleb,” I said, pulling him aside after our morning patrol. “I need to talk to you about something. It’s important.”

He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s going on?”

I glanced around, making sure no one else was within earshot. “It’s about Carden.”

Caleb’s expression darkened. “What about him?”

I hesitated for a moment, choosing my words carefully. “I think he’s losing focus. Ever since Kane escaped, he’s been… different. Distracted. And I don’t think that’s a good thing for the pack.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “You think Carden’s a threat?”

I shook my head quickly, not wanting to make it sound like I was accusing him outright. “No, not exactly. But I do think his priorities are shifting. He’s got a lot on his plate, and I’m worried that he’s not as committed to the pack as he should be. If he’s distracted, if he’s not fully focused, that could put all of us at risk.”

Caleb frowned, his gaze narrowing. “What are you saying, Warren?”

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. “I’m saying we need to keep an eye on him. I’m saying that if he’s not up to the task, we might need to consider… alternatives.”

Caleb studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced, but the seed of doubt had been planted.

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” he said finally. “But Warren, be careful. Carden’s respected in this pack. You don’t want to go accusing him of things without proof.”

I nodded, trying to hide my relief. “I know. I’m just looking out for the pack, Caleb. That’s all.”

As Caleb walked away, I felt a surge of adrenaline. The plan was set in motion. All I needed was for Carden to slip up, to make one mistake, and I would have what I needed to get him out of the picture for good.

\---

Over the next few days, I watched Carden closely, waiting for any sign that he was slipping. It wasn’t easy—he was careful, always on guard—but I knew that if I was patient, he would eventually give me what I needed. He had been on edge ever since Kane’s escape, and that tension was bound to catch up with him sooner or later.

It wasn’t long before my opportunity came.

We were in the middle of a strategy meeting, discussing the next steps in our search for Kane. Carden was leading the discussion, his voice calm but tense as he laid out the details of the upcoming patrols. I could see the strain in his expression, the exhaustion that was starting to wear him down.

That’s when I struck.

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” I said, interrupting him. “Sending so many warriors to the northern border leaves us exposed in the east. If Kane’s trying to outsmart us, he could easily slip through.”

Carden looked at me, his jaw tightening. “We have scouts covering the eastern border. The north is where we’ve had the most activity, and it’s the most likely point of attack.”

I shook my head, folding my arms across my chest. “That’s assuming Kane plays by the rules. He’s unpredictable, Carden. We can’t afford to leave any gaps.”

The room fell silent as the others watched us, the tension between us palpable. I could see the frustration in Carden’s eyes, and I knew I had hit a nerve.

“We’ve been through this, Warren,” he said, his voice cold. “I’m making the call. If you have a problem with it, you can take it up with the council.”

I met his gaze, not backing down. “Maybe I will.”

The room was silent for a long moment, the tension thick in the air. Carden stared at me, his jaw clenched, and I could see the barely controlled anger simmering beneath the surface. But he didn’t lash out. Instead, he turned and walked away, leaving the room without another word.

As he disappeared through the door, I couldn’t help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction. He was starting to unravel, and it was only a matter of time before he made a mistake.

And when he did, I would be ready.

\---

That night, I couldn’t sleep. My mind was racing with thoughts of what had happened earlier, of how close I was to getting what I wanted. Carden was losing control, and it wouldn’t be long before the others started to notice. All I had to do was wait for him to make one wrong move, and everything would fall into place.

But as I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, a nagging feeling of guilt began to creep in. I knew what I was doing was underhanded, that it wasn’t the honorable way to handle things. But what choice did I have? I couldn’t let him take Aria from me. I couldn’t let him destroy everything I had worked for.

This wasn’t just about me. It was about the pack. It was about keeping us safe, about making sure we were strong enough to face whatever came next.

Carden was a distraction, and distractions could get us killed.

I would do whatever it took to get rid of him.

Even if it meant betraying everything I stood for.