"Does the trail lead all the way to the cliff face?" I ask, ncing back at ra. She shoots me a look that clearly says, *Are you serious?* I can''t help but grin—a genuine smile that''s been absent from my face for far too long. "Just checking," I reply casually. She lets out a soft, amused sigh and pushes onward.


    When we reach the grove, every scent trail but one fades away. She was right—it belongs to a female, someone about our age. If she''s a rogue, she''s a fresh one. Her scentcks the usual sickly sweetness of decayingpost that typically clings to rogue markers. And she doesn''t smell like she belongs to any pack either.


    "There,” I say, pointing to a narrow crevice in the rock face. ra could slip through it easily, but I''m going to have to squeeze myself in. The opening is tight, barely wide enough for a person.


    We move forward quietly, senses sharpened, alert for anyone watching the entrance. Maybe she thought the numerous scent trails she left behind would act as a deterrent, keeping the cave safe from intruders. Or perhaps there are more hidden listening devices. We still haven''t figured out the full extent of that mystery. Since our initial discovery, I''ve only found one more. Whoever nted them must have realized we uncovered their operation, left one more as a test, then either gave up or got better at hiding them.


    “Ready?” ra asks, ncing back at me.


    "After you," I say.


    "For once, you''re not going to argue with me? Usually, you make me wait while you scout, sniff, investigate, and stall. Now you just want me to lead us into the unknown?" She sounds half amused, half incredulous.


    "Yeah," I reply with a smile. This time, she returns it.


    ra slips through the narrow opening, stifling augh as I struggle to follow her. My broad frame gets snagged, and I can feel my shirt tear in a couple of ces. When we finally make it inside, I know I''ll be nursing scratches and bruises on my arms and legster. But before I can dwell on that, a sharp, acidic smell hits me like a punch to the face. It''s a preservative scent, reminiscent of the pickled vegetables Luna Beth makes from her garden.


    "What the hell is all this?” ra whispers, her voice barely audible.


    "Whatever ''this'' is, it''s been going on for a while," I say, scanning the rows of shelves packed with supplies. There are jars filled with powders and bottles containing colored liquids, all meticulouslybeled-not with words, but with strange symbols. "Someone''s covering their bases," I mutter under my breath.


    “But what is it all for?” she asks, stepping closer to a table arranged with surgeon- like precision.


    Just then, mym crackles to life. "Ben, we''ve got some information," Chance''s voicees through.


    "What''s going on, Chance?" I reply.


    "Three of Junior''s teens have been found dead over thest six months. No signs of


    an attack. And two more went missing justst week."


    "Thanks for the heads-up. We''re heading back now."


    "Don''t rush! Luna Sam told me to give you more time, but I figured you should know."


    "You made the right call, Chance. Appreciate it.”


    ra and I exchange a look, then speak together, "We have to go."


    "It''s good to see our people are on the same page—even willing to defy Sam," she chuckles. "Should we be worried about leaving our scents all over the ce in there?"


    "Toote for that now," I say. "Maybe it will keep whoever''s using the cave away for a little while."


    "Or maybe they''ll just pack up and move somewhere else."


    I grab a vial filled with one of the colored liquids from the desk, and ra picks a small container of powder. Without a word, we both know we''re going to have these tested.


    By the time we get back to Junior''s packhouse, the temperature has plummeted sharply as the cold front we''ve been anticipating finally arrives. We haven''t seen snow in nearly a month, but now it''sing down thick and fast, turning the world outside into a whiteout.


    "You two look like you had a st. Sort out a few things, huh?" Jax''s teasing tone breaks the silence, a smirk ying on his lips.


    "Fuck off,” ra snaps, her mood souring with the first kes of snow.


    "I''d love to, but apparently, you''re the only one allowed to be grumpy," heughs again.


    "Cut it out. We went to check the cave and found something," I step in, defending her.


    "Well, looks like you''ll be staying the night," Luna Sam announces, breaking the tension. “Ben, ra, I''ve got you in the guest room at the top of the stairs on the left. Let me show you. Ma, can you take their warriors to their rooms?"


    "Together?!" ra chokes, surprise evident in her voice. Luna Sam looks puzzled.


    Like I did earlier in the woods, I take ra''s hand, intertwining our fingers, and gently pull her behind me as we follow Luna Sam. She was the one who wanted to emphasize the mates thing to get some space from everyone else there''s no turning back now.


    I lean close and whisper to the still stunned ra, "It''s not like we haven''t yed this game before, Alpha."