Chapter One-Hundred Forty-Nine: Stephanie's Agony: Premature Labor Pains

Brock's perspective:

A gnawing sense in the pit of my stomach told me there were traitors lurking in our midst, their identities shrouded in shadows. Whoever it was, I suspected they had succumbed under the crushing weight of a dire ultimatum—a loved one's life dangling like a puppet on a string. The thought sent a shiver down my spine; if Stephanie were the one held captive, could I honestly say I wouldn't crumble and betray everything I stood for?

As the Alphas huddled around the findings, I'd laid bare, igniting a flurry of discussion, chaos erupted. A fire blazed to life somewhere in the confines of the cabin, scattering our plans as the staff scrambled to douse the flames. Guided by the sincere Omega's attentiveness, we ventured into the clearing adjacent to the trees, a refuge promised in the grip of the forest's edge.

From a detached vantage point, I stood silent, my gaze sweeping over the mayhem. A sense of foreboding co