"Wemunicate through text messages. He sends me updates and his code word," Alpha Benedict began to sound anguished.


    "They could have broken him already and been using that code word Ryder punched the wall, creating a fist-sized hole. This obviously escted Alpha Benedict''s anger as well.


    "Ryder! Calm down!" I rubbed Ryder''s back, whispering soothingly.


    "What else are you hiding?" I asked as Alpha Benedict opened his mouth tosh out at Ryder. His eyes turned to me, narrowing into slits.


    "What? What right do you have to question me-


    "Answer the damn question, Dad!" Ryder stepped back in front of me positioning himself between me and Alpha Benedict.


    Dad looked at me, then at Ryder and Benedict. "Answer him, Benedict Dad''s tone seemed exhausted.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about," Alpha Benedict muttered, turning to look out the window.


    "You do know, and you need to tell us now! It''s time for your damn secrets toe to light. Xena told you about the tonnels. Why has Wiley been nning an attack on us for years? Why did you ce a spy in his territory?" Ryder stood firmly in front of his father, arms crossed over his chest.


    The silence stretched between us like a taut wire. Alpha Benedict''s jaw worked as he stared out the window, his shoulders rigid with


    tension.


    “Benedict,” Dad''s voice cut through the silence like a de. “My daughter was kidnapped. My son-inw''s life was put at risk. Your pack members were evacuated from their homes. People could have died tonight because of whatever game you''ve been ying. You will tell us what''s going on, or I swear to God, I''ll-"


    "ENOUGH!" Alpha Benedict spun around, his face twisted with anguish and fury. "You want to know? Fine! Twenty-three years ago, Wiley and I were best friends. We trained together, fought together, nned to rule neighboring territories in peace."


    The admission hit the room like a physical blow. I felt Ryder''s body go rigid beside


    me.


    "But Wiley wanted more than just his territory. He wanted mine too. He wanted the resources, the strategic location, everything. When I refused to merge our packs under his leadership, he began nning ways to take it by force."


    "Twenty-three years?" Ryder''s voice was barely a whisper.


    "I''ve been watching him, waiting for him to make his move. Tom volunteered for the mission when I told him what Wiley was capable of. He knew the risks." Alpha Benedict''s hands shook as he spoke.


    "You knew he woulde after us eventually, and you said nothing? I found my voice, though it felt foreign in my throat.


    "I was protecting this pack! I was trying to stay ahead of him!" Benedict mmed his hand on the desk. "But he''s been smarter than I anticipated. Using his son to get to you, creating these borate tunnels, ying the long game while I''ve been scrambling to keep up."


    The building-


    - Dad started.


    "Was supposed to be hismand center. My information said he was coordinating everything from there. But apparently, he''s been feeding Tom false intelligence, or Tom has beenpromised, or- Benedict''s voice cracked.


    "Or you''ve been yed for twenty-three years," Ryder said coldly. very decision you''ve made, every move you''ve nned, he''s been


    man on the inside telling him exacly what you were thinking." one step ahead because he ha


    The truth of Ryder''s words settled over us like a shroud. All this time while Benedict thought he was the master strategist, Wiley had been manipting him, using his own spy against him.


    "The tunnels," I said suddenly. "If he''s been nning this for decade, those


    tunnels aren''t recent. They''re part of


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