Ava paced the edge of the training grounds, her sharp eyes scanning the area for Marcus. Over the past week, his movements had grown increasingly peculiar, and her suspicions were no longer mere inklings. It wasn’t just the late nights or the hushed conversations in the hallways. It was the meeting.
She had stumbled upon it purely by chance. Returning from the forest, she had heard murmured voices in the west wing, the section reserved for high-level pack dealings. She crept closer, her heart pounding when she saw Marcus surrounded by three alphas, all allied with Lesley’s pack.
“I assure you,” Marcus had said, his voice low and smooth, “everything is under control. The timing must be perfect.”
Ava hadn’t stayed long enough to hear the rest. She retreated before anyone could notice her
