Chapter 49

Dawn revealed the full extent of the damage—outer buildings reduced to smoldering ruins, defensive walls breached in strategic locations, and the once-immaculate gardens trampled by combat. Yet despite the destruction, casualties were surprisingly few—as if the attack had prioritized chaos over killing.

Alpha Dominic called an emergency council meeting in the only undamaged hall, pack members filling the space with tense anticipation. Maps of the attack were spread across tables, markers indicating breach points and rogue movements.

"The attack was precisely coordinated," the security chief explained, indicating the pattern. "Three simultaneous breaches, timed with explosives placed at communication towers."

"This was no random raid," I added, stepping forward to indicate the precision of the attack pattern. "The explosions hit communication towers first, followed by defensive positions—all timed exactly with the treaty signing when leaders would be gathered in one location."

Raymond frowned, studying the map with growing concern. "How could rogues orchestrate something this complex?"

"They couldn't," Alpha Marcus said firmly. "Not without inside information and leadership."

Giana stepped forward, her expression perfectly calibrated to show appropriate concern.

Her performance was flawless—eyes wide with apparent distress, voice trembling slightly. "This level of coordination suggests a Swift River traitor," she stated with calculated sympathy. "Someone with intimate knowledge of your defenses must have helped the rogues."

Several Swift River members bristled visibly at the accusation, hands moving instinctively toward weapons. The room's temperature seemed to drop as tension mounted between the packs.

Luna Serena stepped forward, her expression coldly dignified as she positioned herself between her warriors and Giana. "A serious allegation to make against your hosts, Delta Giana. Especially from one so new to pack politics."

"I mean no offense," Giana backpedaled quickly, the perfect picture of apologetic innocence. "I merely suggest the most logical explanation. We're all victims here."

"Indeed," Luna Serena replied, her voice carrying quiet steel. "Though some more directly than others."

Swift River warriors reported additional peculiarities that further undermined Giana's suggestion. The rogues had seemed focused on creating distraction rather than causing harm, in many cases deliberately avoiding lethal strikes even when presented with clear opportunities.

"They struck with precision, but showed unusual restraint," a battle-scarred warrior explained. "I had three rogues corner me near the eastern wall. They could have killed me easily, but instead merely disabled me and moved on."

"They withdrew in perfect coordination," the security chief added, indicating retreat patterns on the map. "All units disengaging simultaneously despite holding advantage in several sectors. Almost as if the attack itself wasn't their primary objective."

The council chamber door opened suddenly, silencing all conversation as Kane entered with purposeful strides. His clothing was dirt-stained and torn in places, evidence of recent tracking through difficult terrain. Surprised murmurs rippled through the Swift River pack members, many instinctively reaching for weapons at the unexpected arrival.

Raymond immediately rose to his feet, his posture rigid with hostility. "What are you doing here? You have no authority in these proceedings."

Kane remained calm, meeting Raymond's glare without flinching. Though travel-worn, he carried himself with natural confidence that commanded attention. "I've been tracking the retreating rogues since they withdrew."

"How did you even arrive at Swift River without detection?" Raymond demanded, suspicion darkening his features as he circled the table toward Kane. "Were you following us the entire time?"

"Yes," Kane admitted without apology, standing his ground as Raymond approached. "At Luna Aurora's request, due to security concerns that proved entirely justified."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to me as Raymond's anger shifted in my direction. His expression reflected more than simple anger—there was betrayal there, too, as if I had committed some unforgivable transgression.

"You went behind my back? Involved Kane secretly, undermining my authority?"

"I did what was necessary to protect our pack," I replied evenly, straightening to my full height. "And given yesterday's attack, the precaution was clearly warranted."

Kane described tracking the rogues to a rendezvous point on Swift River territory, where they met with a hooded figure before departing toward the eastern mountains. "Something small was exchanged—possibly whatever was taken from the vault. The meeting was brief but clearly planned in advance."

