Chapter 15

Alex

The three of us head to the storehouse, which is a small, barn-like building at the edge of the village where we keep our supplies. Jared is still there, looking for clues. With him and Patrick guarding the place, there is no way Karina's people should have been able to escape.

I glare at my men. "What happened?"

They both look ashamed, but Patrick is also wearing a troubled expression. "Somebody dropped off some coffee for us. We don't know who—it was just sitting on one of the chairs outside, in a thermos from the mess hall. The children often play in this area, so there were too many scents for us to pick up on any particular one. About half an hour after we drank it, we passed out."

"You were drugged?" Sophia asks sharply. "But who…"

"Were the chains broken, or –?"

Jared shakes his head at my question. "They were undone. The latch on them had been opened. They wouldn't have been able to do it themselves. Somebody else released them."

"It was an inside job, then." I murmur. "That means we have a spy among us."

"How is that possible?" Jared demands. "Everyone in this village has been with us since the beginning. They wouldn't betray us!"

I want to agree with him, but this is the only answer I can think of. "What about the injured soldiers in the infirmary?"

"They also escaped," Patrick informs me, his tone grim. "I just got the message from Saul. Same story. The night nurse found a cup of coffee waiting for her by her desk. She drank it and passed out. Saul had gone home to grab a change of clothes. When he returned, she was out like a light."

"This is not good." I look around the barn. "We're out of time, then. It will only take Karina's people a day or so to find someplace where they can send her a message."

"I wouldn't say that," Patrick intervenes. "No pack will let them in, and the closest human city is quite a ways from here. Even if they're in wolf form, it will take them at least four days to reach one. If we go after them right now—"

I shake my head. "If somebody betrayed us, they would have arranged transportation of some kind. We can't take the risk of sending our most able-bodied men after them. We have to stay here and figure out a way to get the situation under control. Sophia, I want you to work with Nathan and Lily to unlink the rest of the children. Now. We have no time to waste."

Sophia nods and hurries after Nathan, who has been standing by the door of the barn. It's still dark outside, so they'll probably have to go get Lily out of bed. Once Sophia is out of sight, I look at Jared and Patrick. Saul is still at the infirmary.

"You know what this means, don't you?"

Patrick understands immediately. "Karina is about to have the excuse she was looking for to annihilate our pack."

"We have to get our people out of here." I stick my hands in my pockets, trying to keep a level head. "Those who can fight should stay here, to buy time for those who need to escape. Let's call a pack meeting and tell them about the situation—and about the existence of the tunnels."

Patrick stops me. "What if the traitor is still here?"

"Do you think he is?" I consider the possibility. "Wouldn't he have followed after them? If he betrayed us, then he's probably expecting Karina's army to descend upon us. He may have already arranged a way out."

"That's true," Patrick concedes. "So, what now?"

This is the second time in twenty-four hours that somebody has asked me that.

"We take an hour to come up with a plan, and then we start evacuations immediately. Contact our units and tell them to get back here. We need all the help we can get."

"What about the talks with the other pack leaders?" Jared asks.

"We do need their help," I say darkly. "Our priority has to be getting the pack to safety, though, especially the women and children. If the nannies and soldiers manage to get word to the Queen, Sophia will be in more danger than ever. Karina will come for her. I will see if I can rally the rest of the packs by telling them about Sophia. I won't be able to prove to them what she can do, but hopefully they'll trust me and join with us."

"That's a risk," Patrick points out. "Especially now. Currently, we still have at least four days, give or take one day. If you reach out to the other pack leaders, there's no knowing how they'll react. We can't assume that they're going to want to support us. They could decide to come after Sophia. Or they may contact Karina to curry her favor."

I don't want to lie to my friends by pretending to know what will happen. "I've considered all of that, but we're out of options now. The bottom line is that Karina is going to find out that Sophia is the Silver Wolf. And when she does, there's no place she won't burn to the ground to get her hands on her. We have to launch an offensive, and for that, we need the strength of the rest of the packs behind us."

I stare at the piles of chains in the barn one last time before turning on my heel. "Come on. Let's go to my office and work out the evacuation plan. Then, we'll wake up the rest of the pack. Time is not on our side."

