Chapter 131 The Face Behind the War

Chapter 131 The Face Behind the War
~ Alistair's POV ~

The wounded civilians remained under Dravik protection while Caelen organized healers and patrols across the territory. As I watched Allene move calmly among frightened wolves without hiding who she had become, I finally accepted a truth I had avoided for years.

She no longer feared the Moonbound blood inside her. Instead, she was learning to live with it one day at a time.

I stood quietly outside the medical building and watched her comfort an injured child. The little girl stopped crying almost as soon as Allene held her hand.

My wife had hoped our daughter would one day reach this point. I finally understood what she had been trying to protect.

She had never hidden the truth because she wanted to deceive me. She had hidden it because she knew powerful wolves would eventually hunt our daughter if they discovered who she was.

For years I convinced myself she had made the wrong choice. Now I realized fear had blinded me more than any lie ever had.

I still distrusted much of wolf society. Too many powerful wolves had already proven they could not be trusted.

That no longer meant separating Allene from Caelen would keep her safe. Everything that had happened had shown me the opposite.

Caelen had risked his position more than once to protect her. I could no longer ignore the difference between the man I imagined him to be and the man he truly was.

If I wanted to help my daughter now, I had to stop fighting the wrong battle. Protecting her meant finding the people still trying to destroy the peace.

I returned to my office inside the human district the following morning. The building had remained operational despite everything happening between humans and wolves.

Several investigators were already waiting for me. They had spent years handling corporate security matters for my companies.

"I need everything connected to the recent attacks," I told them. "Ignore the public reports and follow the money."

None of them questioned the order. They immediately divided the work between themselves.

The investigation lasted several days. Every report removed another piece of the story everyone believed.

The attacks blamed on rogue wolves followed organized patterns instead of random violence. Supplies, vehicles, and communication equipment had all been purchased through fake companies.

One investigator entered my office carrying several financial records. His expression told me he had found something important.

"These payments don't match rogue activity," he said. "Someone has been funding trained mercenary groups."

He placed the files across my desk. I examined every transaction carefully.

Large amounts of money moved through shell companies before reaching private contractors. None of the transfers connected to wolf territories.

Another investigator arrived less than an hour later with a second report. His findings completed the picture.

"We also traced payments reaching known rogue wolves," he explained. "They're receiving money through separate channels."

I leaned back in my chair. The plan became painfully obvious.

Someone was paying humans to pretend they were wolves. The same people were paying rogue wolves to attack human settlements.

Neither side realized they were helping the same enemy. Every attack pushed humans and wolves closer to another war.

Everything my wife, Allene, and Caelen had sacrificed to protect could disappear overnight. Someone wanted to erase every recent step toward peace.

I gathered every report into a secure file. There was only one thing left to do.

Later that afternoon, I drove to Dravik Territory carrying the evidence myself. Many wolves still watched me with open suspicion as I entered the territory.

Some stepped aside without speaking. Others followed me with their eyes until I reached the council building.

Caelen met me inside with Kieran already waiting beside him. Neither of them looked surprised by my arrival.

"I found something," I said as I placed the files on the table. "You need to see this."

Caelen opened the folder immediately. Kieran leaned over his shoulder as they examined every page.

"This isn't rogue activity," Caelen said after several minutes. "It's coordinated."

"They're paying both sides," I replied. "Humans and wolves are attacking each other without realizing someone else is controlling everything."

Kieran looked up from the documents. His expression became serious.

"If this spreads," he said, "the treaty won't survive."

"That's exactly what they're counting on," I answered.

The meeting continued while we discussed every report. Nobody argued because the evidence spoke for itself.

When we finally stepped outside, I noticed Allene waiting nearby. She had clearly been expecting the meeting to end.

She walked toward me without hesitation. I wondered if she still needed more time before speaking to me again.

Instead of stopping several steps away, she closed the remaining distance. Before I understood what she intended, she wrapped both arms around me.

I stood completely still. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

"I'm glad you're helping," she said quietly. "Thank you."

My hands slowly rested against her back. I had imagined this moment countless times but never believed it would happen.

"I almost lost you," I whispered. "I almost threw away every chance to make things right."

She stepped back just enough to look at me. Her expression remained gentle but honest.

"We're still fixing things," she said. "It won't happen overnight."

"I know."

"But we're trying."

Those three words carried more hope than anything I had heard in years. She had not forgiven me completely, but she had opened a door I thought was permanently closed.

After she walked back toward Caelen, I remained where I was for several seconds. I made one promise to myself before leaving Dravik Territory.

Whatever years I had left, I would spend them protecting my daughter instead of controlling her. It was the promise I should have kept from the beginning.

Late that night, my encrypted phone signaled an incoming message from one of my investigators. He had been tracking the financial network connected to the mercenary groups.

The message contained only a short warning asking me to review an attached security recording immediately. After that transmission, all contact with him stopped.

I opened the video without wasting another second. The recording showed the entrance to the investigation office only minutes before communication was lost.

A hooded man calmly entered the building and paused in front of the security camera. Then he slowly pulled back his hood and smiled directly into the lens.

It was Duno.