Deal of Elliot

The forest air was thick with the smell of blood, sweat, and pine. Lyra's breath came in sharp bursts as she wiped the blood from her claws, glancing at the two wolves who had fallen in the wake of the battle. Atlas stood at her side, his eyes scanning the trees for any signs of further danger, while Selene was already regrouping, looking less rattled than the others.

"Did we get all of them?" Lyra asked, her voice a low growl.

Selene, her posture still poised despite the chaos, gave a sharp nod. "For now, yes. But it's only a matter of time before more show up."

Lyra's jaw clenched. This wasn't a typical rogue pack. There was something more sinister at play. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was all part of a bigger plan, one that they were walking right into.

"Then we move." she commanded, turning toward the path that led deeper into the forest. She wasn't about to sit around waiting for another ambush. They needed answers, and fast.

Atlas fell into step beside her, but his sharp gaze lingered over his shoulder. "There's something off about all this," he muttered, his eyes narrowing at the shadows of the trees.

"I know.." Lyra replied, her voice steady despite the unease gnawing at her gut. "But we'll figure it out."

Just as she turned her attention back to the path ahead, a voice rang out from the trees, deep and calm, a voice that froze Lyra in place.

"Well, well. You're a hard group to follow, I'll give you that."

Lyra's eyes narrowed. Atlas immediately dropped into a defensive stance, growling low in his throat, and Selene tensed, her hand resting on the hilt of a dagger at her side. The air around them seemed to hum with the weight of the unknown presence. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged, a tall, lean man with striking silver hair and an air of unshakable confidence.

Lyra's eyes narrowed as she studied him. His posture was relaxed, almost too relaxed for someone who had just been watching them in the middle of a fight. His wolf scent wasn't present, but something about him still screamed danger. It wasn't just his eyes, those sharp, calculating eyes. It was the way he moved, the way he knew exactly where to step so he wouldn't be heard.

"I don't know who you are, but you've made a mistake." Lyra said coldly, her hand resting instinctively on the hilt of her own blade. "If you've been following us, then you must know that we don't take kindly to strangers."

The man smirked, unfazed by her hostility. "Ah, the famous Beta's daughter. Lyra, isn't it?" His tone was almost mocking, but it held a layer of respect that made Lyra's hackles rise. "I'm impressed. I've been following your little group for hours, and I've seen enough to know that you're the one in charge. Good to know."

Lyra's lips curled into a tight smile. "What do you want?"

"I think you know exactly what I want," he said smoothly, his hands casually resting at his sides. "You've got a traitor on your hands, and you're after something that doesn't belong to you."

Lyra's eyes flickered to Selene, who remained still, her expression unreadable. "You know about the weapon." Lyra said, her voice low and steady.

The man's smile widened. "Of course I do. But I'm not here to stop you. In fact, I think you might need my help."

Lyra's eyes flashed with suspicion. "Help? From you?" She took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "Why should we trust you?"

The man raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by her challenge. "Because I know more than you think." he said simply. "And because I'm not the enemy you're looking for."

A dangerous silence fell between them. Lyra's instincts told her to attack, to strike first, but there was something about the way he carried himself, so calm, so assured, that made her hesitate.

"Who are you?" Atlas asked, his voice cold. "What's your angle?"

The man tilted his head slightly, considering the question. "My name is Elliot." he said, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. "And as for my angle… well, let's just say I've got a vested interest in keeping certain parties from getting their hands on the artifact. I don't trust the traitor any more than you do."

Lyra's grip on her blade tightened. "And why should we believe you?"

Elliot's smirk deepened, a glimmer of something almost playful in his eyes. "Because, whether you like it or not, we're on the same side for now. You want to find the traitor and stop the rogue pack from getting the weapon. I want the same thing. But unlike you, I have resources that can help."

Lyra studied him carefully, weighing his words. "What kind of resources?"

"I have information," Elliot said. "I know where they're keeping the artifact, and I know how to get to it. But I'm not offering this for free. You'll owe me a favor."

Lyra's mind raced. He was right, he could be useful. The rogue pack was becoming a bigger threat by the day, and they needed every advantage they could get. But that favor… that was the part she didn't trust.

"I don't make deals without knowing the terms." she said bluntly. "What kind of favor?"

Elliot's grin didn't waver. "You'll find out when the time comes."

Lyra narrowed her eyes. This wasn't a man who could be trusted, but right now, he might be the best lead they had. "Fine. We'll take your help. But you'd better keep your end of the bargain."

"I always do." Elliot said smoothly. "Now, if you're done being suspicious, I suggest we get moving. We've got a traitor to catch."

Without another word, Elliot turned and began walking toward the deeper woods, his steps purposeful and sure. Lyra shot a quick glance at Atlas and Selene. They didn't have to say anything. They all knew what needed to be done.

Lyra gave a small nod, signaling for them to follow. She didn't trust Elliot, but right now, they didn't have much of a choice.