***

Our meeting is brief, but it does make me realize that while Sophia will definitely be an asset if we go against Karina, she will be in terrible danger. She's no longer the ace up our sleeve. My friends don't agree with my plan, and especially not with the idea of keeping Sophia in the dark about it. But at the end of the day, I am the Alpha, and it is my decision.

I look at my gathered pack, worry and tiredness written all over their faces. They watch me in silence, waiting to find out why they were roused from their beds at such an ungodly hour. Taking a deep breath, I begin.

"A traitor in our pack released Karina's people around midnight. We don't know who did it, and we don't know where they are. We're currently checking all security cameras in the village to see if we can spot any movement at that time."

Fear and anger are evident on the faces of everyone present.

"There is no doubt that Karina is going to come here with her soldiers and kill everyone she finds. Sophia is currently working on unlinking the rest of the children. There are ten pups left. In the meantime, you all need to gather everything that is important to you. But you have to pack light. Only essentials. You will all be getting new identities."

One of the pack members speaks up, looking alarmed. "New identities? Where are we going? What's happening?"

"The whole village is evacuating," I reply firmly. "I've set up locations where you can hide and settle in for the long haul. Everything is prepared for you."

"But what if we run into Karina's people on our way there?" somebody else demands.

"That won't happen. In anticipation of a scenario like this, we built underground tunnels, and you will be using those," I assure them. "You will leave in groups of twenty, each with five soldiers attached to them. Women and children will be evacuated first. The group lists have already been prepared. We will be keeping families together; that is our goal." I pause, but no one else speaks. "At the end of each tunnel, you will find a safe house, with instructions and transportation waiting for you. From the safe houses, you will be transported to different locations. You will all be given scent blockers to conceal your presence in the human cities. Keep in mind, this is a temporary solution."

"What about you?" Hilda steps out of the crowd, her face white. "Why does it sound like you're not coming with us?"

My tone is gentle as I look at her. "We can't all go, Hilda. Some of us need to stay in the village to collapse the entrances to the tunnels after the groups have departed. We will try to join you another way. Our priority at the moment is to prevent the elimination of our pack."

"I'll stay here with you, then!"

She's crying, and I wish I could comfort her, but this is no time to be soft. We are racing against the clock.

"No. You will be going with the others."

"But, Alex…!"

"End of discussion." I begin walking out of the mess hall, where we'd gathered everyone. Hilda runs after me.

"You can't do this! I'm not going to leave you here!"

"Hilda, you'll just be in the way!" I growl. "I can't fight and keep an eye on you at the same time."

"You can't do this to me!" she cries out, grabbing my arm. "I don't want to go! I won't leave without you! Sophia is staying, isn't she? Then, I can, too!"

I turn to look at her, my eyes hard. "You and Sophia do not belong in the same category. And no, Sophia is also going."

Maybe my words are unnecessarily harsh, but I need Hilda gone.

I try to walk away, but she blocks my path. "So, she's abandoning you? I knew she would do that! I knew you shouldn't have—"

"Hilda!" I feel frustrated at her inability to grasp the severity of the situation. "This is not the time! Sophia is leaving because I told her to leave. And she's not pestering me about it like you are! We have bigger problems to worry about. Your name is on the list. You are going. And if you make a big deal about this, I will tie you up and have you carried out of here. Do you understand me?"

Hilda's face loses color, and there are tears in her eyes. "Why are you yelling at me? You never talk to me in that tone."

I don't have time for this.

"You need to understand, Hilda. Karina's people are coming to kill us. You have to go. Period. This is not up for discussion, and this is not something you can convince me to change my mind about. Your safety is important to me. I am going to make sure you are in that tunnel, out of harm's way, before I collapse it from the outside."

Sobbing, she runs off, and I look at Jared. "Make sure somebody keeps an eye on her. I wouldn't put it past her to try to sneak out."

Jared nods, pulls out his phone, and sends a text.

I frown. "Communications are back up?"

"Since last night." He gives me a surprised look. "I thought you told Nathan to turn them on."

"Nathan turned them on?"

Jared shrugs. "How else would they be up and running? I didn't ask for details. Didn't have the time."

Something's bothering me, but I can't put my finger on it. Shaking my head to clear it, I turn my attention back to the situation at hand.

