Marcus straightens from his position along the wall. “And we’re just supposed to trust her? She shows up one day, points fingers, and suddenly she’s running operations with our Alpha?”
“She’s not running anything,” I say, keeping my voice level. “I am. She’s providing intelligence that we need.”
“Or she’s providing exactly what Phil wants us to hear.” Marcus doesn’t back down. “Convenient that she’s the only one who can see these ‘patterns.’ The only one who knows how to stop him.”
Nova doesn’t flinch. “You’re right to be suspicious. In your place, I’d question everything too.”
Marcus blinks, clearly not expecting agreement.
“But here’s what you need to understand.” Her voice carries quiet steel. “If I wanted to destroy your pack, I wouldn’t need elaborate manipulation campaigns. I’d just wait for you to do it yourselves.”
The brutal honesty hits like a slap.
“You’re already fracturing. Already turning on each other.” Her gaze sweeps the room. “I could walk away right now, and Phil would still win. Because you’re doing his work for him.”
The silence stretches, uncomfortable and revealing.
“So trust me or don’t,” Nova finishes. “But stop pretending your suspicion is protecting you. Right now, it’s just another weapon pointed at your own pack.”
Marcus’s jaw works, but he doesn’t respond. Can’t respond, because she’s right.
“Mateo.” I turn to the young wolf, who’s been shrinking into himself throughout this exchange. “Can you do this? Contact Phil, set up the meeting?”
He swallows hard, but straightens. “I helped get us into this mess. Let me help get us out.”
It’s the kind of accountability we need right now. A start.
“Nova and I sweep the eastern boundary at dawn,” I announce. “Everyone else—heightened alert. Phil could show up anytime. Mateo, be ready to make contact if we need you to draw him out. Questions?”
No one speaks.
“Dismissed.”
The room empties slowly, wolves filing out in tight clusters, conversations resuming in hushed tones the moment they’re past the door. The fractures are still there. Still widening.
But now we have a direction. A plan. Something to fight besides each other.
Nova remains against the wall until we’re alone. The silence between us feels different now—charged with something I don’t want to name.
“That went better than expected,” she says.
“Half my pack still thinks you’re the enemy.”
“Half your pack is looking for any enemy that isn’t themselves.” She pushes off from the wall, and I track her movement without meaning to. “That’s not about me. That’s about guilt.”
She’s right. Again. It’s becoming a pattern I’m not sure I like.
“You need somewhere to sleep that isn’t a cell,” I say. The words come out gruffer than intended. “There’s an empty cabin on the south side. Small, but it locks from the inside.”
Something shifts in her expression—surprise, maybe. “Trusting me with freedom of movement?”
“Trusting you to be smart enough not to run.” I hold her gaze. “Tomorrow at dawn. Eastern perimeter.”
She pauses at the door, glancing back. The light catches the silver threading through her violet hair, the sharp intelligence in those impossible eyes.
“I’ll be ready,” she says. “Men like Phil can’t resist checking their work. We’ll find his surveillance setup.”
Then she’s gone, and I’m left with the ghost of honey and citrus and the uncomfortable realization that I’m already looking forward to tomorrow.
