Chapter Forty Five

Chapter 45

Justina

Lucien wasn't just waiting in the shadows.

He was here. Somewhere, lurking within the pack, watching our every move.

The realization hit me like ice flowing down my spine. If he had spies inside our borders, we weren't just preparing for war—we were already in one. And we were blind to it.

I couldn't afford to wait for my father and the elders to act. His belief that fortifying defenses would be enough had already cost us time. We needed to uncover the enemy within before they struck from the inside. Nathan stayed close as I moved through the packhouse, my mind racing. I needed warriors I could trust. Ones I knew wouldn't betray us.

I turned to him. "I need to gather a group. Just the ones we're certain of."

He nodded without hesitation. "I'll help."

Together, we selected the most loyal warriors—ones who had bled for this pack, who had proven their loyalty time and time again.