Chapter 138: Threads of Deception

Hayley's POV

The discovery of a Trojan in our midst had tainted everything. I mourned my way in a sense of urgency as the morning light filtered through the trees. Aiden and I had to move quickly, so we could solve the mystery before it destroyed our pack.

"Aiden," I responded, looking into his eyes. We learn to conduct them right away! Pack safety is at stake here.

He nodded; the set of his jaw etched with determination. "We'll find out who it is. We owe it to everyone."

I looked at the exhaustion on the faces of our brothers as we moved along in camp. Although they were worn out, you could see an unwritten commitment to guard our creation.

"Liam," Aiden called at the good warrior, signaling to him. "We need your help."

Liam came over, his concern dancing in the eyes. "What's going on?"

I paused, burdened by the weight of our confession. 'There is a traitor in our midst, Liam. Last night we heard a conversation.'

His face took on a stony expression, and he nodded. "What do you need me to do?"

Aiden told them to watch out for anything suspicious. We need lots of proof that his crimes were committed, but we have to be careful not to get caught.

With that, Liam walked away to tend to his duty, and Aiden turned towards me. We should probably start with the perimeter. If someone has been in communication with the Rogues, there could be clues.

We both walked to the edge of camp and found silence beyond in the forest. Aiden looked from side to side for anything I was using, and I zoned in on the ground looking for any indications of disruption.

There were some tense minutes following my whispered command to Cassian for him to fly up so he could find a trace of where the shapeshifter had gone, but eventually his shout echoed through the pine trees, and I saw it-the trail that froglike creature was leaving behind in its quest off main road. "Aiden, over here."

He then came there and examined the trace more carefully. "Those go to the territory line. Let's follow them."

And always carefully, tiptoeing along the thick scrub, the forest hummed with activity, a counter melody to the disharmony that bubbled up inside me.

Aidan brushed my hand with his as we walked, grounding me in the reality of life and taking away from the delightful wonderment that could be waiting for us below. His hand felt warm in mine, and I was thankful for his constant faith.

Then the tracks took us into a little marshy thing and eventually to an opening where some trees sprouted from. I scanned the room, my heart racing with excitement.

Aiden whispered and pointed to a pile of leaves that looked intentionally placed.

Dropping onto my knees, I swept some leaves away to expose a brownish book. I felt my heart leap as I opened it up to look at the page sheets and sheets filled with jotted notes.

I showed Aiden the evidence of secret meetings and coded messages, "This is it." Evidence of contact with the rogue master.

When Aiden leaned over my shoulder and read that, it made his face darken. We have to tread lightly here. They must be afraid that if the traitor knows we are aware, then they will alert those rogues."

We looked away at a rustle in the bushes instinctively, on high alert. For a split second we locked eyes, the tension thick in the air.

"Did you hear that?" Whispering it sent tingling shivers of unease puckering over my skin.

Aiden looked off to the dark shadows and just shook his head. "Stay close."

And we stood immobile there in the darkness, too scared to move, listening for any other sign. It happened as suddenly as it had started, and then, just like that, the forest was silent again.

"Maybe we should go back. Aiden was steady, however, his voice was very low and clarified, "The first human would say, "We have to go tell everybody and figure out what in hell our next step is.

As we were returning to the camp, our discovery weighed heavily on me. It was like tasting some very bad medicine that you never want to taste. The idea of being backstabbed by someone we invested our first trust in hurt, but what mattered most for us was not letting our guard down on them.

We saw the sun setting through window slats, and as we returned limping to our encampment, Liam along with a few other allies were regaled with both tapestries within it just in time for dusk.

"Are you kidding me?" said Liam with a worried frown. We dare not inform the pack until we have every solid piece of evidence. It could cause panic."

Aiden nodded in agreement. We'll keep this in a small circle until we're prepared to face the traitor. We have to be strategic."

The meeting came to an end, and I felt both anxious and determined. The challenge ahead was enormous, but not as large we could allow ourselves to stall.

Afterward, when the camp had become quiet again, I saw Aiden standing by himself near one edge of the clearing, eyes unfocused. I moved up softly and held his hand.

"Hi," I whispered back, folding into him. "We'll get through this."

He shifted in bed to look at me, and his eyes beamed with gratitude. "I know. With you right here, I'm a different person.

We stayed there, safe in each other's arms against a backdrop of silence. It was going to be a lot of hard work in the days ahead, but I felt hopeful again knowing we faced it together.

"Aiden," I whispered, ducking my head to peer up at him. We will get through it together, wherever we land.

A grin covered his face, and something warm filled the gaze that he turned on me. He took a step closer to where I was standing. "Always, Hayley. You're my strength."

I felt the gravity of our connection that night, a promise to be strong for each other while clinging on through icy winds and pitch darkness. As long as I had Aiden, anything was possible.

He keeps a vigil by my side, his body stiff as the night, and yet it is nothing compared to what stirred our pack. But as Aiden wrapped his arms around me, I felt a calmness take over my body, knowing that no matter what was on the surface of all this madness and rumors, we were going to get through it together.

The two of us would confront the shadows hand in hand, and our love was a light that stretched out against the gray itself. What had to be done, we did it together, until the very end of an endless night, for this was our fate and destination.