Chapter 70: The Hunt Begins

Mariana’s POV

The war room emptied, but the tension lingered.

Alexander stood at the table, his hands braced against the polished wood, staring at the map of our lands. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the storm beneath it.

Not the kind of rage that burned hot and reckless, but the slow, simmering kind. The kind that didn’t fade—it only sharpened.

I stepped closer. “You need to rest.”

His jaw tightened. “I don’t have time.”

“Alexander—”

“I was nearly taken tonight, Mariana.” His voice was low, rough. “They knew my weaknesses. They knew exactly where to strike. That means someone close to us is feeding them information.”

I swallowed hard. He wasn’t wrong. But pushing himself past his limit wouldn’t fix this.

“You won’t find the traitor if you collapse from blood loss,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “You need to heal before you make your next move.”

For a moment, I thought he would argue. But then, with a slow exhale, he straightened. “Fine. But not until we set things in motion.”

I nodded. “Then let’s start.”

The dungeons beneath the castle were cold and damp, carved deep into the earth. Few prisoners ever ended up here, but tonight was an exception.

Eva met us at the entrance, arms crossed, her expression grim. “We found someone.”

Alexander’s eyes darkened. “Who?”

She stepped aside, revealing a battered man chained to the wall. His clothes were torn, his lip split from a recent blow. But despite his injuries, he smirked.

I felt Alexander tense beside me.

“Ronan,” he said coldly.

My stomach twisted. I recognized the name. A former warrior, one who had once been loyal to the pack—until he disappeared months ago.

He chuckled, the sound low and taunting. “Miss me, Alpha?”

Alexander stepped forward, shadows clinging to his frame. “You were there tonight.”

Ronan tilted his head, as if considering. “Was I?”

Alexander didn’t move, but the air around him thickened with power. “Who do you work for?”

Eva unsheathed her dagger, twirling it between her fingers. “We can do this the easy way, or—”

“Or what?” Ronan interrupted, grinning. “You’ll kill me? Go ahead.”

I watched Alexander closely. He wouldn’t kill him. Not yet. He needed answers.

Alexander leaned in, voice deadly soft. “I won’t kill you. But I will make you beg for it.”

The smirk faltered.

Good.

Ronan swallowed hard, then spat blood onto the floor. “You’re already too late.”

A chill ran down my spine.

Alexander’s voice was razor-sharp. “For what?”

Ronan grinned again, this time with something cruel in his eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

A knock echoed from the dungeon entrance. A warrior stepped in, his face pale.

“My Alpha,” he said, voice tight. “There’s been another attack.”

Alexander’s gaze snapped to mine.

The war had just begun.

Another attack.

The words rang in my ears, sharper than any blade.

I turned to the warrior at the door. “Where?”

“The northern outpost,” he said quickly. “The guards fought them off, but… it wasn’t a full assault. They left behind something.”

I didn’t hesitate. “Prepare the horses.”

Mariana grabbed my arm before I could leave. “You’re still wounded.”

I ignored the pain flaring through my side. “That doesn’t matter.”

She didn’t let go. “If this is a trap—”

“I know.” My voice softened just enough. “That’s why we need to move now.”

Her lips pressed together, but she nodded.

Eva stepped forward. “I’ll keep an eye on Ronan. If he tries anything, I’ll make sure he regrets it.”

I barely spared Ronan another glance. “He won’t get far.”

His laughter followed me as I turned to leave. “Run all you want, Alexander. You’ll never be fast enough.”

I forced myself not to react. Not to let him see the flicker of doubt.

Instead, I strode out of the dungeons, Mariana close beside me.

Whatever message had been left at the northern outpost…

It wasn’t just meant for me.

It was meant for all of us.

The night was colder here, the air thick with the scent of blood. Warriors stood guard, their faces grim as they parted to let us through.

The bodies had already been cleared, but the evidence of the attack remained—slashes in the wood, arrows lodged in the walls. Whoever had done this hadn’t lingered.

But they had left something behind.

I approached the main gates and saw it. A crude symbol burned into the wood.

A wolf’s head, crossed out.

Mariana inhaled sharply beside me. “They’re trying to make a statement.”

“They already have,” I muttered.

This wasn’t just about me anymore.

This was a challenge. A declaration.

They weren’t just coming for me.

They were coming for the pack.

Mariana’s fingers brushed my arm. “What do we do now?”

I stared at the scorched mark, my chest tightening.

Then I turned to my warriors.

“We find them,” I said, my voice cold as steel. “And we end this before it begins.”

No more waiting. No more reacting.

The hunt had begun.