Shadows in the Dark

Mariana’s POV

The scent of burned wood still lingered in the air. The scorched mark on the gate felt like a wound cut into the pack itself—a taunt, a challenge.

Alexander stood rigid, his gaze locked on the symbol. His anger was a quiet, controlled thing, but I knew it was only a mask. Beneath it, he was seething.

I stepped closer. “Who do you think it is?”

He exhaled sharply. “Someone who wants us to doubt ourselves. Someone who knows we’re vulnerable right now.”

Eva crouched near the base of the gate, running her fingers over the charred wood. “This wasn’t just a warning,” she muttered. “It was a test.”

I frowned. “A test for what?”

“To see how we’d react,” she said, standing. “They want to know if we’ll panic. If we’ll turn on each other before they even have to strike.”

I swallowed. It made sense. The attack at the border, Ronan’s cryptic words, and now this. Whoever was behind this wasn’t just looking for a fight. They were playing a long game.

Alexander turned to Garrick. “Double the patrols. No one moves in or out without clearance.”

Garrick nodded and strode away, barking orders to the warriors.

I watched them scatter, my mind racing. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. We had won. Marion was gone. The pack was supposed to be safe now.

But instead, the shadows were growing longer.

And I had a terrible feeling that we were only seeing the beginning.

The council chamber was heavy with unspoken tension. Candles flickered against the stone walls, casting long shadows over the faces of the gathered elders.

Alexander stood at the head of the table, his hands braced against the surface.

“We have a traitor,” he said, voice steady but unyielding. “And we have an enemy who knows our weaknesses.”

Murmurs rippled through the room. Some council members exchanged glances, while others shifted uncomfortably.

“We don’t know that for certain,” one of them said.

Eva scoffed. “You think this is a coincidence?”

Another elder sighed. “No. But we need proof before we start turning on our own.”

Alexander’s gaze was sharp. “Then we find proof.”

Silence.

I exhaled slowly. “And what if we don’t have time?”

Alexander’s eyes met mine.

I already knew the answer.

Then we fight blind.

And we pray we aren’t already too late.

The council chamber was thick with unease. The elders weren’t foolish—they knew the threat was real—but fear made men cautious. Too cautious.

“We cannot afford to act recklessly,” Elder Hamish said, leaning forward. His silver-streaked beard caught the candlelight as he studied me. “This pack has endured too much change in too little time.”

“We don’t have the luxury of patience,” I countered. “If we hesitate, we invite more attacks.”

Hamish’s eyes narrowed. “And if we make a mistake? If we accuse the wrong person? The pack’s trust is already fragile, Alexander. A wrong move now could break it entirely.”

I clenched my jaw. He wasn’t wrong—but neither was I.

Mariana’s voice cut through the tension. “Then we don’t make mistakes.”

All eyes turned to her.

She stepped forward, her presence steady and unyielding. “We don’t accuse blindly. We investigate. Discreetly. And in the meantime, we prepare for war—because whether we like it or not, it’s coming.”

Eva smirked. “I like the way you think.”

Hamish sighed but nodded. “Then we move carefully. But if we do this, we do it right.”

I met Mariana’s gaze. A silent understanding passed between us.

We had won the battle, but the war had only just begun.

The castle halls were eerily quiet as I made my way toward the training grounds. The moon cast long streaks of silver across the stone, and every sound felt amplified in the silence.

Mariana had gone to rest, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

A traitor walked among us.

I needed to find them before they struck again.

As I neared the barracks, a whisper of movement caught my attention. My instincts flared.

I turned sharply—just in time to see a hooded figure disappear around the corner.

I didn’t hesitate.

I took off after them, my steps soundless against the stone. The figure moved fast, slipping through the narrow corridors with practiced ease.

Whoever they were, they knew this castle well.

They were one of us.

I surged forward, closing the distance. My hand shot out, fingers brushing the edge of their cloak—

And then a sharp pain bloomed across my ribs.

A knife.

I hissed as the blade sliced shallow but clean. The figure twisted out of my grip, darting into the shadows.

For a moment, the only sound was my own breathing.

Then, from somewhere deeper in the darkness, a voice—low, taunting.

“You’re already too late.”

Then silence.

By the time I reached the passage, they were gone.

I pressed a hand to my wound, my mind racing.

They weren’t trying to kill me.

Not yet.

This was a warning.

And whoever they were, they were close.

Too close. Blood trickled between my fingers as I pressed my hand to the shallow wound. The pain was sharp but manageable—I’d had worse. But it wasn’t the injury that unsettled me.

It was the message.

You’re already too late.

The words echoed in my mind, taunting me. What had I missed? What move had they already made?

Footsteps pounded down the corridor. I turned sharply, half-expecting another attack, but it was Mariana. She skidded to a stop, her breath quick, her eyes scanning me.

“You’re bleeding,” she said, stepping closer.

“It’s nothing.” I straightened. “They got away.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press. Instead, her gaze flickered down the hall. “Who was it?”

“I don’t know.” Frustration tightened my jaw. “They knew the castle too well. One of ours.”

Mariana’s expression darkened. “Then we don’t just have an enemy at our borders.” Her voice was quiet, but it carried weight. “We have one inside our walls.”

The realization settled over us like a cold fog.

“Come on,” she said, gripping my arm. “We need to tell Eva and the others.”

I didn’t argue. Whatever was happening, we were already a step behind. We couldn’t afford to lose any more ground.

Eva leaned against the table, arms crossed. “So let me get this straight.” Her eyes flicked to my wound. “Someone just tried to stab you. Inside the castle.”

I nodded.

“And we have no idea who they are?”

Another nod. She exhaled sharply. “Great. Love that for us. ”Hamish, who had stayed behind after the last council meeting, rubbed his temples. “This only confirms what we feared. Someone in the pack is working against us.” “But why warn Alexander instead of finishing him?” Mariana asked.

Silence. Then Garrick spoke. “Because they don’t need to kill him. Not yet.” His expression was grim. “Not if they’re planning something bigger.”

The room went still. Eva’s jaw tightened. “You think another attack is coming.”

“I think it’s already started,” I said. My pulse was steady, but there was an edge to my voice. “They said I was too late.”

Hamish sat forward. “Then the question is… too late for what?”

No one had the answer. And that was the problem.

I didn’t sleep. None of us did. We needed answers, and we needed them now.

Scouts were sent out. Guards doubled at every entrance. But no matter how many precautions we took, the unease remained.

Somewhere, in the dark corners of this pack, an enemy was watching.

Waiting. I stared out at the horizon, where the first light of dawn was breaking.

If they thought we were weak, they were wrong.

Because I wasn’t going to wait for them to make their next move.

I was going to hunt them down first.