The compound gates groaned shut behind them. Kael did not look back.The Alpha walked beside him. His face was carved from stone. His hand never left the hilt of his blade. Around them, a dozen guards moved in tight formation. Wolves he trusted. Wolves who had not been named in the files.Kael had given him the list. Fifteen names. Fifteen traitors. The Alpha had read them in silence. Then he had called for his personal guard. He had not told them where they were going. Only that they would follow Kael.Now they marched through the valley. The moon cast long shadows across the grass. The Rusted Stag glowed in the distance. A beacon of betrayal."You're certain about Hale," the Alpha said. It was not a question."I saw him. I spoke with him. He admitted everything.""And Voss? The Alpha's assistant? The council members?""They're all on the list. Every name is backed by transactions. Dates. Signatures."The Alpha was silent for a long moment. Then he spoke again. "How did you survive?

The compound was quiet when Kael finally rose from his bed.Three days had passed since the attack. Three days of healing. Three days of silence. The silver was gone from his blood. The wound on his arm was closing. But something else had taken root in his chest. A cold weight that would not lift.He walked through the corridors. Wolves nodded at him as he passed. Some bowed. Others simply stared. He was a hero now. The wolf who had saved the pack. The wolf who had exposed the conspiracy.He did not feel like a hero.He found Theron in the training yard. His friend was running drills with a group of young wolves. Their movements were sharp. Precise. Theron had been teaching them while Kael recovered."You should be resting," Theron said when he saw him."I've rested enough."Theron dismissed the young wolves. He walked over to Kael. His face was cautious."The Alpha is waiting for you," he said. "He wants to make the announcement today."Kael shook his head. "I told you. I'm not takin

The knife was in Kael's hand before he realized he had drawn it.The blade pressed against Mira's throat. She did not flinch. Her eyes were steady. Her hands were at her sides. She had not come armed."You have two seconds," Kael said. "Start talking.""The real handler is Damien Cross."Kael's blood went cold. "Cross? Theron's uncle?""The same. He's been running the Consortium's operation from the beginning. Hale was just his lieutenant. When Hale died, Damien took over directly."Kael stared at her. The knife was still at her throat. "Why would Cross want to destroy the packs?""Because he believes the packs are weak. He wants to rebuild them in his image. Stronger. More ruthless. The Consortium is just his tool."Kael lowered the knife. He stepped back. His mind was racing. Damien Cross. The brother of Theron's father. The man who had been exiled years ago for challenging the Alpha.He had never met Damien. But he had heard the stories. A brilliant strategist. A ruthless fighter.

The blade was still in his hand.Kael pushed himself up. His chest was on fire. Blood soaked through his shirt. Cross's blade had cut deep. But not deep enough. He was still alive. Still fighting.The pack surged around him. Wolves poured over the wall. They crashed into Cross's forces like a wave. The enemy staggered. They were not prepared for a counterattack. They had expected the pack to cower behind their walls. They had been wrong.Kael found Theron in the chaos. His friend was fighting three wolves at once. His blade moved with desperate speed. He was holding them off, but barely.Kael lunged. His knife found the throat of the first wolf. The second wolf turned. Kael's blade found his chest. The third wolf ran.Theron looked at him. His face was streaked with blood. "You're alive.""Barely."They turned together. The enemy was everywhere. But the pack was winning. They were pushing Cross's forces back. Slowly. Steadily.Kael searched the chaos. He needed to find Cross. He neede

The sun was setting over the valley when the courier arrived.Kael stood at the compound gate, watching the wolf approach. He was young. Tired. His fur was matted with sweat. He carried a message pouch strapped to his chest."Alpha," the courier said, bowing. "I bring word from the Storm Howl pack."Kael took the pouch. He opened it. Inside was a letter sealed with the Storm Howl's mark.He broke the seal and read.The message was brief. Dire. The Storm Howl had detected movement in the northern territories. A large force. Human. Armed. They were moving south.Kael's blood went cold. He looked up at the courier. "When?""Three days ago. They're moving fast. They'll be at the border by tomorrow night."Kael folded the letter. He turned to Theron. "Call a council meeting. Now."---The council room was packed within the hour.Wolves from every part of the pack gathered. Elders. Warriors. Runners. Their faces were grim. They had heard the news.Kael stood at the head of the table. He hel