"This is outrageous," Raymond sputtered, his face flushing with anger as he struggled to reassert control over the situation. "You've overstepped every boundary, Aurora. Involving Kane secretly, undermining my authority—"

"Perhaps we should focus on what was stolen," Alpha Dominic interjected with deliberate authority, silencing Raymond's tirade with a single raised hand. "That seems more pressing than questions of protocol, given the circumstances."

Swift River elders produced a detailed inventory of the missing artifacts—all ancient items related to mate bonds, including a silver ceremonial bowl, ritual daggers with paired blades, and scrolls containing ancient bonding rituals.

Elder Walsh stepped forward, his weathered face grave as he indicated images of the missing items. "These artifacts were historically used in rituals to strengthen or manipulate mate bonds—some for healing, others for more... questionable purposes."

"Questionable how?" Raymond asked, his voice lacking its previous certainty.

"The Binding Ritual," Walsh explained reluctantly, his voice dropping as if discussing something forbidden. "A practice outlawed centuries ago that forces artificial mate bonds or strengthens existing ones beyond natural limitations."

"Such rituals were banned after the Great Divide," another elder added, her ancient voice quavering with emotion. "They corrupt the sacred balance between wolves and their true mates, creating bonds that are powerful but fundamentally unstable."

Giana's composure slipped momentarily, nervousness flashing across her features as attention shifted from Kane to the missing artifacts. When questioned about her presence in the vault, she became visibly emotional, tears springing to her eyes with practiced ease.

"I went there seeking shelter," she claimed, voice breaking. "I felt targeted, unsafe. Now I'm being accused simply because Aurora dislikes me?"

Several younger pack members voiced support for Giana, their loyalty creating clear factional lines within the council chamber. Luna Elena observed the division with quiet calculation, her eyes meeting mine with shared understanding.

"Perhaps we should examine who benefits from these thefts," Luna Serena suggested diplomatically. "And why only items related to mate bonds were taken when far more valuable artifacts remained untouched."

While Raymond continued questioning Kane's motives with growing hostility, I noticed Giana slip away from the chamber. Following discreetly, I witnessed her meeting with a Swift River pack member in a secluded alcove. Their heads were close together, voices too low to hear, but I clearly saw something small exchange hands before they separated with practiced casualness.

"Delta Giana," I called out, stepping into view. "That looked like an interesting exchange."

Both wolves startled visibly, guilt flashing across their faces before they regained composure. The Swift River wolf recovered first, straightening with forced casualness. "Just providing medicine for the Delta's nervous condition," he claimed. "Nothing more."

"Strange that medicine would require such secrecy," I observed, noting how his hand moved to conceal whatever he'd passed to her. "And curious timing, given recent events."

Giana's eyes narrowed, the pretense of vulnerability vanishing entirely. "Always watching, always suspicious. This is why Raymond finds you so insufferable, Aurora."

Before I could press further, Alpha Marcus's voice echoed through the corridor. "A complete security assessment is required before our departure," he announced with unmistakable authority. "Kane will assist, given his tracking experience."

Raymond appeared behind his father, expression darkening as he processed this latest development. "This is entirely inappropriate. Kane has no official standing in our pack hierarchy."

"Yet his skills proved invaluable during yesterday's attack," Marcus countered smoothly. "Swift River warriors speak highly of his combat abilities and strategic insight."

Raymond's objection died on his lips as the assembled pack members nodded in agreement, Marcus's leadership reasserting itself through the simple force of respect he commanded.

"We depart in the next couple of days," Marcus continued with calm authority. "Preparations should be completed tomorrow."

As the group dispersed to implement his instructions, I caught Giana watching Raymond's reaction with calculated assessment—measuring his diminishing influence against his father's natural leadership. Something in her expression sent a chill down my spine—not anger or frustration, but cold determination.

Whatever her ultimate goal, today's developments had clearly altered her timeline. The question was whether this would make her more cautious—or more desperate.