Chapter 69 A Snake
The forest was quiet, the crisp night air heavy with tension. Kael moved swiftly through the trees, his sharp senses guiding him toward the rogue who had slipped past the Moonstone pack’s patrols. He spotted a figure crouching near the border, hidden in the shadows.
Kael’s lips curled into a grim smile. Got you.
With a burst of speed, Kael lunged, pinning the rogue against a tree. The rogue struggled, baring his teeth.
“Who sent you?” Kael demanded, his grip tightening around the rogue’s neck.
The rogue bared his teeth. “What's this? Some kind of show or what?
Kael’s gaze darkened. “Humor me.”
The rogue stared at Kael's expression, seeing that he's serious, fear gripped him. “You’re slipping. Siding with these mutts now? What’s your intention?”
Kael grinned. “Why don't you guess?”
The rogue sneered. “Kevin doesn’t like loose ends, Kael. If he finds out you’re playing both sides—”
Kael’s grip tightened on the rogue’s throat. “You don’t get to ask questions.”
The rogue laughed bitterly, his voice hoarse from Kael’s hold. “He’ll find out, you know. Kevin isn’t stupid. He’ll see you for the snake you are.”
Kael’s jaw clenched. The rogue’s words hit a nerve, but he kept his expression neutral. “If Kevin finds out, it won’t be because of you.”
The rogue opened his mouth to respond, but the faint sound of footsteps approaching made Kael tense. His heightened senses picked up Alex and several warriors heading their way.
Kael didn’t have time to think. He couldn’t risk the rogue exposing his alliance with Kevin. Kael's eyes darted to the Rogue's face calculating.
He couldn’t let the rogue be taken in for interrogation.
“Sorry friend,” Kael muttered, his tone almost casual. “It’s nothing personal.”
The Rogue's eyes widened in realization. “Wait–”
With one swift motion, he twisted the rogue’s neck, the sickening crack echoing in the quiet forest.
The body slumped to the ground just as Alex emerged from the trees, followed by a group of warriors.
“What the hell happened here?” Alex demanded, his eyes darting from Kael to the lifeless rogue at his feet.
Kael straightened, his face calm despite the tension in the air. “I caught him sneaking around. He attacked me, so I defended myself.”
Alex’s gaze lingered on the rogue, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “You killed him?”
“He didn’t give me much of a choice,” Kael replied evenly, brushing dirt off his hands.
Derek arrived moments later, his commanding presence silencing the murmurs among the warriors. His eyes scanned the scene, lingering on the dead rogue before locking onto Kael.
“What’s going on here?” Derek’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.
Kael crossed his arms, leaning against a nearby tree. “Caught this one sneaking around the eastern perimeter. He was planting devices—probably to track movements or overhear your plans.”
Derek knelt beside the body, his fingers brushing over the spy’s belongings. Sure enough, there were small electronic devices tucked into the rogue’s pockets.
Kael met his gaze without flinching. “Your patrols were slow, so I took matters into my own hands. This rogue attacked me, and I defended myself.”
Derek’s expression didn’t change, but his sharp gaze was unrelenting. “And you couldn’t subdue him without killing him?”
Kael shrugged. “If you’d seen how he came at me, you wouldn’t be asking that question.”
One of the warriors muttered, “We could’ve brought him back to interrogate him.”
Kael shot him a glare. “He wasn’t exactly cooperative. Besides, I managed to get something before he died.”
Derek raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”
Kael hesitated, just long enough to make his answer seem deliberate. “He mentioned Kevin and some kind of intel.
Derek’s jaw tightened, but his gaze remained fixed on Kael. “How convenient for him to die before we could verify anything.”
Kael’s voice grew cold. “Are you implying I had a choice? He nearly killed me. I didn’t exactly have time to debate the ethics of taking him alive.”
Seeing Derek's stone expression, Kael smirked. “I don't care if you believe me Alpha. I did what needed to be done.
Alex frowned, his gaze flicking between Kael and Derek. “We could have used him to gather more information.”
Kael's smirk faded, replaced by a hard glare. “And risk him slipping through your fingers? I have seen how rogues operate. He wouldn't have lasted long in your custody.
The warriors exchanged uneasy glances, but Derek remained silent, his eyes locked on Kael.
“You’re quick to act, but your actions tonight only raise more questions.”
Kael crossed his arms, his smirk returning. “If I wanted to harm your pack, I wouldn't be running around killing rogues for you”
Derek’s eyes narrowed. “Or maybe you’re trying to earn our trust while working toward your own agenda.”
Kael smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. “Believe what you want, I'm here to help and I will keep proving it.”
For a moment, they stared at each other, the tension thick in the air. Kael finally broke the silence, his voice calm but firm. “Look, I get it. You don’t trust me. But I didn’t come here to prove anything to you. I came here to stop Kevin before he does something irreversible.”
Derek’s gaze didn’t waver. “And why does Kevin concern you so much? What’s your stake in this?”
Kael hesitated, a flicker of something unspoken crossing his face. “Let’s just say I have my reasons.”
Derek's jaw tightened but he didn't press further. “We’ll discuss this later. For now, we need to focus on what Kevin’s next move might be.”
Kael gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. “Your call, Alpha.”
Derek turned to Alex, his tone brisk. “Take the body back. We’ll burn it at dawn.”
As Alex and the warriors moved to carry out his orders, Derek lingered, his gaze following Kael as he walked away. Something about the man didn’t sit right with him. Kael was too calculated, too composed.
Kael wasn’t here out of loyalty—there was more to his story, and Derek intended to find out what.
Back in the privacy of his quarters, Kael leaned against the wall, his mind racing. Killing the rogue had been a gamble, but it was a necessary one.
Kevin’s plans were moving faster than he’d anticipated, and the Moonstone pack was proving more suspicious than he’d hoped.
Kael clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Derek’s doubt was an obstacle, and he intends to fix it as soon as possible.