Chapter 58 THE ALLIANCE FRACTURES
ALICIA'S POV
Luna's cry wakes me from the first real sleep I've had in three days. My body aches as I lift her from the incubator, but my daughter needs me.
"Shh baby. Mama's here." I settle into the chair and help Luna latch. "You're safe."
The lie tastes bitter. Luna isn't safe. Alpha David's murder has fractured everything.
Ray bursts through the door, his face pale. "Three more packs just withdrew their support. Silver Ridge, Mountain Crest, and Coastal. The alliance is falling apart."
"How many does that leave us?"
"Dark Night Pack, Blood Moon, the Forgotten rogues, and two smaller packs. Maybe one hundred and fifty wolves total.
Morrison will bring ten times that."
Luna whimpers. I switch her to the other side, trying not to let my fear seep through our bond.
"We can rebuild. Convince the other Alphas that David's death wasn't our fault."
"With what proof? The scent markers point to Dark Night wolves. Someone used our scent to frame us." Ray sits on the edge of my bed. "Marcus is calling for my arrest. Says I should be tried for David's murder."
"That's insane. You were in the war council room with twenty witnesses."
"Doesn't matter. He says I could have ordered the kill." Ray's voice is hollow. "Half the remaining Alphas believe him."
Luna finishes nursing and I lift her to burp. "What about the investigation? Did Logan find anything?"
"Blood trace analysis shows wolf saliva mixed with something chemical. Like whoever killed him used a substance to mask their true scent and overlay ours." Ray looks at Luna with naked fear. "But that evidence takes time to process. Time we don't have."
Monty enters carrying a tablet. "Someone leaked footage of the murder to pack networks. It's spreading everywhere."
He shows me grainy security footage of a figure entering David's room. The build looks familiar.
"That's not one of ours. Whoever that is moves like a trained killer, not a soldier."
"Tell that to the packs who just withdrew from the alliance." Monty's voice is tight. "They're citing security concerns and unwillingness to work with a pack that murders its allies."
Luna burps and spits up on my shoulder.
"Where are Kai and Logan?"
"Kai's interrogating our border guards. Logan's analyzing blood samples from David's body."
A sharp knock interrupts. Sera enters without waiting. "The Forgotten are staying. We pledged to the True Luna, not to pack politics."
"Thank you. I know this puts your rogues at risk."
"We've been at risk our whole lives. One more enemy doesn't change anything." Sera moves closer to see Luna. "She's beautiful. I can feel her power even at five days old."
"The baby's power is already manifesting?" Monty sounds concerned.
"She carries four bloodlines and True Luna genetics. She's unprecedented. Which is exactly why Morrison wants her so desperately."
Luna starts fussing again. I rock her gently but she won't settle.
"She's picking up on your fear," Sera says. "Newborns sense their mother's emotions. You need to calm yourself or she'll stay distressed."
"How am I supposed to be calm when everything is falling apart?"
"By remembering you're the True Luna. Your power stopped a war with one howl." Sera meets my eyes. "Call the remaining Alphas together and face the accusations directly. Use your True Luna authority to demand they listen. Make them feel your power."
"That's using intimidation, not leadership," Ray objects.
"Sometimes they're the same thing. These wolves respond to strength. Show them you have it."
The door opens. Kai enters with blood on his hands. Fresh blood.
"Found our saboteur. Guard named Thomas. He confessed to stealing scent markers from the training grounds and giving them to someone outside the pack."
"Who?" Ray demands.
"He didn't know. Said he was paid in gold and threatened with exposure of an affair." Kai wipes his hands. "The confession is recorded."
"That clears us." Hope flares in my chest.
"I already sent it to every pack leader who withdrew support." Kai sits on the windowsill. "Half aren't responding. The others say a coerced confession isn't reliable evidence."
Luna's crying intensifies. Nothing I do calms her.
"Give her to me." Monty reaches for Luna. "You need rest. You're exhausted."
I hesitate, but he's right. I pass Luna carefully and watch Monty cradle her. She quiets almost immediately.
"She likes you."
"She's bonded to all of us. Not just you. You don't have to carry everything alone."
Tears blur my vision. I'm so tired of being strong.
Logan finally enters looking haggard. "Blood analysis is complete. David was poisoned before he was killed. Fast-acting toxin that mimics natural heart failure. The toxin used is rare. Only available through Veritas supply chains."
The pieces click together. "Morrison's people killed David."
"Yes. Which means the real spy isn't necessarily in Dark Night Pack. It could be any pack that attended the war council."
"That doesn't narrow it down much," Kai says.
"But only a few had access to David's quarters at the right time." Ray's already pulling up security logs. "We can track movements."
Before anyone can respond, the alarm howls through the packhouse. Long and urgent and terrified.
"Border breach! Western border! Single wolf! He's injured!"
We all move at once. Ray shifts and runs. Kai follows. Logan grabs his medical kit. Monty hands Luna back to me and joins them.
I'm left alone with my daughter and Sera.
"Stay here." Sera's already moving toward the door. "Lock it behind me. Don't open for anyone you don't absolutely trust."
Then she's gone and I'm alone with Luna.
The bond with my mates pulses with alarm. Through it I feel their shock, their confusion and horror.
Minutes crawl by. Luna sleeps peacefully but I can't relax.
Finally running footsteps approach.
The door bursts open. Ray enters first, still in wolf form. He shifts quickly, his face ashen.
"Alicia. It's Vincent. He's here."
My father. "Is he alive?"
"Barely. Someone attacked him. Beat him almost to death. He managed to shift and run here."
"Who attacked him?"
Ray's eyes are haunted. "He says it was Jake. Says his own son tried to murder him."
The words don't make sense. Jake and Vincent might have conflicts, but patricide?
"Where is he? I need to see him."
"Medical wing. Logan's trying to stabilize him." Ray blocks my path. "Alicia, he's dying. Multiple broken bones. Internal bleeding. Silver poisoning."
"Then I need to go now." I push past him with Luna. "He's my father. He deserves better than dying alone."
The medical wing is chaos. Logan works frantically over Vincent's broken body. Blood is everywhere.
Vincent's eyes find me as I enter. They're swollen, almost shut but still aware.
"Alicia." His voice is barely a whisper. "I'm sorry for everything. I am so sorry."
"Save your strength. Logan will fix this."
"No." Vincent coughs and blood sprays from his lips. "Jake poisoned my drink. Then challenged me. When I confronted him about working with Morrison, he tried to kill me."
Jake, my brother. Working with Morrison.
"He said…" Vincent's breathing becomes more labored. "He said he's not my son. That he's always belonged to Morrison."
Jake has been working for The Veritas his entire life.
"Where is he now?" Ray demands.
"Taking over Blood Moon Pack. His Veritas allies on the council supported him." Vincent's hand reaches for mine. "He's coming for you next. He knows about Luna and he plans to give you both to Morrison."
"How long do we have?"
Vincent's eyes close. "Hours, maybe less. He wanted me dead so I couldn't warn you."
"Vincent, stay with me. Stay awake."
But his breathing stops and the bond I never knew I had with my father severs like a cut wire.
Vincent Rowe. Alpha of Blood Moon Pack. My father despite everything. Dead because his son chose power over family.
Luna wakes and starts crying.
Ray's phone rings. He answers and his face goes pale.
"Blood Moon Pack just declared war. Jake issued a formal challenge to Dark Night. He's bringing his entire force." Ray's voice is hollow. "They'll be here by dawn, and Vincent is dead, so nobody can dispute Jake's authority."