Xena''s POV


    "Is this really what your 144 1Q tells you is the best n?" Williamked as the printer churned out the blueprints.


    "It is. I still feel like I''m missing something but yeah, I feel like this good." I shifted my weight, trying to ignore the throbbing in my arm as I watched the final page emerge from the printer.


    William grabbed the blueprints and began spreading them out. Since they were printed across multiple sheets, he meticulously taped them together. Theplete map was sorge I had to stand up to see the entire thing.


    "Mark the areas where Rogues attacked and the locations where each discovery was made," I said, not caring howmanding I sounded. None of them seemed to notice my tone anyway-they were too focused on the task at hand.


    William took some pins and ced one where the tunnel had been found. Moving to the other-side of the blueprint, he marked the locations of the Rogue attacks. I had to lean forward awkwardly to point out where Ryder and I had been when that photo was


    taken.


    日


    Staring at the blueprint, something felt off. "Confused" wasn''t quite the right word, but I couldn''t understand why they''d build a tunnel there. Was it really as simple as cing tunnels on each side so they could attack from both directions?


    Actually, it seemed like the people in the photo were just surveying everything. Scouting thend. Checking how far the nearest buildings were. My mind raced, trying to piece together the enemy''s strategy and intentions.


    While my brain continued processing, my hand instinctively reached for a pen. With my arm in a sling, the lines I drew connecting the two tunnels were wobbly. I added another line crossing through the middle, which happened to pass through the pack house. I circled the pack house.


    The fog of confusion instantly cleared, and I gasped. In werewolf territory, the most important building was the pack house-the Alpha''s workce, containing the most sensitive information and serving as the center of the entire territory. When someone attacks werewolfnd, their ultimate goal is to destroy the pack house. Once the pack house falls, everything else follows.


    The excavation of these tunnels must have taken them years. Alpha Wiley must have started nning this long before Tatum ever met me. Maybe this wasn''t entirely about me-they might just be using me as a distraction. It made sense-if everyone was focused on keeping me safe, their attention would be diverted from other things. A chill ran up my spine at this realization. I''d thought I was at the center of everything, but what if I was just a pawn?


    "Xena? What is it?" William asked. I hadn''t noticed him staring at me in confusion. Ama had even stood up, frowning in my direction. My thoughts must have been written all over my face, especially after such a potentially game-changing discovery.


    "You found something." It was more a statement than a question. Ama''s intuition was always sharp; she could sense the turbulence within me.


    "Maybe," I said vaguely. "Alpha Benedict, could youe to my office, please?" I sent the request through our mind link.


    "On my way," came his immediate response.


    A few minutester, a knock sounded at the door. William''s body tensed as he went to answer it. I could feel his alertness and


    tension.


    "What is it?" Alpha Benedict pushed past William and stood in front of me. He looked down at the blueprint, his brow furrowing.


    "These never made sense to me. Here''s where we found the tunnel. Here are the locations of the Rogue attacks, and this is where the other photo was taken." I indicated each pinned location, unable to fully extend my arm to point at them.


    And? Ilis voice was sharp, expectant.


    Alpha Wiley would have needed years to dig these tunnels. Years. He would have had to work slowly to avoid detection, cutting through tree roots without killing the trees. He must have started this n long before I came into the picture. These locations are equidistant or simrly distanced from the pack house. They''re not exactly in a straight line. I think there might be a third turmel somewhere around here. But my point is, it seems Alpha Wiley started nning this attack years ago. I think they''re using me as a distraction to cover his real objective. I believe Alpha Wiley wants something else, but he hopes you won''t notice while you''re busy protecting me from Tatum." My voice grew firmier with each word.


    Alpha Benedict remained silent for a moment. He stared at the cross''d drawn on the blueprint and the circled pack house, his eyes suddenly widening. He ced both hands on the table, leaning forward as if examining it closely.


    I looked up to see both Ama and William shocked by this entire revtion. Ama had her arms wrapped around William''s, her eyes glued to the blueprint. William''s expression shifted from confusion to anger to annoyance.


    "What''s your n to evacuate the women, children, and elderly?" Alpha-Benedict finally asked after several minutes. He straightened up, chest out, looking down at me with an almost condescending gaze.


    I was confused by his behavior, feeling slightly ufortable, but answered his question anyway. "We thought of taking the old dirt road from the back of your territory. Going the long way around, since they''re probably watching the direct routes."


    "Fine. We can proceed with your n. Our troops are getting assembled in preparation. William, you need to go down and do the same. Alpha Benedict left


    my office without even saying goodbye, leaving us all speechless.


    What just happened?" I whispered,pletely baffled by Alpha Benedict''s behavior.


    "He didn''t like what you said," William replied, looking at the open door.


    "He''s hiding something," I said softly. William nodded in agreement.


    "Do you have to leave?" Ama looked up at William, her eyes filled with worry. Her vulnerability made my heart ache, especially given her pregnant state, making the separation even more unsettling.


    "Yes. You two stay here. Ryder will be up soon. I''ll tell him what happened here, but I do need to go." William spoke directly to Ama. His hand rested on her swollen belly. "Take care."


    A tear slid down Ama''s cheek. "We love you," she whispered as he gently kissed her. I felt like I was intruding on a private moment and averted my eyes, a pang of bitterness and envy washing over me. Their love was so deep and genuine. They lost themselves in each other''s eyes for a moment before William strode out of my office. Ama''s eyes followed him out, then she walked over to close the door and lock it. The soft click of the lock in the silent room felt ominous, as if a storm was approaching.


    Chapter Comments


    1


    POST COMMENT NOW