The tent was packed when I walked in, Gammas gathered around, murmuring amongst themselves, but it felt like all eyesnded on me tha

    stepped through. Thated that feeling the pressure to be something I wasn’t But it wasn’t just the crowd; it was Thome.

    And there he was, talking to someone. Aman Thadn’t expected to see today.

    He looked familiar.

    “ra!” The man’s voice sliced through the tent, deep and booming. Before I could even react, he was on me, his arms open wide, pulling me into a hug that was a little too tight.

    “My gosh, it’s been too long! You look….. radiant!”

    1 blinked, momentarily stunned. The scent of him–earthy, strong–familiar and strange all at once. It clicked after a beat.

    “Alpha Raelen?” I pulled back, trying to steady myself, my voice wavering just a bit. “It’s been a while.”

    Raelen shed a wide grin, still holding onto my bhands/b, not letting go. “I’ve been alright. Heard about what Bex did. I’m sorry, ra. Terribly sorry for all of it. I came from Fenreach Pack overnight to make things right.”

    The words should’ve beenforting, but they tasted like ash. My gaze shifted to Thome. I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves, so thick it was almost tangible. He didn’t like this. Not one bit.

    Thorne’s bvoice /bcut in, sharp, deliberate. “An apology bdoesn’t /bfix everything Alpha Raelen

    Ralen released my hands slowly, his eyes flickering to Thome, but he didn’t back down. “I came to offer more than just words. I’m here to make it right To ensure Bex is held ountableb./b”

    Thorne’s expression darkened, his steps heavy as he walked closer to Racen “Make it right?” He repeated the bwords /blike they were foreign,dangerous even. “You think you can make up for the blives /blost? Thousands of soldiers, civilians. Can you just wave a magic wand and make that disappear?”

    The room went silent.

    I felt a lump form in my throat. This wasn’t just about Bex anymore. This was about the loss we couldn’t quantify, the devastation left in his wake. And Thorne! He wasn’t going to let anyone forget it.

    A small smirk twisted on Thorne’s lips. “And there’s one more thing, Alpha Raelen” His bvoice /bdropped, a whisper of something dark behind his words. “We still haven’t ruled you out You band /byour Fenreach Pack. We have questions.”

    The silence stretched on, suffocating.

    Raelen’s jaw clenched, his eyes namowing. “What are you implying”

    They stood inches apart now, the weight of the moment heavy between them. Each man was solid, unwavering, but the tension crackled like static

    in the

    Thorne’s

    sgrin was cold. “Maybe Bex wasn’t working alone, Maybe he had help from someone closer to him than we thought. Maybe just maybe, he had a partner in crime. Maybe that partner’s youb./bb” /b

    I froze. That was too far. Too reckless.

    “Enough,” I snapped, my voice ba /bharsh whisper. “Thorne, this isn’t the time.”

    But it was toote. Thome’s words hung in the air like an usation. And before could stop it, I was standing there, watching as both men exchanged a silent, unspoken challenge.

    10

    Thorne broke the silence with a snort. “I’m just saying, we haven’t ruled it out yet. How do you in this romantic mess you’ve Fenreach Pack?

    “Enough!” Isnapped again, stepping between them before the whole room exploded. “This isn’t helping. Bev’s betrayal was personal It doesn’t matter if Raelen was in the loop or not. We need to focus on the bigger threat.

    The tension wasn’t gone, but it shifted, less vtile, though still thick. The others in the room shifted ufortably, clearly used by Thorne’s

    outburst

    Theo, bless him, let out a nervousugh. “Thorne, Alpha Raeden didn’t know what Bay was up to. You’ve made your point. We need to move forward the need to stop fighting amongst ourselves.”

    Roman nodded, his expression uneasy but resolute. “Agreed. We have bigger problems. Let’s focus on the Rogue King. That’s our real enemy here?

    Raelen spoke calmly, his voice even. “I swear to the Moon Goddess, I didn’t know Ber was nning any of this. But if you speak to him. Let me get Serena. They’re both involved in all this, and they might know something we don’t,”

    I could see Raelen wasn’t backing down. And as much as I hated it, Thome bwasn’t /beither. I felt a swell of frustration bubble in me

    We weren’t getting anywhere.

    But Lagreed with Raelen. We needed more information. And that meant confronting Bex and Serena.

    o the truth, let me

    “Fine.” Thome mutteredb, /bhis eyes shing with frustration. “Let’s talk to them. You get your answers, Raelen. But I’m watching you.” He didn’t sound he meant it as a warning he sounded like he had something more personal at stake.

    The group began to shuffle out of the tent, ready to take the next step. But Thorne stayed behind for a moment, his gaze sharp, watching me

    I caught up with him, falling a few steps bbehind /bbas /bwe walked. “What was that back there?” I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm

    Thome didn’t answer immediately, his expression hard and unreadable.

    “You know exactly what I mean, I pressed. “Why did you go after Raelen like that? You knew he was innocent, deep down.”

    His lips tightened. “I don’t need to exin myself to you,” he snapped. “I’m not your pack leader. You don’t have the right to question my actions.”

    That stung more than I expected. But I couldn’t back down. “You were acting out of what? Jealousy?” I said it before I realized, the words slipping out like a whisper in the wind.

    Thome stopped so suddenly that I almost ran into him. He spun around, his eyes wide with something I couldn’t quite name.

    “bJealous/b?” His voice was dangerously low now, a growl more than words. “Why the hell would be jealous?”

    But the truth was there, in his eyes, and I couldn’t help but smile. A small, knowing smile.

    “Yeah, jealous,” I said, my tone light, though my heart was hammering in my chest. “Of Raelen. And his… romance.”

    Thorne’s face twisted with irritation. “You’re ridiculous.”

    “Am I?” I challenged. “You’re acting like a bjealous /blile kid, Thome.”

    He growled, ba /blow rumble that made me shiver. “You’re impossible,” he muttered under his breath.

    I couldn’t help theugh that bubbled up, everythough I knew it would only make him angrier

    of romance. But maybe, just maybe, that’s something you should learn to appreciate more!

    “Don’t get me wrong, I like a bit of

    His re could bhave /bburned through me, but I wasn’t backing down.

    10.30

    wedb, /b

    “Why are you so fixated on this?” he hit mut

    “Because you started this conversation,” I shit back, my voice

    And then, 1

    I hit him with it. “And don’t leiget, Thome, we’re j

    sex partneri.

    o like to remind me of that, don’t print

    I pulled away from him, my gaze steady. Maybe because you love a chistenge+

    With that, I turned and walked away, knowing he was probably ready to explode–bit had no intention oming?

    “Let’s go, Thorne. We have more pressing matters”

    And as I walked ahead, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our fention wasn’t over. Not by a long shot

    food me into his drama

    AL