PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

Maxwell

“Rosa and Zod are traitors,” I said to Cross, my voice heavy with disbelief as I paced around the large office.

The words felt foreign on my tongue, as though speaking them aloud made the betrayal more real. My body felt tense, my chest tight, as if the weight of the revelation had physically struck me.

I had never imagined that those two…especially Rosa…could ever betray me. She was more than just a trusted ally; she was the most important person in my life. The thought of her turning against me was like a dagger to the heart.

Cross stood frozen, his expression grim. I could see the turmoil in his eyes, the same storm of emotions raging within him. Zod was his best friend, after all. The three of us had grown up together, long before I was crowned King and Alpha of the pack.

We were like siblings…inseparable, bound by loyalty and shared history. To think that Zod and Rosa could betray us was almost too much to bear. If it hadn’t been Delilah who revealed the truth, I would have dismissed it as impossible.

“How did you know? Did Rowan tell you?” Cross asked, his voice strained. He was grasping for answers, trying to make sense of the chaos.

I shook my head. “It was Delilah who told me. I should have sensed it earlier. There was something off about Rosa lately, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to believe anything was wrong.”

Cross remained silent, his jaw clenched as he processed the information. I could see the struggle in his eyes, the disbelief, the anger, the hurt. It wasn’t easy to accept that the people you trusted most could be your enemies.

“If my guess is right,” I continued, “one of the elders is involved in this conspiracy. I think Zod impersonated me, and Rosa used her magic to free Kala from prison. She wiped the guards’ memories and even tampered with mine.”

Cross exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve tried to find answers too, but I came up with nothing. I don’t want to believe this, but it all makes sense.”

“It does,” I replied, stopping in front of him. My hands were tucked into the pockets of my jeans, my mind racing. “Strength and magic. Think about it. Our pack has always been safe from intruders. How did those beasts manage to break through our defenses?”

Cross’s eyes widened as the realization hit him. He nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place. “You’re right. It had to be someone on the inside.”

“Exactly,” I said, my voice low. “And now we have to figure out what to do next.”

Cross threw his hands up in frustration. “So, what now? Do we confront them? Arrest them? What’s the plan?”

I shook my head. “Not yet. We need to be careful. Let’s keep an eye on them for now. We can’t act impulsively.”

Cross’s eyes searched mine, his expression uncertain. He looked like he was still searching for answers, still trying to wrap his head around the betrayal. I didn’t blame him. I felt the same way.

“There’s something else I haven’t told you,” I said, my voice dropping to a near whisper. Cross’s eyes locked onto mine, his expression darkening as if he already sensed what was coming.

“Rosa and Zod are lovers,” I revealed.

For a moment, Cross said nothing. Then, to my surprise, he let out a bitter laugh. “Everyone in the Shadow Claws Pack knows about them. I’m surprised you’re just figuring it out.”

I frowned, my hands resting on my hips. “You knew?”

Cross nodded, sinking into the sofa. “It’s been an open secret for a while now. I thought you knew too.”

I walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of bourbon. After taking a swig, I handed the bottle to Cross. He drank deeply before passing it back to me. I sauntered to my desk and leaned back in my chair, trying to ease the tension in my shoulders.

“We need to be careful,” Cross said after a moment. “They’re not bold enough to work alone. There’s someone else behind this…someone more powerful.”

“I agree,” I said, nodding. “Those creatures that attacked our defenses and caused havoc in the packs I’ve been protecting, they must be working with Rosa and Zod. This goes deeper than we thought.”

Cross nodded in agreement, but before he could say more, a thought struck me. “The Lycans,” I said, standing abruptly. “The ones we captured. I need to speak with them.”

Cross stood immediately, his eyes narrowing. “What happened?”

“Follow me,” I said, already striding toward the door. Cross fell into step behind me as I dashed out of the office. The palace guards bowed as we passed, their expressions respectful but curious. Tomorrow was the day Delilah would officially become my queen, and I couldn’t afford any surprises.

We descended the metal stairs, the rhythmic clicking of our shoes echoing through the corridor. The warrior guards bowed as we approached the cells. Inside, two Lycans Delilah had captured were held in one cell, while three others, those who had attacked her convoy…were in the next.

I decided to start with the ones Delilah had captured herself. “Who sent you to attack my mate?” I demanded, my voice sharp and commanding. The Lycans flinched, their eyes darting nervously. They looked like they wanted to disappear, but Delilah’s magic had ensured they couldn’t escape.

“Answer me!” I roared, my Alpha tone reverberating through the room. The walls seemed to shake, and the Lycans trembled in fear.

“Please, don’t kill us!” one of them begged, his voice trembling. “King Alexander sent us.”

I froze, my mind racing. “King Alexander?” I repeated, my voice low and dangerous. “Who is King Alexander?”

The Lycan hesitated, his eyes wide with fear. “He… he’s the one who ordered the attack. He’s been working with someone in this pack. They’re planning something big, something that could destroy the pack.”

My heart pounded as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. This was bigger than I had imagined. Rosa and Zod weren’t just traitors…they were part of a larger scheme, one that threatened everything I had built.

I turned to Cross, his expression mirroring my own shock. “We need to act fast,” I said. “Before it’s too late.”

Cross nodded, his jaw set with determination. “We’ll stop them. Together.”

As we left the cells, my mind raced with plans and strategies. The betrayal cut deep, but I couldn’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment. The safety of the pack depended on me, and I would do whatever it took
to protect them, even if it meant facing the people I once called family.