“Jericho, where did you get this note?” David growled.
I explained to them what happened the previous night; about the strangely intelligent raven and the note in its beak.
“Mason and I were talking about it, and he thinks that the bird is from Scarlet Ridge,” I told them.
“Why?” Charlie asked.
“Because he said it was spying on us,” I said. “And who else has a reason to spy on us except them?”
David’s eyes narrowed. “Why does he think it was spying on us?”
“He saw it the other night, at the cafe,” I explained. “He said he saw a strange black bird fly away after our conversation.”
“That could be any bird,” David countered. “How do you know it’s the same one?”
I paused. “I don’t know. I’m just trusting what Mason told me.”
A spark of doubt flickered inside me. Why was David asking me so many questions? Could it be thathewas the traitor?
Suddenly I felt ashamed for even thinking that. David had been my friend and hunting partner for years. He could be gruff and abrasive, but he would never betray any of us.
I noticed others at the table giving David the same side-eye, and wondered if they were thinking the same thing I did.
“Guys, we can’t let this note make us paranoid,” I growled deeply. “Our hunting party is a family. We have to trust each other.”
The table fell silent. Shadow shifted awkwardly as a few eyes landed on him.
“Okay, I know Shadow isn’t a member of the hunting party, but he’s still a member of our pack,” I said. “Come on, guys.”
“Then what are we supposed to make of this note?” Ken asked, holding it carefully between his fingers like it was a venomous snake. “That there’s someone outside Indigo Mountain warning of us a danger from within?”
“Why would someone outside of our pack care about that, though?” Flint growled. “It just seems too suspicious to me.”
“Maybe someone’s just trying to cause chaos within our pack,” Shadow growled.
“Butwhy?” Charlie asked genuinely. “What would that accomplish?”
David’s lip curled and he bared a fang. “Maybe itisScarlet Ridge. Maybe they’re trying to cause disarray among us as an opening for their attack.”
“Aren’t there easier ways to do that instead of sending a bird with a cagey note?” Ken asked, raising an eyebrow.
Suddenly a thought struck me like lightning.
“Hang on a second,” I said, holding up a hand. Everyone looked towards me. “I just remembered something Mason told me when he first arrived here. He said somebodyunlockedhis collar and then told him to escape.”
Charlie gasped. Everyone else’s eyes widened.
“How is that possible?” Flint asked.
“Who was it?” Charlie asked desperately.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I don’t think Mason knows, either. The way he spoke made it seem like he didn’t know the guy. Just called him astrange alpha.”
“Don’t you think this is information you should’ve brought up earlier?” David grumbled.
I shrugged. “Sorry. It only just came to me now.”
Everyone looked at each other.