"Where are we on the security footage?" I ask as we start heading toward my office.

"Everything was blacked out. Somebody spray-painted over each security camera as they went by. They knew exactly where they were located."

"This is not good," I say grimly. "I'm still holding out hope that it wasn't an inside job, but it sure seems like it has to have been."

Jared looks uncomfortable. "Do you want me to do a headcount of everyone in the village? Figure out who was there last night and who wasn't?"

"No." I sit down behind my desk. "We'll just be wasting time that we don't have."

There's a knock on the open door, and Patrick enters. "We had more volunteer sign up to stay back and fight. I want to run the list by you."

He hands me a piece of paper, and I skim it. I see the names of most of the younger, able-bodied men.

"Looks good. Adjust the list of people leaving accordingly."

Patrick hesitates as he takes the list back. "Alex, have you told Sophia the truth?"

"I haven't seen her," I reply, trying to avoid his question, but my friend is persistent.

"She's going to expect that you'll be joining her. If she finds out that you're going after Karina by yourself—"

I give my lieutenant a sharp look. "I won't be by myself. Our soldiers will be with us."

"And you think that gives us an advantage?"

"I've already sent out messages to the other pack Alphas. If we can get them on our side—"

"Alex, we need Sophia," Patrick says quietly. "We need her help. Otherwise, we're taking too many risks. And if something happens to you, who is going to protect Sophia?"

That's something else that has been worrying me. However, there is one idea I've considered. I need to have a chat with Lily about it.

"I'm handling it. Nobody breathe a word of the plan to Sophia. I won't have her following after us."

My tone is harsh, but it reflects my desperation to keep my mate safe. Everyone in this room is fully aware of how cruel Karina can be. No matter what happens, I can never leave Sophia at her mercy. Even if I have to die for it.

I get to my feet. "We don't have a lot of time. I'm going to go check on Sophia. I need to have a word with Nathan, as well. You guys go do what you're supposed to. I want evacuations to begin as soon as possible."

Jared gives me a startled look. "I thought you said we had four days, roughly."

"That's the best-case scenario," I respond coldly. "We need to act as if we have no time left."

I wait for the others to leave before I send out the messages to the other packs. I know that going after Karina with the resources we currently have is nothing short of a death sentence. But even if I die, the other pack leaders might seize this opportunity to start a rebellion. Faced with the entire North Alliance, even Karina won't stand a chance.

Every step we're taking at this point has risks attached to it, risks that will impact the woman I love. My wolf and I are both anxious to see Sophia. It might be the last time we ever see her.

I'm about to walk out of the office when Lily approaches the building. I open the door for her. "Come on in."

She hurries inside, casting an anxious look around. "What's going on, Alex? Sophia woke me up, but she wasn't making any sense. Nobody's making any sense. It's four in the morning. Why is everybody running around like the village is on fire?"

"Sit down." I offer her the visitor chair. "We need to talk."

I fill her in on what happened, wondering how she was able to sleep through it all. With each word, her fingers dig into her thighs, her face growing paler.

"So, we're leaving, then?"

"You and Sophia are leaving," I reply carefully. "And I need to ask a favor of you."

She studies me warily. "What kind of favor?"

"There's a chance I may not make it. If that happens, Sophia will be alone and unprotected. I need you to take her to the Central Alliance."

"Not make it?" Lily stares at me. "Why? What are you planning to do?"

"Once you and the others are in the tunnels, my soldiers and I will collapse the entrance to make sure none of you are followed. Then, we will go after Karina. As long as she is alive, there is always going to be a sword hanging over Sophia's neck."

"Does Sophia know what you're planning to do?" the young witch asks cautiously.

I shake my head. "Do you think she'll let me stay behind if she does? You cannot tell her."

After a pause, Lily asks, "Why the Central Alliance?"

"Her mother is also a Silver Wolf," I explain. "Silver Wolves come from the Central Alliance. I don't know what her mother was doing in the South, but Sophia will be safe with her own people. I'm sure they will take her in. If she stays here in the North, everybody will try to use her. I just want her to be safe."

