Jeremiah''s voice cut through the quiet as he asked, “Have you figured out if Austin was deliberately targeted, or was he just in the wrong ce at the wrong time?"


    Jax nced at Dev''s screen, then leaned in closer. "At this point, it looks like it waspletely random. Honestly, it could have been any warrior passing through at that moment. The onlyplication is that Austin was only recently added to the rotation just a few days ago."


    I scanned the area, my senses alert. "Any leads on who the inside man might be?" I asked, lowering my voice. You never know if someone''s lurking downwind, eavesdropping on our conversation.


    ra''s expression was tight as she responded, "I have a few ideas." But she didn''t borate further. Instead, she shifted the mood, saying, "Let me show you somendmarks around here so you can get a better sense of the terrain. It''ll help when we review the mapster. After that, we''ll head back and regroup."


    We only spent about an hour longer exploring, but the western edge of ra''s territory was breathtaking. A massive river, nked by thick trees, wound its way toward a roaring waterfall. It was easy to see why rogues would choose this route- there were plenty of hidden spots to camp, perfect for setting up temporary shelters. The abundance of fresh water and game darting through the underbrush,bined with the natural cover from the trees and craggy rock faces near the waterfall, created an ideal environment for survival.


    As we made our way back, the group agreed to avoid shifting into wolf form, opting to take our time instead. ra and Jeremiah began sharing stories from their youth -tales of mischief and rivalry during pack gatherings, especially involving their fathers and other alpha children. I felt a twinge of jealousy bubble up inside me. It wasn''t just that they shared a past, but that Jeremiah knew her history so well while I was still an outsider. It shouldn''t matter, especially since I was pretty sure she wanted nothing to do with me. The sooner I could leave this ce, the better. But first, we had to get to the bottom of the rogue problem.


    I forced myself to focus as ra pointed out various parts of the pack''s territory, clearly proud of what her family had built. Her eyes shone with a mix of pride and concern-she wanted us to understand the stakes.


    Dev interrupted my thoughts. "Let''s head to the training grounds. The adults should be about halfway through their session," he said, nudging ra gently.


    “Uh, okay,” she replied, steering us toward an open paddock where mostly men were sparring and training. I stayed quiet, wanting to observe their dynamics. The idea of segregated training didn''t sit well with me, but I kept that to myself.


    ra exined, "We run open training sessions throughout the day so pack members with full-time jobs—whose schedules don''t always align with warrior duties —can still get their workouts in. We want everyone in peak condition, just in case." Her gaze swept over our group, worry flickering behind her eyes. The unspoken threat of ''just in case'' hung heavy in the air.


    Suddenly, Dev''s high-pitched excitement broke through. "Hey! I''ve got a great idea!" His grin was infectious, but I already knew I wouldn''t like what wasing next.


    "You should spar with Ben," he said, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Jeremiah just got mated, and I''m pretty sure Rayna''s wolf isn''t thrilled about him rolling around with another female..." At that moment, Rayna''s wolf let out a low, possessive growl, perfectly timed.


    "See?!" Dev crowed triumphantly. "And you don''t even have a Beta. It''s been a while since you faced off against someone with strength close to your own." I could tell he was baiting both of us at once-the sly bastard.


    I shot Dev a warning look. “She''s so pissed! Good luck, man!” I muttered, already anticipating the chaos.


    I couldn''t wait for Tommy to find his mate so I could return the favor. It was clear that


    all our friends suspected, if they didn''t already know, that Jeremiah and I were mates. They were just trying to push us into acknowledging it since we hadn''t jumped each other the instant the bond took hold.