Chapter 43 - Loyalty Questioned
1443 Words
Marder's broad shoulders barely fit through the doorway when he stepped into the office.
Elara could see why he was Head Warrior.
Everything about him projected strength.
Years of training and battle had carved hard muscle across his frame, yet size alone wasn't what drew attention.
Marder carried himself with the assurance of a wolf who knew exactly who he was and where he belonged.
If danger ever came to Draegon, Elara had little doubt he would be the first to stand in its path.
He acknowledged everyone with a respectful nod before looking directly at Thorne.
"You wanted to see me, Alpha?"
His voice carried easily through the office.
His attention moved around the room, a slight crease forming between his brows.
Elara couldn't blame him.
The leadership of Draegon had gathered in the office.
Kaia refused to sit. She paced behind Marder at an unhurried pace, her boots tapping softly against the floor.
Elara was beginning to suspect the Beta did it on purpose.
Rowan's notebook remained open in front of him.
Every pair of eyes rested on Marder.
They had been waiting for him.
"Sit," Thorne said.
Marder pulled out the chair and lowered himself into it.
The wood creaked beneath his weight.
Elara studied him quietly.
She didn't know him particularly well.
Most of her impressions came from watching him during training.
Warriors naturally looked toward him for guidance.
Orders were given without shouting.
Corrections were made without humiliation.
Even from a distance, it was easy to understand why he held the position he did.
Wolves followed him because they trusted him.
That alone made this conversation feel wrong.
Across the table, Rafe shifted in his seat.
His jaw tightened.
The Delta clearly disliked where this was heading.
Truthfully, they all did.
"We have a spy in the pack."
Thorne wasted no time.
Marder's brows drew together.
"A spy?"
"Information regarding the Valamere prisoners reached the council."
Recognition flashed across the Head Warrior's face.
"And you believe one of our wolves is responsible."
Thorne nodded.
"Do you know who it might be?"
Marder's face crinkled in thought.
Thorne didn't answer.
The office grew quiet.
Tension wound through the room.
Elara noted how uncomfortable everyone looked.
None of them believed Marder had anything to do with the leak.
Unfortunately, he was the last name on the list.
Marder leaned back slightly, his eyes moving around the table when Thorne didn't answer him.
Elara watched his reaction carefully.
Confusion appeared first.
Then realization.
What followed was disappointment.
The realization seemed to hit him all at once.
"Asking me here means my name is on that list."
Marder released a slow breath and gave a single nod.
"I understand."
The words were simple, yet they made Elara uncomfortable.
Asking him here felt wrong.
For a moment nobody spoke.
Then Marder straightened.
"Ask your questions."
Thorne leaned forward slightly.
"You've been part of Draegon's leadership for years."
Marder nodded.
"You knew about the territory's financial situation."
"I did."
"You attended leadership meetings where those concerns were discussed."
"Yes."
"The council knew as well."
A faint frown appeared on the Head Warrior's face.
"The territory wasn't exactly thriving. Anyone paying attention could see that."
"They knew more than that," Thorne said.
The office grew quiet.
"They knew details that should never have left this territory."
Marder held Thorne's gaze.
"And those details were used against us."
"Yes."
Elara felt a brief flash of irritation through the bond.
Across the desk, Thorne remained unreadable.
The council had altered both of their lives.
Neither needed a reminder of that.
"You attended meetings with council members."
"When required."
"Did you discuss Draegon's finances with them?"
"No."
"The conflict with Valamere?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Thorne studied him.
"You never shared internal pack matters?"
The Head Warrior sat forward.
Irritation slipped into his voice.
"No, Alpha."
The room fell silent again.
Marder looked around the room until his eyes found Rafe's.
"You truly believed I would do that?"
Rafe didn't break eye contact, though he shifted slightly in his seat.
It was the only sign that the question had landed.
"We had to ask."
Marder's eyes stayed on him.
"I have served Draegon my entire life."
The disappointment in his voice cut deeper than anger.
"I have fought for the pack. Bled for it."
He shook his head.
