Somewhere beneath the noise of my own thoughts — even amidst the chaos the pack is enduring — I swear I can still feel him: his heartbeat, in step with mine. A rhythm I never asked for. I’ve heard the old stories, the ones about mates whose hearts lock together like a promise sealed in blood. I always dismissed that as folklore wolves told their whelps to make the bond sound grander than it is.
This pull toward Ethan couldn’t come at a worse time. Our pack has never faced an internal crisis as serious as the charges against Jayme. Despite Stasio’s gesture of peace in coming to this summit, there’s still no love for the Shaman among most of our people.
If Jayme is convicted and executed for crimes against them, there’s no telling how the pack will react. We could face civil unrest within Kortan. Wolves turning against wolves over grudges that refuse to fade. And, despite our attempts to appease them, the Shaman could remain our enemies, making it even more dangerous for Ethan to stay.
Even if we somehow navigated this crisis successfully, the Alpha King still has to decide Ethan’s fate. That reality sits like a stone in my chest, growing heavier with each passing day.
Deep in my soul, I recognize that I won’t be able to stand by and watch if the Alpha King decides that Ethan must die.
And that terrifies me more than any enemy we’ve ever faced. This goes beyond simple desire now. This could destroy everything I’ve built — my position, my pack, my very identity as Commander.
The truth demands acknowledgment: I can no longer maintain a professional distance. Does this mean I’m compromised? What if whatever this is between Ethan andme is clouding my judgment? I could be jeopardizing this investigation — and Jayme’s life.
I sit down on my bed and Akila claims the only chair while Branson, Conan, and Ethan find positions against the wall. The team waits for my direction.
“How are your injuries?” Ethan’s emerald eyes cut to the bandages around my arm and shoulder. “Shouldn’t you rest a bit more?”
“Lycans heal very quickly.” I shrug. “I imagine it’s a product of our lifestyle. There always seems to be something, or someone, trying to kill us.”
He nods with a look of resignation in his eyes. “Still, you shouldn’t push yourself too hard.”
“You heard Xander,” I say, shifting my focus to address the entire room. “We have two days, and to be honest, things aren’t boding well for Jayme, especially now that Holden has been attacked and is accusing him as well. All the evidence is pointing to Jayme’s guilt.”
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Akila says. “I can’t believe that he would do anyof this.”
“None of us believe Jayme did this,” Conan says. “Butsomeonewants us to think he did.”
“The timing is too convenient.” Branson nods in agreement. “Haron and Holden show up and suddenly violence is rampant. Both blame Jayme, but he can’t even remember what happened.”
“Speaking of Holden, I still don’t understand how he was able to go see Jayme in the first place.” Ethan looks at me. “Didn’t you tell the guard on duty that only Branson was allowed to visit him? Anyone else should have been escorted by you. Why did the guard let Holden get close enough to Jayme to be attacked?”
I nod. “Yes, it’s a massive security breach. I’ve already relieved that guard from duty. Until I can question him properly, he’s not going back near the dungeons.” I turn to Akila and Conan. “I need you both monitoring Jayme in shifts. No one aside from Branson gets access without my direct authorization. And I meanno one.” I fix them with a hard stare. “Not Stasio, not his children, not even other pack members. If Xander himself wants to see Jayme, he goes through me first.”
Akila straightens. “Understood, Commander.”
Conan nods. “Yes, Commander.”
At this point, I can’t do much more than ensure my most trusted guards watch over him.
“Commander,” Branson speaks up. “I haven’t seen Jayme since before the attack on Ethan, and now Holden. May I check on him?”
The concern in his tone cuts through my tactical focus. Of course, while we’ve been strategizing, Branson’s been worried sick about Jayme.
“Yes, of course.” I don’t hesitate. “But I’m also reassigning you to oversee training while I focus on this investigation. If we’re only getting two more days, I need to make the most of them.”
Relief loosens the strain in his face and he nods. “Yes, I’ll handle the training.” He heads toward the door, pausing briefly. “Thank you, Commander. I know you and the Truth Seer will figure this out. Jayme and I are counting on it.”
As Branson steps out, Akila turns to me. “Commander, what about consulting the other seers?”
I pause, considering. The pack seers rarely involve themselves in day-to-day affairs, preferring their mystical pursuits to political intrigue. Typically, only Xander and his immediate family seek their counsel.
“They’re always willing to share their knowledge with whoever asks,” Akila continues. “Maybe they’ve had a vision that could help.”
“The problem is their visions,” Conan interjects. “Sometimes they’re crystal clear, but sometimes they’re complete riddles that make no sense until after everything’s already happened.”
“But we should try,” I decide. “At this point, we’re running out of options.”
Someone’s orchestrating this whole debacle from a hidden vantage point, using Jayme as a scapegoat while the real threat moves unchecked through our territory. We need to find them before they strike again.
