Chapter 222

Chapter 224
Dominic's POV
The three men sat in my office, trying to look innocent but sweating. Marcus, David, and Jackson—three pack members who had shown they knew classified information during yesterday's trials. Three possible traitors who thought they could fool their Alpha.
I'd set up these "security interviews" this morning, making them seem like normal procedure after trials. Nothing suspicious, nothing to suggest I already knew what I'd find.
"Thanks for coming," I said, sitting behind my desk. "I know these interviews seem unnecessary, but we need to tighten security after recent events."
Marcus shifted in his chair, eyes darting to the door. "Of course, Alpha. Whatever the pack needs."
"Good attitude." I opened a file folder, letting them see official papers inside. "Let's start with pack communications. Marcus, during yesterday's trial, you knew detailed information about our eastern border defenses. How did you get that information?"
"Standard briefings," he said quickly. "All senior warriors get tactical updates."
"Interesting." I pulled out a paper. "According to our records, the specific details you mentioned were only shared with Elder Thorne, Felix, and myself. No general briefings covered those details."
Marcus went pale. I watched him try to decide whether to change his story or stick with the lie.
"Maybe I overheard something during a leadership meeting?"
"Maybe." I made a note and turned to David. "David, you mentioned intelligence reports about external backing for rival territories. Those reports were classified and only given to five pack members. Want to explain?"
David's hands clenched. "I... I must have misunderstood the scenario. I thought we were speaking hypothetically."
"Were you?" I leaned forward. "Because you described specific details that match actual intelligence we got yesterday. Very specific details that weren't hypothetical."
Jackson looked ready to run. Smart—he was next.
"Jackson," I said, using my hunting voice. "Your strategic analysis yesterday showed you knew resource allocation patterns. Patterns only documented in weekly leadership reports. Reports you shouldn't see."
"I..." Jackson's voice cracked. "I've always been good at observing patterns."
"Have you?" I stood up and moved to the window. "Or have you been getting information from someone with leadership access?"
Silence for nearly a minute. I could hear their hearts racing, could smell fear-sweat starting to soak their clothes.
"Here's what I think happened," I said, turning back to them. "Someone with access to classified information has been feeding details to certain pack members. Someone wanted you to perform well during trials, to show that other wolves could handle strategic challenges as well as your Alpha."
Marcus tried to speak, but I held up my hand.
"I'm not interested in confessions yet. I'm interested in patterns." I went back to my desk and pulled out a map. "What I want to know is whether this information sharing was just for trial preparation, or if it covers other pack security areas."
David leaned forward desperately. "Alpha, if we made mistakes—"
"You didn't make mistakes," I said quietly. "You made choices. The question is whether those choices were your own, or whether someone else has been making them for you."
I watched all three exchange glances, the kind of wordless communication that confirmed they knew exactly what I was talking about.
"I'm giving you twenty-four hours to think about this conversation," I continued. "Tomorrow morning, I want complete disclosure. Who approached you, what they offered, what they asked for. Everything."
"And if we cooperate?" Marcus asked.
"Then we discuss pack discipline instead of pack exile." I let that sink in. "But if I find out you've hidden information, if there are other conspirators you haven't mentioned..."
I didn't need to finish the threat. They understood.
"You're dismissed. Felix will escort you out."
Felix appeared in the doorway. The three men filed out, looking like they were walking to their deaths.
"Sir?" Felix closed the door. "Your orders?"
"Twenty-four hour surveillance. I want to know where they go, who they talk to, what they do. If they're planning to run or warn their contacts, I need to know immediately."
"Already in motion," Felix said. "Teams are in position."
"And the trials?"
"Officially suspended for security review. The pack understands we've identified potential threats."
Perfect. The suspension would give me time to unravel this conspiracy completely while protecting Elena from stress the continued challenges might cause. Speaking of Elena...
"Has Maya confirmed her condition yet?"
Felix's expression softened. "Not yet, but she's optimistic. Says all the signs point in the right direction."
A baby. Another child with Elena. The thought filled me with protective fury that made my wolf stir restlessly.
"Make sure the surveillance teams understand discretion is important," I said. "I don't want Elena worrying about pack security while she's... while she might be dealing with other developments."
"Understood, sir."

