Xena''s POV


    "Ask me when Ryder gets home," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the soft night breeze.


    The vans were moving faster than I''d initially anticipated, but each found trip still took about forty-five minutes-longer than I''d hoped. Ama efficiently loaded another group of people into the vehicles, her movements practiced and purposeful despite her condition. Delphine nodded at me before they departed, a silent confirmation that everything was proceeding ording to n. Each warrior reported their status exactly as they should, and with every sessful journey, the knot of anxiety in my chest loosened slightly.


    Still, I checked my watch every few minutes. Not knowing what was happening with Ryder and the others was driving me insane. Time seemed to mock me, each second stretching into an eternity as my heart hammered against my ribcage like it was trying to


    break free.


    Luna Kestrel appeared surprisingly rxed, casually chatting with the remaining pack members, her posture betraying none of the tension that coursed through my veins. Every time the walkie-talkie crackled to life, my heart skipped a beat/


    "Luna, William''s voice came from behind me while I stared into the darkness of the forest, searching for threats that lurked in the


    shadows.


    "What is it?" I didn''t even turn around. He moved to stand beside me keeping a respectful distance without touching me. Yet he was close enough-the same distance as during our earlier conversations which surprised me a little.


    "You''re literally jumping at everything. Ryder and the warriors will be fine. They''ll go in,plete the mission, and leave before anyone notices."


    I nced at my watch-11:21 PM. Ama was loading another group of pack members into the vans. "I hope so."


    "Is there something else bothering you?" William''s tone suggested genuine concern.


    "We''re not seeing the whole picture," I admitted, my voice tight with tension.


    "Do you think we made a mistake?" he asked quietly, moving directly in front of


    me.


    "No, not like that. Think about it." I grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the others, lowering my voice so that even with their enhanced hearing, no one could overhear us. "What could Alpha Benedict possibly have that would make Alpha Wiley spend years developing such a precise n of attack?"


    I didn''t experience the expected revulsion at the physical contact-touching others wasn''t as difficult as I''d feared, though anxiety still dominated my emotions.


    William''s eyes darkened. "I don''t know."


    "Ryder agrees. Something''s definitely going on here, and until we figure out what it is, we''re still in danger."


    "What do you think we should do?" he asked.


    "You''re not going to like it," I warned.


    "What is it?" William folded his arms across his chest. Looking over, noticed Luna Kestrel still engaged in conversation with


    different pack members.


    "Sneak into his office and look around."


    Chapter 220.


    William''s eyes widened like T''d just confessed to murder. "Seriously?


    "I said you wouldn''t like it. 1 sinugged, meeting his gaze steadily. I refused to tell us what it was. We know he''s hiding something. His office might have that secret."


    William rubbed his hands over his face before running them through his hair. He took a few steps back and started paring before returning to me. "What about Lama Kestrel?"


    "She''s been talking to members all evening. You go see what you can find. Take pictures for me to look at. Any budget paperwork or just... anything."


    "Ama has all the budget stuff," William said, looking confused.


    "She has what he gave her," I replied gravely.


    William''s lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine, but you have to tell me if anyone goes into the pack house. I need time to escape.


    "I will. Keep the mind ink open," I said, patting his shoulder.


    William gave me onest look before walking over to Ama. I heard him tell her he''d be right back.


    Thankfully, Ama didn''t question it, simply continuing to sit on the stairs.


    My watch read 11:46 PM. If all was going ording to n, Delphine should be on his way back. Once he arrived, Luna Kestre would likely go help with the coordination. I began watching her more closely. She asionally checked her watch but otherwise kept her attention on her conversation. She looked a bit thin, and her hair seemed almost too perfect. I couldn''t see her face clearly in the darkness, but I''d bet money she had bags under her eyes.


    The moon provided little light tonight, as if deliberately darkening the world to give our men the cover they needed toplete their mission sessfully.


    "I''m in," William whispered through our mind-link.


    "Good, what do you see?" I asked, keeping my eyes fixed on Luna Kestrel.


    "Nothing special. I''ll start with the filing cabs." I could hear the grating sound of rusty metal as he opened the drawers. "He has files on every pack member with status."


    This didn''tpletely surprise me, though it was somewhat unexpected. Most Alphas conducted some form of background check on their members. I reasoned this was normal procedure, yet it still felt unsettling, like having my privacy invaded.


    "That''s not too outrageous," I said uncertainly, hesitation coloring my voice, "Your file has various reports from your childhood IQ tests," he replied.