Lily's eyes are distressed. "Why are you so sure that you will die? I thought the plan was for Sophia to help you—"

"That was the plan, yes. But now that Karina is going to find out soon about Sophia's identity, she will be much more prepared. I cannot take the chance of her capturing Sophia. You don't understand the kind of person Karina is. The word cruel does not even describe her. She's a sadist. She will break Sophia till there's nothing left of her. I never want that to happen. So, the group I am sending you and Sophia into the tunnels with is going to stop at a certain location, and you and Sophia will part ways with them there."

"I thought you said to take her to the Central Alliance if something happens to you," Lily argues.

"No." I shake my head. "Take her there immediately. If I survive, I'll come for her. I'm giving you a map that leads you directly to the Central Alliance through the free zones. Nobody will stop you. But disguise yourselves. Also, the Central Alliance has a lot of covens that will happily accept such a strong witch as yourself. I'm sure you already know that."

Lily nods reluctantly. "I considered going there, but the terrain is awful. I didn't want to take the risk. But I don't want to leave Sophia to join a coven. If something happens to you, she's going to be devastated. She'll need me."

I give her a small, grateful smile. "I know you and I don't always get along, but you really are a good friend to her."

Lily sighs. "I'll look after her. Don't worry about it." She gets to her feet and gazes at me sadly. "I'll make sure Sophia gets to her destination."

I close my eyes in relief and run my fingers through my hair, my wolf feeling weary.

I know my mate will be upset with me, but this is the only way I can keep her safe. I'm glad I stuck to my decision not to give her the mating mark. Now, if anything happens to me, she will not be affected too deeply.

***

Lily and I leave the office together to track down my mate.

When we find her, Sophia looks up at me, strain in her eyes. "There's one kid left, then we're done. The parents are taking the pups away. Just give me a couple more minutes with this child."

I lean against the door, watching her work, and my heart aches. Will she consider this a betrayal? Will she think I'm abandoning her?

I wish I could go with her. I wish we could start a new life together. But even if I simply become the catalyst of Karina's downfall, I have to do this. I have to eliminate the threat against the woman I love. Sophia keeps telling me that we need to communicate and talk things out. But I know she will not listen to me on this. Sophia will fight me with every ounce of her being if she finds out what I'm planning to do.

I wish I could take her in my arms one more time. The agony inside me is raw, and I try to hide it.

Nathan is also here, watching Sophia. Trying to put my focus elsewhere, I ask him quietly, "Why did you open the communication channels last night?"

He blinks and looks at me. "What?"

"The communication channels," I repeat. "Why did you remove the jammers?"

He stares at me. "I didn't do that."

I straighten up. "If it wasn't you, then who—"

I don't get to finish my question because I suddenly hear loud howling. Throwing open the door, I hurry outside, only to see black wolves pouring out of the trees.

Horror fills me. No! How is this possible? We had time! At worst, we had a day!

"Move!" I shout, running back inside and grabbing Sophia, but she shakes me off.

"Two minutes!" she says desperately. I can feel how cool her body is as she works on, trying to unlink the child. "Just two more minutes. Please!"

She has pushed herself to the limit.

"Sophia, we don't have time!"

She pushes my hand away. "I can finish this! I know it."

Frustrated, I look to Nathan. "Sound the alarm. Start the evacuations."

Nathan runs off. There's no need for the alarm because the pack has realized we're under attack. Those who plan to stick around and fight have already shifted and are facing off against the enemy. Patrick and the others are sending the women and children down to the tunnels.

Sophia gasps. "Done. It's done!"

The child's mother, who has been standing a few feet away from us, snatches the little boy from her and holds him to her chest. She hurries over to where her husband and mother are waiting by the door.

"Go!" I tell them, pointing at the house across the street. Then, I grab Sophia's hand. "Come on!"

Lily follows behind us. The tunnel that Sophia and Lily will go through is in my office building. I get them inside; Jared is already helping people down through the trap door. Lily goes first, and as Sophia is about to follow, she looks at me. "When will I see you again?"

I hold her gaze for what seems like a lifetime before leaning down and kissing her fiercely.

"I don't know. I'll find you. Be safe. Know that I love you. More than anything."

She's about to say something when the front door flies open. I see Hilda standing there. She stares at the two of us, then takes a step back before looking over her shoulder to the right. There's something odd about her behavior, something off about that almost excited look in her eyes.

