"They''ll blame the late president," Kellan says simply. "He''s an easy scapegoat. We haven''t heard a full list of casualties, but I''m sure very few of his team have been left alive. It''ll be easy, and people are desperate. There are already videos of trucks on the road and helicopters landing in Los Angeles and New York. Once they get the aid they desperately need..."@@@@

"They''re not going to care about the truth as much," Lucas finishes grimly.

A chill creeps through my bones as I watch the screen, and I rub my arms, somehow far colder now than I have been at any point this winter. "Is there any chance the government is actually fighting back against whoever did all of this? That maybe this is legitimate?"

The silence in the tent tells me how naive it is to even hold such a hope. Lucas''s arm tightens around my waist, and Kellan''s face hardens into stone. Even Vanessa''s usual gentle expression turns grim.

"Look at their positioning," Lucas says calmly. "The vampire stands closest to Collins. That''s not an accident."

My stomach turns as I study the footage again. "Maybe. Or that just happens to be where he''s standing."

I''m not trying to argue, but just holding out that slim thread of hope that our enemies haven''t taken over the freaking White House. But it''s a weak and flimsy wish. The kind toddlers might beg of while praying to a shooting star.

Nothing but a fairy tale dream.

"Has to be." Kellan reaches over Vanessa and taps the screen where another figure lurks in the shadows. "See that one? Bet it''s a thrall."

"How can you tell?"

"I don''t know. Just looks like one."

He doesn''t even know anything about thralls, but I have to admit that it just feels like the guy might be one. His skin is strange and his eyes look glassy, even on camera.

"They''ve infiltrated the highest levels of government. This is what they''ve been working on. This is why the attacks stopped." Lucas grimaces. "It had nothing to do with the weather."

"More like they''ve taken control of it," Vanessa whispers. Her hand drifts to her belly, a protective gesture that makes my heart ache. "The timing is too perfect. Communications restored, FEMA mobilized, supernatural beings suddenly accepted into government power..."

"Did they? Or did we steal their beta''s daughter and force them to retaliate?"

Right. This is a conversation we''ve had before. Blackwood was always intending to turn Westwood into the aggressor.

Lucas continues, "Renard''s been working with the vampires all along."

"Which means any story they spin about us will have the backing of the new administration." Kellan grimaces. "The Council will bow to the White House, but even before that, a new Council will be built. Aspen, Westwood, Twilight Ridge, Silvermoon... We have no place in a world where Blackwood is the rising power."

"That''s why he was so confident." Thinking back to Alpha Renard''s insane plans and how they had never sat right with me, the last puzzle piece has finally fit. His absolute certainty that he could take on Westwood and get away with it, despite Council opposition, suddenly makes perfect sense. "He knew this was coming. He knew he''d be in power when the time came, because he was always waiting for this."

My throat goes dry as everyone heaves long sighs. "How long have they been planning this?"

"Since before any of us were born, most likely. They would have had to get their support just right within the pack lands. Eliminate any alphas who might pose a real threat. Territory placement would be important, too."

"Your father," Kellan murmurs.

Lucas'' jaw tightens. "Among others, probably."

The implications make my head spin. My entire life—all our lives—have been shadowed by some grand vampire scheme. While we''ve been running around in desperation, trying to keep our pack alive, trying to figure out what''s going on, we''ve never done more than scratch the surface of what''s out there.

It makes me wonder how much Sister Miriam knew and refused to tell us.

How much any of them knew.

But maybe they were as in the dark as we were. After all, everyone was shocked when the attacks happened. Even in Dakota Sanctuary.

"But how did they keep it so secret? It doesn''t make sense."