"My wife died protecting this pack."
His gaze returned to Thorne.
"And somehow I ended up on this list."
Nobody answered.
Because there wasn't a good answer.
Marder released a slow breath and leaned back again.
The anger faded.
The frustration remained.
"If it wasn't you, then how did the council learn so much?"
Marder didn't answer immediately.
His fingers tapped once against the arm of the chair.
Then stilled.
"Most wolves wouldn't contact the council," he said eventually.
"Yes," Rowan said.
He leaned slightly closer.
"That is why your name reached the list, Marder. We are not accusing you, but we do need to find the leak."
Rowan glanced at his notes.
"And that means we keep digging."
"The average wolf doesn't pick up a phone and call them."
Marder sighed.
"I understand why I have been called here."
He looked directly at Thorne.
"But it wasn't me, Alpha. I wouldn't betray my pack or you."
Elara believed every word he said.
But if it wasn't Marder, then who?
"I don't discuss pack matters with outsiders."
"Who do you discuss it with then?" Elara asked immediately.
Marder tilted his head.
The room fell quiet.
His gaze drifted briefly toward the desk.
A thought.
A memory.
Gone almost as quickly as it appeared.
Thorne saw it.
"What?"
Marder shook his head.
"Nothing."
"Marder."
The warning in Thorne's voice left little room for argument.
The Head Warrior's jaw tightened.
For several seconds he said nothing.
Then he exhaled heavily.
"My daughter."
The room fell silent.
Marder looked as though he regretted speaking the words.
"Marina?" Kaia asked carefully.
The same Marina that had challenged her during training.
The same Marina who had made comments about the bond and about Elara on more than one occasion.
A sliver of bitterness surfaced.
Even so, Elara had always assumed Marina's hostility came from concern for the pack.
"She has always taken an interest in pack matters."
Marder nodded slowly, as though admitting that was difficult.
The Head Warrior continued cautiously.
"She notices things."
A faint frown crossed his face.
"When deliveries started arriving smaller than usual, she noticed."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Thorne.
"When distribution changed, she noticed that too."
The room remained quiet.
"She asked questions."
His attention dropped to the table.
"Because she cared."
Nobody missed the conviction in his voice.
"When tensions with Valamere increased, she wanted to know what was happening."
"After the standoff, she asked questions."
"After the prisoners escaped, she wanted answers."
Marder rubbed a hand across his jaw.
"So did half the territory."
Elara never witnessed the disruption inside Draegon after Nyra helped the Valamere wolves escape.
At the time she had been focused on Valamere.
On the danger waiting for them on the journey home.
On how she would warn her old pack.
She hadn't paid much attention to Draegon's reaction.
"Marina has always cared about Draegon."
There was pride in his voice.
The kind only a father could carry.
"Sometimes more than she should."
Thorne remained focused.
"Do you know if she has ever spoken to any council members?"
Marder's expression tightened.
"Yes."
The answer came immediately.
"She spoke to Councilman Valric at the last Alpha meeting. She begged me to bring her along because she wanted to see what it was all about."
"Do you know if she discussed pack matters with him?"
Thorne's eyes hardened.
Marder frowned.
"I never asked."
The admission seemed to frustrate him.
"Why would I?"
The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular.
"She's my daughter."
The office fell silent.
"At the time, it didn't seem important."
For the first time since the questioning began, Marder looked away.
Thinking.
Remembering.
Replaying conversations that had once seemed harmless.
Then he cursed quietly under his breath.
Rafe's eyebrows rose.
The Head Warrior rarely cursed.
Marder closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened them again, the disappointment was directed entirely at himself.
"I should have paid more attention."
Thorne studied him for several seconds.
Then he looked toward Kaia.
"Bring Marina."
Marder's gaze snapped to Thorne.
"Alpha—"
Thorne held up a hand.
The Head Warrior fell silent.
"We are just asking questions."
For several seconds, Marder said nothing.
Then he nodded.
"I'll stay."
Nobody argued.
If Marina was about to be questioned, nobody expected her father to leave.
- Writer
