Chapter 39 - The Return
1012 Words
After several hours of shopping, two coffees, one muffin, and a conversation that had left her with more questions than answers, Elara finally felt as though she had accomplished something.
The bags scattered across the back seat were proof enough.
Her wardrobe would no longer consist of the same handful of shirts and jeans.
More importantly, she and Thorne finally had somewhere to start.
The folded paper remained tucked inside her handbag.
Somewhere on that list was the answer they were looking for.
The drive back passed in comfortable silence.
For most of the afternoon, the trip had felt surprisingly normal. Away from pack politics, council interference, and the constant tension that seemed to follow them lately, there had been moments when she almost forgot why she was in Draegon.
Almost.
Through the bond, she felt Thorne's attention gradually shifting as the pack house came into view. The easy atmosphere from town faded with every passing mile, replaced by the responsibilities waiting for him at home.
As they pulled into the parking area, something caught her attention.
A dark SUV sat near the entrance.
Elara frowned.
"Expecting visitors?"
Thorne followed her gaze.
"No."
He switched off the engine.
"Kaia's back."
Elara looked at the vehicle again.
"She wasn't here?"
"Boltosaur."
That explained a few things.
"How did it go?"
Thorne reached for the shopping bags.
"No one walked out."
A laugh escaped her.
"That bad?"
"That good."
The answer made her smile as she climbed from the truck.
Warm sunlight stretched across the parking area while a breeze carried the scent of pine from the forest beyond the territory.
Together they headed toward the entrance.
The familiar scents of coffee, paper, and wolves greeted her the moment they stepped inside.
Pack members moved through the halls carrying folders, tablets, and boxes. Several greeted Thorne as they passed. Others noticed the shopping bags.
One young warrior looked mildly horrified by the number of them.
Elara hid a smile.
The farther they walked into the pack house, the more the relaxed feeling from town slipped away.
Pack business had a way of demanding attention.
Movement near the administrative offices drew her gaze.
A familiar blonde woman stepped into the hallway.
Kaia stopped.
Elara slowed as well.
For a moment neither woman spoke.
Their last conversation had ended with raised voices and very different opinions.
Kaia's gaze dipped briefly toward the shopping bags before returning to Elara.
"You're back."
"So are you."
The Beta adjusted the tablet beneath her arm.
"How was town?"
"Expensive."
A hint of amusement crossed Kaia's face.
"That sounds about right."
Elara smiled.
"How did the negotiations go?"
Kaia shifted the tablet slightly.
"Nobody walked out."
Elara laughed.
"According to Thorne, that's considered a success."
A corner of Kaia's mouth lifted.
"For negotiations? Absolutely."
The exchange was brief, yet it felt different from before.
The disagreement surrounding the prison still existed. Neither woman had changed her position, but the anger had cooled enough for them to stand in the same hallway without looking for a fight.
Thorne's gaze moved between them.
The last trace of amusement disappeared from his expression.
"Put your things away."
Elara looked toward him.
"And then?"
The shift was immediate.
The Alpha had returned.
His attention sharpened, focused entirely on whatever waited ahead.
"Meet us in my office."
Kaia noticed it too.
Her posture straightened.
"What's happened?"
The easy conversation vanished.
"We have a problem."
Silence settled over the small group.
Pack members continued moving through the hallway without paying them any attention.
Kaia's expression became serious.
"What kind of problem?"
Thorne looked at both women.
His Beta.
His mate.
Strong in entirely different ways.
Kaia approached problems with discipline, structure, and years of experience running a pack beside him.
Elara questioned everything, challenged assumptions, and refused to accept an answer simply because someone told her it was true.
Most days, the differences between them created friction.
Today they might be exactly what he needed.
"One we'll discuss together."
Elara exchanged a glance with Kaia.
Whatever waited inside that office carried enough weight to push old disagreements aside.
Kaia studied him for another moment before nodding.
"I'll be there."
Without another word, she continued down the hallway.
Elara watched her disappear around the corner.
The fact that Kaia hadn't demanded answers spoke volumes.
Something serious had happened.
They continued deeper into the administrative wing.
The sounds of daily pack life gradually faded behind them.
For several moments neither spoke.
Her thoughts drifted toward the folded paper inside her handbag.
Someone had been sharing information.
Someone had helped the council stay informed for months.
If they pointed the finger at the wrong person, an innocent wolf could pay the price.
The possibility sat heavily in her chest.
"What happened in Boltosaur?" she asked eventually.
"Alliance agreements."
"Against who?"
"No one specifically."
That answer earned him a look.
He sighed.
"The council has people nervous."
That immediately caught her attention.
"The council?"
"Several packs have started questioning how much influence they're trying to gain."
Andrea's warning resurfaced instantly.
The concern she'd shown.
The information she'd volunteered.
The growing feeling that larger pieces were moving behind the scenes while everyone focused on smaller problems.
Something was happening.
The problem was that nobody seemed to know exactly what.
"Do you trust them?"
"Enough."
The answer told her everything she needed to know.
Trust existed.
So did limits.
They reached the stairs and climbed to the second floor.
The hallway leading toward Thorne's office stretched ahead.
By the time they reached the door, town felt very far away.
Thorne stopped.
His hand settled on the handle.
"Put your things away."
Elara adjusted the bags in her arms.
"And then?"
His gaze settled on hers.
"Then we talk."
Whatever waited inside that office carried enough weight to pull everyone's attention toward it.
As Elara headed toward her room, she found herself thinking less about shopping and more about the meeting ahead.
Somewhere inside the pack was a leak.
And by this time tomorrow, they would be one step closer to finding the spy
- Writer