I found Elena in the kitchen, humming while she prepared what looked like a picnic lunch. The morning sunlight through the windows caught the highlights in her hair, and my heart did that familiar skip.
"Going somewhere special?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind.
She leaned back against my chest. "I thought we could have lunch by the lake. It's such a beautiful day, and with the trials suspended..." She turned in my arms. "We deserve some peaceful time together."
"We do." I kissed her forehead. "Let me help."
We packed lunch together, moving around each other easily. Elena had prepared all my favorites—roasted chicken, fresh fruit, honey cakes she'd learned to make from Sarah's grandmother's recipe.
"Elena," I said as we loaded everything into a basket. "How are you feeling? Physically, I mean."
"Better," she said, though something flickered across her face. "The morning sickness seems to be getting better."
"And everything else? No unusual symptoms, no concerns?"
She paused wrapping sandwiches. "Why do you ask?"
"Just want to make sure you're taking care of yourself." I touched her cheek. "You're precious to me. Both of you, if our suspicions are correct."
Her smile was bright. "I have an appointment with Maya this afternoon. She should be able to confirm everything then."
"Good." I picked up the basket. "But for now, let's focus on enjoying this beautiful day."

The lake was perfect—calm water reflecting the sky, gentle breeze carrying wildflower scents.
Elena spread our blanket in the shade of a big oak tree. I watched her move with that graceful efficiency I'd always admired.
"This is perfect," she said, settling beside me. "Sometimes I feel like we never get moments like this anymore. Just us, no pack business, no crises."
"We'll have more," I promised, pulling her against my side. "Once we resolve the current security issues, once things settle down."
"The conspiracy Elena discovered—how serious is it really?"
I considered how much to tell her. Elena was brilliant and deserved honesty, but I also wanted to protect her from stress while she might be carrying our child.
"Serious enough that we need to be careful," I said finally. "But manageable. We've identified the key players, and we're gathering evidence to address the threat permanently."
Elena was quiet, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. "Last night, you mentioned that everything would change soon. That we'd be able to focus on our future instead of constantly fighting threats."
"I remember." I captured her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Do you remember what we talked about? Our plans, our hopes for this baby?"
She frowned slightly. "We talked about... about names, didn't we? And how different this pregnancy might be from when I was carrying Alexander."
"We did." But there had been so much more. We'd stayed up until nearly dawn, making plans for the nursery, discussing how to balance pack responsibilities with family time, sharing dreams about watching our children grow up together safely.
"Elena," I said gently, "what else do you remember from last night?"
"I..." She looked confused, frowning deeper. "We had dinner together. And we talked, obviously. But the details feel fuzzy."
A chill ran down my spine. Elena had always had a sharp memory, especially for emotional conversations. Last night had been one of our most intimate, hopeful discussions in months.
"You don't remember talking about converting the guest room next to our bedroom into a nursery? Or discussing whether to tell Alexander about the baby before Maya confirms everything?"
Elena looked troubled. "I remember something about... about being excited. About feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks. But the specific conversations..." She pressed her fingers to her temples. "It's like trying to grab smoke."
"Elena." I sat up straighter, genuine concern replacing my attempt to keep the afternoon peaceful. "When did you first notice your memory getting fuzzy?"
"I don't know. Maybe... maybe a few days ago?" She looked up at me with worried eyes. "Dominic, is this normal? With pregnancy, I mean? Could hormones be affecting my memory?"
I pulled her closer, my mind racing through possibilities. 
"Tell me about yesterday," I said carefully. "What do you remember about the investigation, about talking to Derek?"
"Derek?" Elena looked genuinely confused. "Who's Derek?"
My blood turned to ice. Elena had told me everything about her conversation with Derek just yesterday—his confession about the Restoration Council, the revelation about puppet alphas, the scope of the conspiracy threatening supernatural territories across the region.
"Elena," I said, struggling to keep my voice calm, "yesterday afternoon, you discovered crucial information about the conspiracy threatening our pack. You identified a network called the Restoration Council, learned about their plan to install controllable leaders across werewolf territories."
She stared at me blankly. "I did?"
"You spoke with a pack member named Derek Mathis. He confessed to being part of the conspiracy, gave you details about their methods and goals." I watched her face for any flicker of recognition. "You came to find me, said we needed to suspend the trials immediately because the threat was bigger than we'd realized."
"I..." Elena pressed both hands to her temples, breathing shallow. "I don't remember any of that. I remember feeling worried about the trials, about your safety, but a specific conversation with someone named Derek? No."
My wolf began pacing anxiously. This wasn't pregnancy-related memory issues. This was something else.
"Elena, what's the last clear memory you have of yesterday?"
"Lunch with Maya. We talked about... about magical signatures and corrupted items." Her voice got stronger as she found a memory she could grasp. "But after that, everything gets hazy. Like I was sleepwalking through the rest of the day."
I stood up abruptly, my peaceful afternoon completely forgotten. 
"Dominic?" Elena scrambled to her feet, alarmed by my sudden movement. "What's wrong? What aren't you telling me?"
"We need to get you to doctor immediately," I said, already packing up our picnic.