Xena''s POV


    She turned around and sighed, looking at me with those eyes that could always read my anxiety. "What is it now? Ama asked, her blonde curls bobbing as she tilted her head.


    I felt the anxiety churning in my chest, every second precious time sipping away. My thoughts were like ignited gunpowder, exploding in all directions.


    "We need to make a list. We''ll have groups of people to transport. leed to tell them exact numbers. Keep family members together while calcting how many vehicles we can fill at once.''


    "I can do that," she replied. Though I loved Ama dearly, I needed more hands right now.


    "Ryder?" I called through our mind link, the connection between us vibrating with urgency.


    "What is it? I''m finishing something up, I''ll be there soon. William just briefed me." His voice echoed in my mind, his presence aforting warmth even through the psychic connection.


    "I need Penelope to help organize these ns."


    "I''ll call Logan, have him contact the office directly. Is that okay?" His tone was steady, grounding me when I felt like I was spinning out of control.


    "Thanks," I replied simply, ending the conversation. "Ama, could you help me get this stuff off?" I asked, gesturing to the maps and papers spread across my head.


    "Of course." She stood and came to my side. When she removed everything, it felt ufortable, but once it was gone, breathing suddenly became easier. "You good?" she asked while cing them on the floor. The phone started ringing.


    "Penny?" I snatched up the receiver, hoping it was her.


    "No, it''s Logan. What''s going on?" My twin''s voice came through, steady but tense.


    "I need Penelope''s help. We have barely any time before we start sending people through, and-" My words tumbled out urgently, my heart racing, palms starting to sweat.


    "Ryder already told me. He said William filled him in about moving during the battle," Logan cut me off. His voice sounded distant, like he was already mentally preparing for what wasing.


    "Right. I need another set of hands. I need Penny to make sure each vehicle arrives on time with the correct number of people. I''ll email you both the information, but I need her confirmation on everything."


    "We don''t have much time. You need to get our brains working, and figure this shit out," Logan said, irritation edging his voice. Just then, my office door opened and Ryder walked in, his body drenched in sweat, looking mad as hell.


    "I''m trying," I snapped back, matching his annoyance.


    "I''ll call Penelope and tell her to watch for your email. I''ll give her this number so she can call you. Write it down-it''s our house number. I''ve gotta go."


    Okay, Logan?" I said quickly before he could hang up.


    "What?"


    *Be careful. I–I love you. The three words felt strangeing from y mouth, but I needed to say them. Just in case.


    "Now isn''t the time for you to start having a heart, Logan joked, a small chuckle escaping him. "Love you too, sis. The line went


    dead.


    "Tell me what''s happening," Ryder demanded, his hands gripping our lesk as he leaned forward, impatient for me to finish my call. He was struggling to control his anger, but failing miserably-his Alpha aura was affecting Ama, making her try to distance herself from him.


    I could feel his emotions like storm clouds gathering, heavy and dangerous. His anger wasn''t directed at me, but at the entire situation. Still, that powerful Alpha energy made the air in the room thick, making it hard to breathe, for a moment.


    "Look." I stood up, carefully pointing to each pin on the map. "These are the locations. They''re not distributed across the packnds the way I imagined. If you ce another pin here, it forms a perfect riangle. Making it the perfect location for another attack point. The pack house would be right in the middle." I traced the pattern with my finger. "Besides, these tunnels would take years to dig. Not months, and certainly not during the time since I first met Tatum. All of this was nned long before I came into the picture. Alpha Wiley has been plotting this for a long time. I think he''s using Tatum as a distraction. By making us believe Tatum wanted to kidnap me, he kept your focus there."


    "He did kidnap you," Ryder responded, like he was struggling to understand it all. His brow furrowed, his expression a mixture of confusion and rage.


    I watched his face, knowing he was trying to ept this new perspective, this terrible truth that might change everything.


    "Yes, but I was actually kept alone for long periods. I only saw Tatum or Alpha Wiley three times. Trust me, I remember exactly what he said and did to me, but looking back now, I''m not so sure. I''m telling you, there''s something bigger going on here. Much bigger than Tatum wanting me."


    My voice trembled slightly, the memories of fear washing over me like a tide.


    Ryder looked directly into my eyes, worry and anger shing in his green irises. "What did my father say?"


    I bit my lip. "Hepletely ignored me, only asking what the evacuation n was."


    "Fuck." Ryder jerked upright, running his hands through his hair. His movements betrayed deep anxiety, and I could sense his wolf stirring restlessly inside him.


    I struggled to keep my voice steady. "What did you find?"


    "We found two tunnels. We only discovered the second one because a warrior saw a rat crawling out from it. They''re about five miles long. Leading to some random forest location outside our territory. The doors are wooden, covered with vines on the outside. Nobody would know they were there. We probably walked past them many times without noticing."


    Hearing these words, my heart sank. "If you need to go find the third tunnel, that''s okay."