"Hilda, what are you—"

"She's here!" Hilda shrieks. "The Silver Wolf is here!"

My blood goes cold.

"What are you doing?" I shove Sophia down into the tunnel and run toward Hilda to stop her, but she dances away from me, shouting toward the wolves running in our direction. She points into the building. "She's in the tunnel! Get her!"

I don't know how to react. Shock fills me, along with an indescribable rage. One of the wolves tries to get past me, and without hesitation, I grab his neck in the crook of my arm and throw him over my shoulder, breaking his back instantly. Not missing a beat, I shift into my animal form and begin defending the entrance to the tunnel.

Jared leaps out and stands shoulder to shoulder with me.

"There's a back door!" Hilda shouts to the enemy wolves. "Use that!"

Jared rushes her, smacks her with his paw, and sends her flying down the street. She lands awkwardly and rolls several times, but she jumps to her feet, undeterred.

More and more of our people are realizing that we are in trouble, and they're surrounding the enemy, blocking all entrances to the building. Karina's soldiers are seasoned fighters, but then, so are we. Patrick and the others have a handle on the situation.

Hilda tries to slip past us and head to the tunnel, but I push her aside, slamming her into a wall. I shift back and grab her by the front of her shirt with one hand. Lifting her up, I roar, "What the fuck are you doing?"

She wraps her hands around my wrist, her tone edged with desperation and conviction. "She isn't the one for you! She can't have you! You should be with me, Alex! I'm the only one who can love you!"

"Have you lost your mind, Hilda?!" I can't even identify the emotions burning within me. There are so many: rage, confusion, bewilderment, hurt. "I love her! She's my mate! Why are you trying to hurt me?"

"I'm not trying to hurt you!" she shouts passionately. "You don't know what's good for you. She is not good for you! I'm the only one who can look after you. I'm the only one who can make you happy. Now that Julia is dead, there's nobody who can stop us, Alex. You don't have to pretend to want that abomination. You can have me!"

I stare at her, horrified. How could I have been so blind? The others were right. They could see how she felt about me. A sick realization is dawning on me, and I want to howl in pain and fury.

"You—You're the one who released the soldiers."

"I had to," she says, trying to reason with me. "Why don't you understand? If you give Karina the Silver Wolf, you and I can finally be together. We can be happy. I can make you happy, Alex. Nobody understands you better than me."

I don't know this girl. I've been so blinded by my brotherly affection for her that I never realized how much of a threat she was to the pack and to me.

"And the communication channels…You unblocked them. You're the reason Karina's people got here so fast," I breathe.

Hilda pouts. "That was your fault. I opened the channels after you told the pack that Sophia was your fated mate. And I was right to do so. You yelled at me, Alex. You've never yelled at me before. It was only after Sophia came here that you began to change. She's a witch, don't you see? She's trying to turn you against me. She's coming between us. I can't let that happen. I told Karina that the Silver Wolf was here and that she would probably try to escape in the morning. She promised not to hurt you, Alex. Just give her Sophia, and you and I can be together forever."

I shake her violently. "You put the entire pack in danger, Hilda! Do you even understand what you've done?!"

She just stares at me, the apathy in eyes breaking something inside me. "So what? We don't need them. You and I can start our own pack." She caresses my face, and my skin crawls. "I will give you so many children, Alex. Strong children. These people are just going to get in the way of our happiness. We don't need them. You don't need them. You only need me."

I feel like I'm being stabbed in the gut. "How long?" I ask weakly. "How long have you thought like this?"

"Ever since you saved me. You were always mine, Alex. You will never leave me." Hilda smiles sweetly. "Not like my parents. I know you love me. You stayed, didn't you? They didn't stay, but you did. You're mine."

My eyes are burning with tears as it occurs to me what I have to do. I can hear the sounds of fighting behind me, and my heart is breaking as I lift my other hand to grasp her neck. I never realized that Hilda was like Julia, only much closer to home. Her trauma, what she witnessed as a child—it altered her, and I never realized how badly.

I look into her eyes, and I see the little girl who used to follow me around, always smiling. My voice breaks as I say, "I'm sorry."

Hilda's eyes widen. "What are you talking—"

I snap her neck.

And as I do, I gather her in my arms, weeping, a broken man.