Shadows of Deception

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The plan was flawless—at least, that’s what Rae thought as she moved cautiously through the shadows near the old scout station. Her fingers hovered over the USB device, ready to plug it into the access panel. But then, a sudden chill prickled her skin.

From the darkness, a sharp, familiar scent cut through the night air—one Rae hadn’t expected to face here.

“Maren.”

The name dropped like a stone in the silence.

Before Rae could react, Aspen stiffened, her hackles raised, nostrils flaring. With a low, warning growl, Aspen lunged forward at Rae’s command, teeth bared.

Maren’s eyes widened in surprise as Aspen knocked her hard to the ground, the dog’s powerful body pinning her down with relentless force.

“You little—” Maren snarled, spitting out curses laced with venom. “You think you can hide, diabetic human? You’re nothing without your damn gadgets and that pathetic little sugar monitor. Weak. Fragile. Just waiting to fall apart.”

Rae clenched her jaw, breathing steadily despite the sting of the insult. Aspen’s growl deepened, muscles tensed and ready to strike again.

“I’m stronger than you know,” Rae said coldly, her voice steady. “And if you make one wrong move, Aspen won’t hesitate.”

Maren’s eyes flicked to the dog, calculating. “You’re playing with fire, girl.”

But Rae’s resolve was steel. “I’m playing to win.”

Maren glared up at Rae, teeth clenched, her breathing ragged from Aspen’s attack. “You don’t know what you’re tangled up in. The pack, the council… they’re bigger than you. You’re just a human playing at their game. And you’re weak—just waiting for your next sugar crash.”

She spat the words like venom, then suddenly twisted, trying to throw off Aspen’s grip and scramble away. But Aspen’s jaws snapped shut near her arm, forcing her back down.

“Let me go!” Maren hissed, struggling against the dog’s hold. “You don’t have what it takes.”

Rae crouched beside them, voice icy. “I’m stronger than you think. And I’m not alone.”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, activating a recording app.

“Now, you’re going to tell me everything—why you targeted us, what you know about Dr. Pierce, and how deep this goes. Or Aspen here gets a little more insistent.”

Maren’s eyes flickered, calculating, and the fight drained out of her posture.

“Fine,” she said grudgingly. “But you don’t know the half of it.”

Rae leaned in closer, voice soft but firm. “Start talking.”

Minutes passed in tense silence.

Rae’s voice hadn’t echoed back, and Aspen sat alert, ears perked but unmoving.

Trey, Will, and Elijah exchanged worried glances.

“We can’t just wait here,” Elijah muttered, signaling them to move forward cautiously.

Will nodded, stepping toward the cabin’s entrance. “Let’s go check on them.”

They slipped inside, weapons ready, moving quietly through the dim space.

Around the corner, they found Rae crouched near Maren, phone in hand, recording.

Maren looked beaten but defiant, her gaze flickering between the group.

Rae glanced up. “They thought I’d be easy to scare off,” she said flatly. “I’m not.”

Trey stepped forward. “What did you find out?”

Rae held up the phone. “Enough to know Maren’s been funneling intel to people who want the pack destabilized — including details about Dr. Pierce’s research and the wolfvine project.”

Elijah frowned. “Any names?”

Maren spat, “You don’t know the full extent. But you’ll find out soon enough. And you won’t like who’s behind it.”

Will’s jaw tightened. “We’ll find out first.”

Rae’s eyes locked on Maren’s. “And you’re going to help us.”

Maren’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “You think this ends with me? You’re just scratching the surface.”

The room thickened with tension — but Rae’s resolve was clear.

“We finish this,” she said quietly, “and we make sure no one else gets hurt.”

Rae’s eyes narrowed. She whispered again in Cajun, her voice low but firm, “Aspen, force ’im—make her spill everything.”

Aspen growled softly, inching closer to Maren, who visibly tensed under the dog’s silent threat.

Maren swallowed hard, the defiance flickering in her eyes. “Alright, alright… I’ll talk. But you better be ready for what you’re about to hear.”

Rae’s gaze sharpened. “We’re ready. Start talking.”

Maren’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “The wolfvine project… it’s bigger than you think. Not just some experiment—it’s designed to control, to weaponize. And Pierce? He wasn’t working alone.”

Will, Trey, and Elijah leaned in, every muscle coiled, hanging on each word.

Maren continued, “There’s a faction within the council… corrupt, desperate for power. They’re the ones leaking intel, orchestrating the attacks, trying to fracture the pack from the inside.”

Rae’s jaw clenched. “Names. We want names.”

Maren hesitated but nodded reluctantly. “You’ll find them soon enough… but beware—they play dirty.”

Aspen let out a low warning growl, the message clear: the deeper this goes, the darker it gets.

The tension in the room thickened as Maren’s words hung heavy between them. Rae’s eyes never left the woman’s, unwavering and sharp.

“Start with the faction names,” Rae commanded, voice steady.

Maren swallowed hard, glancing briefly at Aspen before continuing. “There’s Garris, the pack’s former advisor — used to be untouchable. Then Veda, one of the senior council members. They’ve been quietly pulling strings, undermining the pack’s stability to suit their own ends.”

Will stepped closer, fists clenched. “Why target us? What’s the endgame?”

Maren sneered. “Power. Control over the pack’s future. The wolfvine is just a tool — a weapon they want to use to ensure total dominance. Pierce was experimenting to find ways to enhance it, but it’s the council faction that wants to unleash it.”

Elijah’s voice was cold. “We’ll stop them. No matter what it takes.”

Trey shook his head, eyes dark. “And now we know why they’ve been watching us for years.”

Rae glanced at Aspen, who sat alert but calm, then back at Maren. “You’ll cooperate fully. We’re cleaning house.”

Maren gave a humorless laugh. “You’re going to need more than that to survive what’s coming.”

Rae’s voice dropped to a razor edge. “We’ll see who survives.”

The room held its breath, the war far from over — but now, the players were clearer, and the fight more urgent than ever.