Chapter 160 Cole's Hidden Agenda
POV: Luna
The supply run ambush confirmed my worst fear.
We had a traitor. Someone inside Silverwood feeding information to the architects.
"Who knew about the supply run?" I asked the Headmaster the next day.
"Senior faculty. Security. And your pack."
"So someone with access to faculty meetings."
"Or someone who overheard. Or someone with magical eavesdropping abilities."
Too many possibilities.
We needed hard evidence. Proof of who was betraying us.
I gathered my pack in the library. Private. Warded against listening spells.
"We're being sabotaged," I said. "From inside. We need to find out who."
"How?" Nova asked.
"We set a trap. Feed different people different information. See which version leaks."
"That's risky," Aria said. "If the traitor realizes what we're doing—"
"Then we're no worse off than now. At least we'll know who to watch."
We spent the next day planting false information.
Told Professor Cael we were planning a nighttime patrol of the eastern grounds.
Told the Headmaster we were reinforcing wards on the western perimeter.
Told security we were moving Selene to a new location.
Each piece of information was slightly different. Specific.
If any of it leaked, we'd know which source was compromised.
That night, we waited.
Hidden. Watching to see what happened.
At midnight, rogues attacked the eastern grounds.
Exactly where we'd told Professor Cael we'd be.
"She's the traitor," Nova breathed.
"Or someone monitoring her. We need more evidence."
We set another trap. This time, making the false information even more specific.
We told Professor Cael that Selene would be training in the gymnasium at dawn.
Then we waited. Hidden. Watching.
At dawn, rogues appeared outside the gymnasium.
But something was wrong.
They weren't attacking. They were placing something.
A magical trap. Similar to the ones the It-Girls had used before.
And carved into the trap's center was a sigil.
Cole's sigil.
"He's still orchestrating attacks," Lyric said. "Even from his cell."
"Or someone wants us to think he is," I replied.
I approached the trap carefully. Examined it without triggering it.
The magical signature was definitely Cole's. But something felt off.
"Sienna," I called. "Look at this."
She studied the trap closely. "This is strange. The signature is Cole's, but the construction is wrong. Different than his usual work."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning someone copied his signature but doesn't know his techniques. They're faking his involvement."
"The architects."
"Probably. Trying to frame him. Keep us from trusting him."
"But why? He's already locked up. Already discredited."
"Because they know you were considering helping him. Saving his family. If you think he's still actively working against you, you'll give up on that."
She was right.
This was psychological warfare. Designed to isolate Cole. To prevent any possible alliance.
Which meant Cole really was telling the truth.
His family really was in danger.
And the architects were using that to control him.
"We need to verify his family's situation," I said. "Find out if they're really being held hostage."
"How?" Nova asked.
"We ask him. Directly. Get details. Names. Locations. Then we investigate."
We went to Cole's cell.
He looked even worse than before. Like hope was draining out of him.
"Luna," he said. "Please tell me you found something. About my family."
"We're investigating. But I need information. Names. Where they live. Last known locations."
He gave me everything. Parents' names. Siblings. Extended family. Their pack territory. Everything.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "Even if you can't save them, thank you for trying."
We left and I immediately sent the information to the Headmaster.
He promised to investigate through Council channels.
That evening, we got results.
"Cole's family is confirmed missing," the Headmaster said. "Disappeared two weeks ago. No trace. No ransom demands. No bodies."
"So the architects really do have them."
"It appears so. Which means Cole's cooperation has been coerced. Not voluntary."
"Then we need to save them."
"That's too dangerous, Miss Eclipse."
"If we save them, we free Cole from their control. Maybe even turn him into an ally."
"Or it's a trap designed to lure you into danger."
"Everything's a trap these days. At least this time we'd be acting instead of reacting."
The Headmaster considered. "I'll authorize a rescue mission. But it will be faculty-led. Students will provide support only."
"I'm coming."
"I expected nothing less."
We spent the next two days planning the rescue.
According to Council intelligence, Cole's family was being held in an abandoned facility about fifty miles from Silverwood.
Former magical research station. Now supposedly empty.
Perfect place for a hostage situation.
The team would be small. Me, Liam, Professor Cael, and two security officers.
Everyone else would stay at Silverwood. Protecting Selene and the other students.
We left at dawn. Quiet. Secret.
The facility was exactly as described. Old. Abandoned. Creepy.
But the wards around it were new. Powerful. Active.
"Someone's definitely here," Professor Cael said.
We approached carefully. Looking for traps.
Found several. Disabled them one by one.
Finally, we breached the entrance.
Inside was dark. Silent. Empty.
Too empty.
"This feels wrong," Liam said through the mate bond.
"Agreed. Stay alert."
We moved through the facility. Room by room. Floor by floor.
Nothing. No hostages. No guards. No evidence anyone had been here recently.
"We've been set up," I realized.
That's when the explosion hit.
The entire building shook. Walls crumbled. Ceiling collapsed.
We ran for the exit.
Barely made it out before the whole structure came down.
Outside, waiting for us, was Cole.
Not imprisoned. Not suppressed. Free and powerful.
"Hello, Luna," he said. "Thank you for coming. You made this so much easier."
"Your family—"
"Is fine. Safe. Never in danger. That was just bait to get you away from Silverwood."
My blood ran cold. "It was all a lie."
"Not all of it. The architects are real. The conspiracy is real. But I've been working with them all along. Willingly. Happily."
"Why?"
"Because I believe in their vision. A world without predetermined destinies. Without bloodline hierarchies. True freedom."
"By destroying the seal and releasing chaos?"
"By reshaping reality into something better."
He raised his hands. Dark magic swirled.
We were exhausted from fighting our way out of the collapsing building.
Outnumbered. Outmaneuvered.
"And while you're here," Cole continued. "My allies are attacking Silverwood. Going after the princess. Your friends. Everyone you left behind to protect."
"No!"
"You had to choose, Luna. Save my imaginary family or save your real one. You chose wrong."
He vanished. Teleporting away.
We were left standing in the ruins.
"We need to get back!" I shouted. "Now!"
We ran for the vehicle.
But I already knew.
We were too late.
By the time we got back to Silverwood, the damage would already be done.
Cole had played me. Again.
And this time, people I loved were going to pay the price.