Sebastian chuckled, a sharp sound breaking the tense air. “For a while, I honestly thought they were managing alright. But what I really wanted was to see Jeff''s expression the moment you sent him back to the Goddess. After everything he''s done, and while we''re all suffering here, he got off way too easy.”


    I cut in, my voice steady but carrying a hint of satisfaction. Both men turned to me, puzzled. “Actually, you''re lucky in that regard. Jeff''s still locked up in the cells. The healers took his crime personally-killing my mother right under their watchful eyes. They''ve been assisting me, using their own unique skills to extract information from him."


    Sebastian leaned forward, eyes sharp with interest. "Wait, you still have him alive? Has he told you anything useful?”


    I shook my head slowly. “Nothing that helps us much. But strangely, this process seems to give the healers a sense of peace, a new purpose in all this chaos." I shrugged, trying to downy theplexity. "We also caught another rogue working alongside him. He was spotted darting through Junior''s pack, abandoning his team and everything else just to escape."


    Ben finally spoke, breaking the silence that had settled over us since we''d sat down. "You''ve been focusing on tracking wolves and following scents. What about the magic involved? Have you considered that angle?"


    “We suspected magic, of course,” I replied. “It''s the only logical exnation for how they''re pulling this off. But so far, we haven''t uncovered anything beyond that."


    "Have you tried working with casters to trace the magic''s source or identify the spells being used?" Ben asked, his tone serious.


    “No,” I admitted. "None of us have contacts willing to coborate.”


    Ben''s lips curved into a slight smile. “Well, you''re in luck. I know a few. The challenge is getting them to meet with us-and then to open up. Alpha James has some theories and reached out to his ownwork. There are witches willing to talk, but theye with conditions."


    Sebastian leaned in eagerly. "What kind of conditions?"


    Ben''s gaze was steady. "Honestly, it''s the same thing the ones drugging us want. They''re after our protection, our assistance. They''d prefer to work together peacefully."


    Richard''s frustration bubbled over. "What exactly does that mean, boy?" His voice was sharp, impatience clear. I noticed Ben''s deliberate vagueness, probably because he hadn''t shared all the details with me yet. But I wouldn''t let them see that. Ben''s a strategist-always thinking several moves ahead. He''s still searching for a solution, and my wolf and I trust his judgmentpletely.


    "Bring them here," Ben said calmly.


    I froze for a moment, my expression unreadable. There had to be more to it.


    Richard jumped up, pacing angrily across the porch, muttering under his breath. Sebastian rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Why would you bring casters here, to our pack, when they''re part of the problem? Why help the very people you suspect of drugging our children, holding them hostage, or worse?" Richard''s words were sharp, his anger palpable.


    Ben remainedposed, clearly anticipating this reaction. "It''s simple. Sit down, and I''ll exin." His tone was firm but patient. If Richard had shouted at me like that, I know my temper would have red instantly. "You, Sebastian, Rick, and Jeff have been handling this your way for years-probably decades—and it''s gotten you nowhere. Rick wasn''t interested in expanding or improving the pack; he wanted to maintain the status quo. His n was to work with familiar faces, avoid anything new, live out his retirement, and then pass the pack along. He was a good Alpha, but it wasn''t his passion—more of an obligation, if I had to guess based on how he acted while I knew him."


    Ben''s gaze shifted between them, unflinching. "If any of you truly wanted to fix this situation, and suspected witchcraft was involved, one or more of you should have reached out to casters you know—or at least to people who know casters. Building rtionships with other packs, human cities, covens, vampire broods, and fae tribes nearby would have made sense. Gathering all the information possible about the casters working against you should have been a priority. But none of you did that. Instead, you let Jeff roam free, trying to destroy what you im to care about.”


    He folded his hands calmly in hisp, but I could feel the quiet strength radiating from him as he called out my father''s closest friends for theircency. I was still absorbing the weight of his words when I realized the attention had shifted back to me.


    "My suggestion, Alpha," Ben continued, "is that we make contact with the faction of the coven seeking protection from Ember and Ash. If we offer them a ce within the pack..."