Chapter 313
PIPER
I let out a deep sigh and scanned the treetops as the cool breeze stroked my face. Responsibility weighed upon my shoulders, and the tension with Warrick wasn’t helping.
We were tasked with making sure the pack was safe, tracking the retreat of Orion’s forces, but my mind wandered.
“Piper,” Warrick said the second he was alongside me, where I was bent near a covered path.
His tone was light, almost too casual. “You’ve been quiet.”
“I’m focused,” I replied shortly, not looking at him.
“Focused?” He gave a soft laugh, the sound low and smooth, an attempt to lighten the mood. “It looks more like brooding.”
I shot him a glare. “This isn’t a joke, Warrick. Lives are at stake, and we’re standing on the edge of chaos.”
The humor fell from his face. “I know that, Piper. I’m trying to make things easier.”
“Easier?” I interrupted, my frustration spilling over. “You think cracking jokes and acting like nothing happened will fix everything?”
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2/6
His jaw tightened. “I’m trying, Piper. But maybe you don’t want this to be fixed.”
I turned away, not wanting to delve into the mess of emotions his words stirred.
We continued deeper into the forest until I came upon something unusual: a cluster of boulders partially covering a hollowed–out tree. “Over here,” I called out.
We searched the hiding place and opened it to reveal a cache of weapons, maps, and documents. My heart quickened as I fingered through them.
“These are plans,” I whispered, spreading a map across the ground. “They’re targeting our divisions.”
“What do you mean?” Warrick leaned over my shoulder, his face darkening.
“They know about our weaknesses,” I said. “The conflicts, the mistrust they’re planning to exploit.”
Behind us, a voice cut off Warrick before he could answer. “Impressive find.”
I turned to see Rowan approaching, arms crossed. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I was following a lead,” he said, dropping to his knees beside me. “But this… this changes things.”
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3/6
Rowan peered at the documents, his perception helping me assemble the plan. For the first time in a while, I felt a sliver of confidence.
“You’ve still got it, Piper,” he said with a small smile.
Before I could utter a word, Warrick’s voice cut through the moment like a knife. “Of course, Rowan’s here to save the day.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rowan asked, an eyebrow arched.
Warrick’s frustration boiled over. “It means you’ve got your hands in everything. First, it’s Lila, now Piper. What’s next? Aurora?”
Rowan’s face clouded. “Watch your mouth, Warrick. Just because you are insecure doesn’t mean you can make baseless accusations.”
“Insecure?” Warrick took a step closer, his fists clenched. “You think you’re some kind of saint? You’re just a manipulative womanizer.”
“And you are a jealous fool,” Rowan shot back. “Maybe if you treated Piper with respect, she wouldn’t be second–guessing your every move.”
“Enough!” I shouted, pushing myself between them. “This isn’t about you two. We have more important things to deal with.”
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4/6 I stormed away from the argument, my boots crunching against the forest floor. My pulse raced while my thoughts swirled in frustration. “Why now? Why does it always have to come to this?” I muttered under my breath.
I stopped near a large tree and spread out another piece of paper from the cache we’d found.
My eyes scanned over the symbols and coded text, the faint moonlight barely showing the fine markings.
Rowan was the first to catch up with me, his voice softer now. “Piper, wait.”
I didn’t look up. “Rowan, I don’t have time for this.”
“You don’t have time to let Warrick’s insecurities ruin your focus,” he replied. “We’re on the same side here.”
I sighed but said nothing, my attention fixed on the document. That’s when my eyes caught a phrase buried in the code:
‘Inside trust is the easiest weakness to manipulate.‘
“What is it?” Rowan asked, leaning closer.
I steeled myself and pointed to the words. “This… It’s talking about someone inside the pack. Someone close.”
Rowan’s jaw clenched. “A spy.”
Before I had time to reply, Warrick called out from behind us.
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“What now? Another secret you two are sharing?”
I turned abruptly, my patience thin. “Warrick, this isn’t the time.”
“It never is, is it?” He crossed his arms, glaring at Rowan. “Funny how he’s always the one you confide in.”
5/6
Rowan stepped forward, his voice icy. “You’re exhausting, Warrick. If you stopped sulking for one second, you’d see there’s more at stake here.”
“Enough!” I snapped, holding up the paper. “We have a bigger problem than your egos!”
Warrick frowned, stepping closer. “What do you mean?”
I pointed a finger at the text. “This is a coded message about someone inside the pack. Someone who’s feeding information to Orion’s forces.”
I folded the paper neatly and tucked it into my pocket. My heart pounded as I looked between them.
Warrick’s voice came softer. “What do we do now?”
I met his gaze, my face set. “I don’t trust either of you to handle this. I’m taking it to Aurora. She needs to know.”
“Piper,” Rowan was going to protest. A look from me silenced him.
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“No arguments. This is not about us.”
6/6
I turned and began to pace in the opposite direction, toward the packhouse, clinging tight to the document.
The truth was out there, and it had to find the right hands before it was too late.
