bChapter /bb99 /b

    ra’s POV

    “You’re both insane, you know that, right?” Roma’s voice broke through the tense silence in the tent, sharp as a de. His words hung in the air, slicing through any pretense of calm.

    There stood unmoving his expression unmeadable. He wasn’t going to back down, not now. Not when he had made up his mind

    ra kept her eyes fixed on the floor, her lingers nervously tracing the fabric of her pants. She could already feel the weight of the room’s collective gaze, but she wasn’t going to be swayed.

    “I don’t care what anyone thinks,” she said softly, meeting Roman’s eyes with a strength she didn’t know she had. “We need to end this war, once and for all.

    “I don’t care about the warl” Roman snapped, pacing in the confined space. “Serena is dead. Right here in the city. And you want to leave!” His voice cracked, frustration and grief churning in the air like a storm. “The Rogue King’s people are right under our noses. Shouldn’t we be hunting them down, not running off into the night?”

    The room was still. Thorne’s gaze never wavered as he turned to meet Roman’s fury. “And if we find the murderer, what then? What’s stopping the Rogul King from sending another one of his puppets to do the same thing all over again?” His voice was calm, steady. “We’ve been stabbing in the dark for too long. It’s time we bring the Rogue King into the light.

    “But what about Serena?” Triss’s voice cut in, softer now, filled with doubt. “What happens if you both go off to the Great Canyon? Who stays behind to lead the search for the killer?”

    Thome’s gare swept over his group. “You do.” His btone /bwas bfinal/b. “All of you will stay here. Keep this city safe. You are my most trusted. That’s why I’m telling you now.”

    The tension crackled in the bair/b, but there was ba /bquiet understanding in the room. They weren’t just a pack–they were a family. And every one of them was willing to carry the weight.

    “But I’ming with you,” Bex’s voice was a low growl as he bstood /bbup /bsuddenly, anger zing in his eyes. “You’re leaving me behind while the bastard who killed Serena walks free?” His fists clenched at his sides, shaking with rage. “I want to rip his throat out. I need to bavenge /bher. You can’t stop me.”

    Thorne exchanged a nced with ra. This was inevitable. Bex had been carrying this brage /bfor too long. “Fine,” Thome bnodded/b, a hint of ba /bsigh escaping his lips. “If you insist”

    “And I’ming too,” Ralen said quickly, his voice firm. “Dex’s my pack. I don’t bleave /bmy bAlpha /bbehind.”

    Bex shot him ba /bsharp look. “You don’t have to do this for me, Raelen.”

    “Yeah, I do,” Raelen shrugged, stepping closer to Bex, “You were there for me, and I’m here for you. End of story.” He turned to Thorne. “Permission to join the mission, Alpha?”

    Thorne hesitated, his mind racing. “If youe, there will be no Alpha left in the city”

    bVessa/b, standing quietly in theer, spoke up, her voice bas /bcalm as ever. “I call Alpha Cael, Get him here. It won’t be an issue.”

    ra bit her lip at the mention of her brother. She hadn’t had the heart to tell him yet, and she dreaded the storm that woulde when he heard about the bn/b. But by the time Cael arrived, they’d be long gone

    “Alright,” ra said, her voice strong despite the tightness in her chest. “It’s settled. Thorne, Rarlen, Bex, and i will leave btonight/b, around midnight

    “bCount /bme in,” Jory’s voice was sudden, his words slicing through the conversation like a quiet storm. He bhad /bbeen standing at the backb, /bunnoticedunt now. But he wasn’t going to bbe /bleft behind.

    Thorne’s gaze narrowed, sizing him up. You?””

    “I was a Rogue,” Jory replied calmly, meeting Thorne’s eyes without flinching “I know how their minds work. If you’re going into their emitong your 1. need someone who’s been on the inside.”

    Thorne’s

    ‘s frown deepened. Trust wasn’t something he gave easily, and Jory’s sudden appearance was too convenient forfort. But Dura–she rosted him. And in this, her word bwas /bthough.

    She smiled softly, then feached out and took Jory’s hand. “Of course you’reing, I’m d you’re with us.”

    “bAlways/bb,/b” Jory’s words were soft, almost too soft, but there was a sincerity to them.

    A n was forming. Five of them. A small group, but the right one. They would be discreet, but they would be effective. They would strike before the Rogue King could make his next move.

    After the meeting, ra pulled Prisca aside, her voice a low whisper. “Keep an eye on bMi/bb.” /b

    Prisca’s eyes widened, a flicker of confusion passing over her face. “You think she’s involved in Serena’s death?

    ra shook her head, her mind racing through the possibilities. “I don’t have proof. But something doesn’t sit right, I think she’s hiding something

    “But her alibib…/bb7/b” Prisca started.

    “I know,” ra cut in. “It checks out. But I bsaw /bher around the Smith Shop that afternoon. She said she was resting, but I know what I saw.”

    Prisca nodded slowly, her own doubts forming “I’ll watch her. And bLance/b. We’ll figure this out.”

    The day passed in preparation, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, they gathered at the North Gate, ready to slip away into the night. The rest of their group came to see them off, offering their farewells and well–wishes.

    ra hugged each of her friends in turn, her heart heavy with the weight of the decisions they had made. When she reached Vessa, she smiled weakly “Don’t let Cool get too mad at me, alright?”

    Vessa chuckled, her usual calm demeanor returning “I can’t control him. But you can deal with him when you get back safe. And Jory–keep our Gamma safe, okay?”

    Jory nodded, his expression firm. “You have my

    y word.”

    byou /bsome snacks. For the journey. Good luck.”

    bPrisca /bstepped forward, offering a small box. “I packed;

    i“/iThanks,” ra smiled, tucking the box into her bag.

    of five shifted into their wolves, their bodies a blur of motion as With the final goodbyes said, the group They were headed into rogue territory, a ce filled with danger and uncertainty.

    they raced northward, leaving the city behind.

    But the Rogue King was waiting. And they would finally face him.

    AD