Chapter 155 up
The near battle at Stormridge had left a deep mark on the world.
Even though no war had begun, the tension between the Alliance and the independent territories had not disappeared. Instead, it had settled into something quieter and more dangerous—like a forest holding its breath before a storm.
Across the northern territories, patrols doubled.
Messages between packs grew more cautious.
Rumors spread faster than truth.
But inside the independent command center, Kael was no longer focused on preparing armies.
He was hunting something else.
The hidden hand behind the chaos.
The war hall was dimly lit that evening, illuminated only by the glow of tactical displays mounted along the stone walls.
Kael stood in front of a large map, studying the marked incidents that had occurred over the past months.
Small red indicators covered the territories like scattered embers.
Supply raids.
Border conflicts.
Mysterious attacks.
Most of them had seemed unrelated at the time.
But now they formed a disturbing pattern.
Torren leaned against the edge of the war table, arms folded.
“You’ve been staring at that map for an hour.”
Kael didn’t move.
“Longer.”
Torren smirked slightly.
“Planning to burn holes into it?”
Kael finally spoke.
“These incidents.”
Torren glanced at the display.
“Yeah. The ones everyone assumed were random.”
Kael pointed toward several points on the map.
“They’re not random.”
Torren nodded slowly.
“Yeah, I figured you’d say that.”
He pushed away from the table and walked closer.
“What did you find?”
Kael activated another layer of information.
Lines appeared connecting several attack sites.
Torren frowned.
“Well… that’s interesting.”
The lines didn’t connect territories politically.
They connected geography.
Trade routes.
Neutral corridors.
Communication hubs.
Torren tilted his head.
“They’re hitting strategic locations.”
Kael nodded.
“But not destroying them.”
Torren rubbed his chin.
“Just causing problems.”
“Disrupting trust.”
Kael looked toward him.
“Between packs.”
Torren whistled quietly.
“So whoever’s doing this understands the political landscape pretty well.”
Kael nodded.
“And they want the world divided.”
Torren leaned back again.
“Well, congratulations.”
He gestured around the room.
“They’re doing a fantastic job.”
Kael ignored the sarcasm.
“They’re escalating.”
Torren looked at the most recent markers.
Ironwood.
Silverpine.
Stormridge.
“Yeah,” he muttered.
“Almost started a war.”
Kael turned toward him.
“Almost.”
Torren raised an eyebrow.
“Which means they’ll try again.”
Kael nodded slowly.
“And next time they’ll push harder.”
Torren sighed.
“So what’s the plan?”
Kael looked back at the map.
“We find them.”
Torren laughed softly.
“Oh, is that all?”
Kael turned toward the door.
“Not alone.”
Later that night, a small group gathered in a secure room beneath the command center.
Unlike the large war hall, this chamber was quiet and hidden deep within the mountain fortress.
Only a handful of wolves had access to it.
Torren stood near the entrance while Kael waited beside the table.
Moments later, three figures entered the room.
They moved silently.
Almost like shadows.
Each of them wore dark travel armor designed for stealth rather than combat.
Torren greeted them with a nod.
“Well.”
He gestured toward Kael.
“The boss wants a word.”
The first wolf stepped forward.
A tall woman with silver-gray hair tied behind her neck.
Her sharp eyes immediately assessed the room.
This was Rhea.
Former scout captain.
One of the best trackers in the northern territories.
Behind her stood two others.
Dalen, a quiet strategist known for infiltration missions.
And Miraen, a communications expert who could intercept and decode almost any transmission network.
They were not soldiers.
They were hunters.
The kind who moved unseen.
Kael addressed them directly.
“I need a team to investigate something.”
Rhea crossed her arms.
“Investigate what?”
Torren gestured toward the table.
“Someone trying to start a global war.”
Rhea raised an eyebrow.
“That sounds complicated.”
Kael activated the display.
The map lit up with all the recent incidents.
“These attacks are not random.”
Dalen stepped closer, studying the map carefully.
“They follow a pattern.”
Kael nodded.
“Someone is provoking conflict between the Alliance and the independent territories.”
Miraen frowned.
“You’re saying both sides are being manipulated.”
“Yes.”
Torren added casually,
“And if we don’t find the puppet master, eventually someone will pull the trigger.”
Rhea studied the incident markers.
“How organized are these attacks?”
Kael answered.
“Very.”
Rhea’s expression became more serious.
“So we’re not looking for rogue packs.”
“No.”
Kael looked directly at her.
“We’re looking for an organization.”
The room fell quiet.
Dalen finally spoke.
“Any suspects?”
Kael shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Torren shrugged.
“That’s why you’re here.”
Miraen leaned over the map.
“These incidents span multiple territories.”
“Yes.”
“So whoever’s behind this has resources.”
Kael nodded.
“And intelligence.”
Rhea exhaled slowly.
“Which means they’re probably watching both factions closely.”
Torren grinned.
“Congratulations. You’ve already figured out the fun part.”
Rhea looked back at Kael.
“What exactly do you want us to do?”
Kael pointed toward several recent attack sites.
“Follow the trail.”
Dalen frowned.
“After the attacks?”
“Yes.”
Torren explained.
“Most investigators look at the battlefield.”
“But whoever planned this probably left through different routes.”
Rhea nodded slowly.
“They’ll assume no one is looking for them.”
Kael’s voice remained calm.
“That’s why you’ll move quietly.”
He turned to Miraen.
“Intercept communications between neutral territories.”
Then to Dalen.
“Track supply movements.”
And finally to Rhea.
“Find where the attackers came from.”
Rhea studied the map again.
“This could take weeks.”
Kael nodded.
“I know.”
Torren added,
“And if you get caught, technically we don’t know you.”
Miraen smirked slightly.
“Comforting.”
Kael’s expression remained serious.
“This mission stays secret.”
Rhea looked at him carefully.
“Even from your own Alphas?”
“Yes.”
Torren crossed his arms.
“Half of them are already itching for war.”
Kael continued.
“If they discover we’re investigating a third party…”
“They might assume we’re hesitating.”
Rhea understood immediately.
“And hesitation looks like weakness.”
Kael nodded.
“Exactly.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Finally Rhea stepped back from the table.
“We’ll do it.”
Dalen nodded in agreement.
“So will I.”
Miraen sighed.
“Well.”
She glanced at the map.
“Guess I’m hacking half the continent.”
Torren chuckled.
“That’s the spirit.”
Kael looked at the three of them.
“Find whoever is behind this.”
Rhea’s eyes sharpened.
“And when we do?”
Kael’s voice became colder.
“Then we stop them.”
Hours later, the three investigators departed quietly under the cover of night.
No announcement.
No escort.
Just three wolves disappearing into the darkness beyond the mountain fortress.
From a balcony overlooking the valley, Torren watched them leave.
“You trust them?”
Kael stood beside him.
“Yes.”
Torren glanced toward the distant horizon.
“Good.”
Because whoever they were hunting had already proven something terrifying.
They could manipulate armies.
Influence leaders.
And nearly start a war between half the world.
Torren spoke again.
“If this shadow organization exists…”
He scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“They’re probably not amateurs.”
Kael’s gaze remained fixed on the darkness beyond the mountains.
“No.”
Torren smirked.
“So we just sent three wolves to chase ghosts.”
Kael answered quietly.
“They’re not ghosts.”
Torren looked at him.
“How do you know?”
Kael’s eyes hardened slightly.
“Because they almost burned the world.”
Far away, three shadow hunters were already moving through forests and borderlands, following faint traces left behind by the provocateurs.
The hunt had begun.
And somewhere in the darkness, the hidden enemy was waiting.