With nowhere else to be, and their time frame for action ever shrinking, Connor and Inga used their stroll to discuss their next steps. Given their fake history, no one would question them if they were seen, and they’d have plenty of time to change their conversation if anyone tried to approach. For once, the territory was working in his favour, and Connor allowed himself to relax. It wasn’t often he could switch off his alert system while on enemy territory, but with Inga at his side, both their eyes on their surroundings, he felt as safe as he could be.
With the unhurried pace that matched the slow drift of the afternoon sun, the pair wandered the open plains of Grey Stone. It was even more remarkably flat than Connor had first thought. Apart from a fe
Connor POV - Escaping the packhouse, to snoop around the territory, during the changeover of the guards was easy. Far easier than remaining in the building to search the upper ranks’ offices. Not only would the next shift of warriors take their place on each floor, and have to be avoided, but a lot of wolves were staying in the packhouse. All those partaking in the Luna Games, all the upper ranked wolves and their extended family. It only took one of those wolves to spot him and start asking questions to make a fuss and ruin his plans. It was risky but Connor had been in worse situations before and was confident in his ability to talk his way out of any stray questions. His options were also limited. Night was the only time of the day he had the chance to look around, and their time frame was shortening by the day. They had five days to figure out what Grey Stone was doing and seize control of the pack. It wasn't long, and he had to use every opportunity that presented itself. T
Connor POV - The footsteps stopped outside the door, pausing for only a moment before the handle twisted. Connor gripped the knife tighter, his knuckles glowing white in the darkness. As the door edged open, slowly obscuring him from the view of the person entering, he prepared himself. He knew his presence wouldn’t be hidden. In that room, he could barely pick up Inga’s scent and yet his was fresh. He had planned to excuse the scent the next day claiming he had been searching for Inga, if anyone even bothered to ask. However, to be caught in the act, nosing around at night when she’d be at home, disregarded any excuse he had to be there. The wolf’s scent reached him, but its familiarity didn’t calm him. If anything, it made his muscles more taut. He was frozen, hoping the wolf would move on, that the thick dust in the air would hide his presence, but those hopes deflated as the wolf stepped inside and shut the door. “I know you’re in here.” Alex said, though he aimlessly loo
Nala POV - After not sleeping the night before, Autumn had to apply a lot of makeup to Nala’s under eye to hide the dark circles that lingered there. “Did you spend the night with someone?” The eldest Stone sibling teased. Nala snorted but didn’t answer. Though Autumn was involved in the revolution, supplying information on the goings on within the upper ranks, she didn’t want to get her involved more than necessary. Of all of them she was taking the biggest risk, and Nala knew guilt would gnaw at her if it was her fault Autumn got caught. There wasn’t much to say anyway. Her search of the lower levels of the packhouse had revealed nothing except that there were a few more bitter wolves among the attendants than their silent, amiable demeanours suggested. Staying up to wait for the change of guards, searching for hours, and then being unable to catch a single wink of sleep on her return to bed had merely resulted in her being exhausted. It had all been for nothing. Or she as
Connor POV - It was an early start for Connor and, despite getting no sleep, he was wide awake as he weaved through the morning bustle of the Grey Stone pack. He had work to do. Sleep could come later. He didn’t even bother to wait for Nala to get up so he could get her up to speed. She had her task to stay in the Luna Games, and he trusted her to find a way to hold on as long as possible, just as he was sure she would trust him to get his tasks done. His new task was related to what he found out the night before, from the information Alex had shared and the files he had collected. The documents that backed up Alex’s theory were the ones containing the changes to the pack wolves, death records, births and newcomers, and the hospital admissions records. Whenever there was an influx of newcomers, the pack hospital was put under stress for weeks. It was a pattern. One he intended to follow. The other files he had grabbed were the dusty ones on Inga’s desk. He knew she wouldn’t have
Connor POV - Connor didn’t think twice before he walked into Inga’s house. He didn’t even bother to knock. He knew she was home. Her scent was fresh at the door, and, for once, she hadn’t randomly turned up while he was investigating, so he was sure there wasn’t anywhere else she could be. When he opened the front door however, he didn’t expect the scent of blood to be laced in the air. Immediately, he was on guard. A rush of urgency flew through his veins as he locked onto the soft noises in the house, trying to find her, but his mind scrambled as panic flooded him. “Inga?” He shouted; his voice breathy, his heart rate rocketing. “Inga!” “Urgh, shut up would you.” A voice groaned from the kitchen. Connor moved, darting down the tight hallway and bursting into the small kitchen. Inga was at the table, but it wasn’t lunch spread on its surface. A first aid kit had been emptied, its contents spilling around the table. There were three items brought to the front; a needl
Connor POV - Despite her protests, Connor was the one who made them a warm cup of tea and finished tidying the table, while she settled on the couch in the front room. Inga had been adamantly against it at first but, once he threatened to carry her to the living room, she quickly backed down and hobbled off. He had no doubt she would’ve forced herself to do everything otherwise, and was certain she’d get it done, even if her stitches burst and he’d have to patch her up again. Though, maybe she wouldn’t let him a second time. The way she had stared at his touch, accepting but wary, made him think of a wild animal who was only used to being shunned. “Thank you for the files. I’ll put them to good use.” He told her, as he carried in their drinks and forced some biscuits into her hands. She had lost a lot of blood; it was a surprise she hadn’t passed out. Inga grunted a thank you but tucked in like a ravenous beast. He let her, taking a seat at the opposite end of the couch, rath
Nala POV - By the next morning, Nala was starting to feel a prickle of unease scurry over her skin. She still hadn’t seen Connor and, worse, he hadn’t returned to his room the previous night. She had waited up, hoping for a chance to talk to him, but when the early hours ticked over, she gave up, needing to get some rest. When morning came, she was glad she had done. There was no sign he had been to his room or even entered the packhouse the previous evening. There was no fresh scent to catch anywhere, and Nala was about to search the rest of the territory when Autumn collared her. An urgent call for the next presentation had been announced. Rather than the usual thirty-minute head start, she only had ten. Autumn had tried pulling her up the stairs, but Nala was happy to miss the event if it meant making sure Connor was okay. Her friend had smirked then and reassured her he was safe and happy. Rather than give any more details, she instead chose to run up the stairs, giggling as N
Nala POV - After seeing Lewis’ so-called cell, aka Inga’s house, Nala couldn’t help but think she not only drew the short straw, but her straw was so short it was little more than dust. Inga had cared for his wounds, given him free reign of her home and treated him more like a guest than a prisoner. Her cell, on the other hand, was just that. Three cement walls and one of thick steel bars keeping her within. Despite it being beneath the packhouse, none of the warmth or inviting decor made it down to the basement. It was cold and damp and dark, its only homey amenities, a toilet and a bed. If she wasn’t in so much pain, she might’ve cared, but instead she sat on the bed trying to ignore the throbbing heat of her wrists. The initial agony, of the silver melting her flesh, had passed, but that same heat was burying deep into her flesh, making her bones ache. She could no longer feel the places the silver touched her skin, but she daren’t look at it again. The charred, bloody mess o