Chosen by the Alpha

Chapter 14: Unraveling the Traitor

Emma had barely slept since returning from her visit to Elara. The knowledge she had gained weighed heavily on her, and she could feel the tension tightening around her like a noose. The prophecy, the dark force lurking in the shadows, and the precarious balance between Jace and Leo’s packs—everything seemed to be spiraling out of control. But there was no time to dwell on her fears; the discovery of a traitor within the packs had pushed matters to a boiling point, and now she had to act.

Jace, Leo, and their trusted lieutenants gathered in a secluded cabin deep in the forest—a neutral ground where both packs could meet without risking a confrontation. The air inside the cabin was thick with mistrust, the eyes of the gathered wolves darting around as if trying to pinpoint who among them could be the one betraying them all. Emma stood between Jace and Leo, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing down on her. She knew that if she failed to uncover the truth, the fragile truce between the packs could shatter, and the dark force Elara had warned her about would have its opening.

“We need to find the traitor,” Jace said, his voice low and filled with barely controlled anger. “Whoever it is, they’ve been feeding information to our enemies and stirring up trouble between the packs. We can’t afford to let this continue.”

Leo nodded, though his expression was grim. “Agreed. But we need proof. Accusing the wrong person could be just as dangerous as doing nothing. We can’t let this turn into a witch hunt.”

Emma glanced between them, sensing the simmering tension. Jace’s pack, the Silverclaws, had been on edge since rumors of sabotage began circulating. Supplies had gone missing, false information had been spread, and skirmishes had broken out in territories that had been quiet for years. Meanwhile, Leo’s pack, the Bloodmoons, had been dealing with their issues—raids from rogue wolves, mysterious disappearances, and signs of growing unrest among the younger members. It was clear that someone was trying to drive a wedge between the packs, and Emma felt that if they didn’t uncover the traitor soon, there would be no turning back.

“We have to be smart about this,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Whoever is behind this has been careful, covering their tracks. But no one can hide forever. We need to find the right thread to pull.”

Jace’s second-in-command, a fierce wolf named Marcus, spoke up. “I’ve been keeping an eye on some of our recent recruits. There’s a couple who’ve been acting... strange. Asking too many questions, showing up in places they shouldn’t be.”

Leo’s beta, a sharp-eyed wolf named Kyra, crossed her arms. “We’ve had the same problem. A few wolves who seem too interested in pack politics but don’t have the loyalty to back it up. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to stir the pot.”

Emma felt a pang of anxiety. The idea that the traitor could be one of the newer members made sense, but it didn’t explain everything. Whoever was behind this had access to sensitive information, things only a few key people would know. That meant it had to be someone with influence, someone who had earned the trust of those around them... or someone who had been trusted once but was now using that position to sow discord.

“Whoever it is,” Emma said, “they’ve been playing a long game. We can’t assume they’re just a recruit. We need to look closer at who’s had access to the information leaked and who’s been in the right place at the right time. We need to think about motives.”

As the group began dissecting the recent incidents, Emma oversaw Jace and Leo. Both alphas were deeply invested in protecting their packs, but she could see the strain in their eyes. They were leaders, but they were also men who had been pushed to their limits, and she knew that any more stress could push them over the edge.

The hours passed in tense deliberation, with names being brought up and dismissed, suspicions raised and debated. But when it seemed like they were getting nowhere, a sudden knock on the door interrupted them. The room went silent as everyone turned to see who had dared to approach the meeting uninvited. A young wolf, barely more than a pup, stepped inside, his eyes wide with fear and urgency.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this,” he said, holding a crumpled paper. “I found this near the border. It looks like a message.”

Jace took the paper and scanned it, his expression darkening. He handed it to Leo, who read it and cursed under his breath. Emma’s heart pounded as she took the paper, reading the hastily scrawled words:

Meet at the old mill tonight. We’ll discuss the next step.

The note was unsigned, but it was clear what it meant. Whoever had written it was planning something, and they had been careless enough to leave evidence behind. Emma’s mind raced. The old mill was in neutral territory, far from the main areas of both packs, making it an ideal place for a secret meeting. They might finally get their needed answers if they could intercept the traitor.

“This is it,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “We need to go there tonight. If we’re lucky, we can catch them in the act.”

Jace and Leo exchanged a look, and there was no hostility between them for once. Only a shared determination. “We’ll take a small team,” Jace said. “We can’t risk spooking them. If they think we’re onto them, they’ll disappear, and we’ll be back to square one.”

Emma nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. “Let’s end this.”

As night fell, Emma, Jace, and Leo made their way to the old mill, accompanied by a few of their most trusted pack members. The area was eerily quiet, the shadows deep and foreboding. Emma’s senses were on high alert, and every sound and movement made her jump. She knew they were walking into a trap, but they had no choice. This was their best chance to uncover the truth.

They waited silently, hidden among the trees, until they saw a figure approaching the mill. The figure moved cautiously, glancing around to ensure they were not being followed. Emma’s breath caught as she recognized the face illuminated by the moonlight—it was Marcus, Jace’s second-in-command.

For a moment, she couldn’t believe it. Marcus had always been fiercely loyal to Jace, a pillar of strength in the Silverclaw Pack. But now, as she watched him enter the mill, she realized how wrong she had been. She glanced at Jace, whose expression was a shock and betrayal.

“I need to talk to him,” Jace whispered, his voice hoarse. “I need to know why.”

Before anyone could stop him, Jace stepped out of the shadows and walked towards the mill. Emma and Leo followed, ready to back him up if things went wrong. Inside, they found Marcus standing by a broken window, a look of guilt crossing his face as he saw them approach.

“I knew you’d find out eventually,” Marcus said, his voice bitter. “I just didn’t think it would be so soon.”

“Why?” Jace asked, his fists clenched. “Why would you do this?”

Marcus’s expression hardened. “Because this war needs to end, Jace. You and Leo are too stubborn to see it, but this constant fighting is killing us. If I could push things, force a confrontation, maybe the packs would finally be forced to deal with it.”

Emma felt a cold chill run through her. Marcus’s motives were twisted, but she could see the desperation behind them. He believed he was doing the right thing, even if his methods were wrong. But he hadn’t realized that his actions had only brought them closer to the brink of disaster.

“We can end this without bloodshed,” Emma said, stepping forward. “But you have to stop. Whatever plan you have, it’s not going to work.”

Marcus looked at her, his eyes filled with uncertainty. “And if it doesn’t work? What then? More fighting? More death?”

“No,” Emma said firmly. “Not if we do this right. We need to work together, not tear each other apart.”

For a long moment, no one spoke. Then, slowly, Marcus nodded. “Alright. I’ll trust you, Emma. But if you fail...”

“I won’t,” she said, her voice unwavering. “I promise.”

As they left the mill, Emma felt a sense of relief and renewed urgency. The traitor had been revealed, but the danger was far from over. She knew now that the only way to end this indeed was to unite the packs, once and for all. And she would do whatever it took to make that happen.