Chosen by the Alpha

Chapter 8: The Enemy Within

The chilling revelation of the Darkwood crest painted on the chamber walls echoed in Emma’s mind, casting a heavy shadow over the fragile trust between her and the alphas. As the group stood in the hidden room beneath the forest floor, the weight of betrayal pressed down on them, thick and suffocating like the damp air around them.

Leo’s expression darkened as he stared at the symbol of his pack, the emblem that represented everything he had worked for—loyalty, strength, and unity. But now, it stood as a twisted mockery, a symbol of treachery. One of his own was working with the rogues, plotting against Emma and the entire werewolf community.

Emma watched Leo closely, her heart aching at the torment in his eyes. She could sense the storm brewing inside him, a mixture of rage and hurt as the truth of the betrayal sank in. She wanted to reach out to him and offer comfort, but her mind was clouded with fear and confusion. The enemy was no longer lurking in the shadows—it was standing among them, hidden behind a familiar face.

Jace, who had remained silent since they uncovered the chamber, stepped forward, his face grim. His presence was an unsettling reminder of the rivalry that still simmered beneath the surface between him and Leo. Despite their temporary alliance, Emma knew that trust between the two alphas was paper-thin at best, and the discovery of a traitor in Leo's ranks would only make things worse.

"We need to figure out who it is," Jace said, his voice calm but laced with urgency. "If someone in your pack is feeding the rogues information, we don't have time to waste."

Leo growled low in his throat, his body trembling with barely restrained fury. "One of my own… I can't believe it. How could I have missed this?" His fists clenched, his knuckles white. "Whoever it is, they've been right under my nose this time."

Emma stepped closer to Leo, her voice soft but firm. "We'll find them, Leo. But we have to be careful. Whoever is behind this has been playing both sides for a while, and they’re dangerous."

Leo’s eyes flickered with anger and grief, but he gave a short nod. “You’re right. We can’t go in blindly.”

Jace moved toward the table covered with maps and documents, scanning the papers for clues. “They’re planning something big. There’s too much coordination here for it to be a random series of attacks. These rogues have a plan.”

Emma stepped beside him, her eyes following the lines drawn across the maps. Each showed strategic points between the Silver Moon and Darkwood territories, with markings indicating potential weak spots in their defenses. The plan was precise—calculated. Someone with intimate knowledge of both packs had given the rogues everything they needed to strike at the right moments.

"It looks like they’ve been planning an all-out war," Emma whispered, her stomach twisting with dread. "If we don't stop them, they’ll tear both packs apart."

Leo gritted his teeth, his voice a low rumble. "Not if I find the traitor first."

Back at the Darkwood lodge, the tension was palpable. The pack members who had been with them during the investigation were tight-lipped, their eyes filled with suspicion and fear. Emma could feel their gazes following her as she walked through the lodge with Leo and Jace. The discovery of the hidden chamber had set off alarm bells within the pack, and now, no one was beyond suspicion.

Leo called a meeting with his most trusted advisors, but Emma could sense the unease in the room. Trust had been shattered, and every glance and every movement seemed to carry the weight of potential betrayal.

Standing beside Leo, Emma tried to keep her expression neutral, though inside, she was battling her doubts. How could they uncover the traitor when everyone seemed on edge, unwilling to reveal anything that might paint them in a suspicious light?

Jace, ever observant, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his eyes scanning the room. "We need to question everyone who’s had access to these areas," he said bluntly, his tone suggesting he was ready to start interrogating right then and there. "This isn't the time for loyalty. If we hesitate, more lives will be lost."

Leo’s gaze was stern, but there was a flicker of agreement in his eyes. "Agreed," he said after a long pause. "We can’t let this betrayal fester any longer. We’ll start with those who have been near the western border."

Marcus, Leo's second-in-command, shifted uncomfortably. "Leo, we need to tread carefully. Accusing the wrong person could divide the pack further. If we’re not certain…"

Leo silenced him with a glare. "The pack is already divided, Marcus. We can’t afford to be cautious anymore. The enemy is here; we're all dead if we don't root them out."

Over the next few days, Leo, Emma, and Jace began questioning the pack members. It was a grueling process, filled with half-truths, defensive postures, and veiled accusations. Emma could see the toll it was taking on Leo. He had spent years building trust within his pack, and now it was unraveling.

Each conversation left them with more questions than answers. No one admitted to any involvement with the rogues, but subtle cracks in the pack's unity hinted at deeper issues—long-held grudges, personal vendettas, and secrets that had been buried for too long.

As the tension mounted, Emma felt herself growing more anxious. She could sense the danger closing in, like a predator lurking just out of sight. Every night, she slept fitfully, her dreams filled with shadowy figures and whispered warnings. The prophecy loomed over her, its dark promise echoing in her mind. She was supposed to unite the packs, but at what cost?

After another long day of fruitless questioning, Emma sat alone by the fire in the lodge's main hall one evening. Her mind was racing, trying to piece together the fragments of information they had gathered. The traitor was clever and skilled at hiding their tracks. But they had to be missing some clue that would reveal the truth.

As she stared into the flames, lost in thought, Jace approached her. His usually confident expression was tinged with concern. “You look tired,” he said, sitting down beside her.

Emma sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I am. This whole thing… it’s a mess. I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Jace’s eyes softened, and for a moment, the rivalry between him and Leo seemed to fade. “We’ll figure it out, Emma. Whoever’s behind this is going to slip up. They always do.”

She wanted to believe him, but the weight of the prophecy and the betrayal felt heavier each day. “I just don’t know how long we can hold everything together,” she admitted. “Leo’s pack is falling apart, and the rogues are getting bolder. If we don’t stop them soon…”

Jace reached out, his hand gently brushing hers. “We’ll stop them,” he said quietly, his voice filled with determination. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Emma met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat. There was something in his eyes—something more profound than just concern for the pack. It was a promise, a vow that went beyond duty. And for a brief moment, she allowed herself to believe in it.

But the moment was shattered as Leo stormed into the hall, his expression furious. “We need to talk,” he growled, his eyes locked on Jace.

Jace stood, his posture tense. “What is it now?”

Leo glanced at Emma, then back at Jace. “I found something. In Marcus’s quarters.”

Emma’s heart raced. “What did you find?”

Leo’s jaw tightened. “Maps. Detailed maps of the Silver Moon pack’s territory. And letters. Correspondence with someone—someone outside the pack.”

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying Marcus is the traitor?”

Leo’s fists clenched. “I don’t know. But it doesn't look good. Bad.”

Emma stood, her mind spinning. Marcus had been one of Leo’s most trusted allies. If he were involved in the conspiracy, it would be devastating to the pack. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.

“We need to confront him,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “If Marcus is working with the rogues, he won’t be able to hide it for long.”

Leo nodded, his expression grim. “We’ll confront him. But we need to be careful. If he’s been working with the rogues this whole time, there’s no telling what he’s capable of.”

The confrontation with Marcus was tense, filled with accusations and denials. Marcus swore he was innocent and that the maps and letters were planted in his quarters to frame him. But the evidence was damning, and the pack was divided.

Emma, Jace, and Leo were caught in a dangerous web of lies and deception as the investigation deepened. The traitor’s identity remained elusive, and the conspiracy grew darker and more dangerous daily.

The enemy was within their ranks, but uncovering their true identity would come cheaply.