I spent the afternoon wandering through the forest after carefully cutting back some of the fireheart, leaving some leaves to die.I was trying to re-calculate my plan, and sitting inside made everything seem more jumbled. My plans were vague, at best, and that used to be an advantage. I saw how hard it was to stick to something concrete, especially when death was involved. I wasn’t naive enough to believe that there wouldn’t be external involvement. I just banked on Alpha Raymond’s arrogance; I didn’t think that someone outside would send someone in. I wished I could find out who send the hunter and who their spies were. In the end, it didn’t matter. My mask was airtight even when talking to the omegas. Alpha Raymond called him, so he must not have been part of this pack. Even if I could sneak into his office and retrieve a number from his office phone, what would I do with it? No, it wasn’t a thread that needed to be followed. I knew that the hunter was here against Alpha Raymond'

I stayed out there for what felt like hours, and it very well have could been. I thought I sensed something else out there, but I heard nothing out of the ordinary once my ears could make out anything besides my muffled crying and my heartbeat pumping too loudly. I took one final shaky breath, wiping off the remnants of my tears, and settled into my mask, repairing the shattered pieces of it where I let emotion slip through tonight. Tomorrow was a new day, and I would be ready for it. I would be ready for battle. - The next morning Alice rushed in and glanced over me with weary eyes. I forced myself to shower the night before, even though the inky black sky was softening by the time I made it back to my room. I was glad that I didn’t run into anyone and I didn’t have to explain. I hoped the nightmare brothers thought that I just panicked and ran straight to my room. “You worried me when I didn’t see you after dinner.” Alice’s voice was soft. “I’m sorry. I- I just needed some

I started going for morning walks, waking up a bit earlier every day. If anyone asked, I would have told them I was nervous about getting my wolf, but no one did. I knew vaguely where the warriors trained, always outdoors, which seemed cruel in this weather. Growing up, I trained in every condition and knew how unforgiving the cold could be. The Hunter sometimes trained with them. He stood out, even amongst warriors. I assumed he was with the other trainers or maybe training Nolan when he wasn’t there. The brothers started to skip breakfast occasionally, and it was a relief to have a few more hours of peace. Training lasted for around an hour, and I stayed far enough away, always walking past, hidden under a long coat and muted, scared but not lingering. This would be so much easier when I got my wolf; I was at a constant disadvantage against everyone else in the pack. My senses were duller. I think someone once described it as foggy compared to when you get your wolf, but I wasn

“I don’t have enough evidence.” His frame came into view, and he stood with his back towards me, staring through the window to the bleak morning beyond. “Besides, I like to find out people's motives first.” “Why do motives matter?” I asked, genuinely curious. “Sometimes they justify the outcome.” “They always do for the people committing the act,” I reasoned. “Yes,” he mused, “But society doesn’t accept all of those reasons.” “And you speak for society? As a whole?” His shoulders seemed to tense a bit. “No. I speak only for me and my brothers.” “Cryptic.” “Not really. We try to uphold justice in a way that works for us, makes sense to us. Nothing is ever fully good or evil. We try to help others do good.” “Except you’re hired help.” I couldn’t help pointing out. “We choose our jobs.” His voice was hard. I mulled that over. I wasn’t sure if he didn’t have enough proof or if he didn’t believe someone like me to actually be the killer. “And if you decide that these deaths are

I silently followed him, my curiosity far outweighing my annoyance. It wasn’t until we reached the Alpha and Luna’s office wing that I paused. “We’re not. I’m not supposed to be in there.” I had a slight in with the Luna after I brought her flowers, and the Alpha ignored my presence. But I wanted to save that for when I really needed it. At the moment, there weren’t any specific pieces of information I needed that I knew were housed here; and I didn’t want to risk being outright banished from the place and lose that advantage I was saving. “They’re not here.” He paused. “There was a paint emergency in her new office, and The Alpha is meeting with his Beta and Gamma. Besides, I’m allowed to be anywhere,” he added, and I looked behind him down the dark hallway. There were no sounds, but was it a-“It’s not a trap,” he said, reading my mind. “But that’s what people would say if it were a trap, so..”“So you lie?” I asked.“I said people, not me.” “Well, I guess I’ll have to trust you