Her words stung, and I fought the urge to snap back. It was clear she harbored some disdain for humans. But Paige wasn’t her Luna, and we weren’t her pack. We were guests here, and the last thing we needed was to cause friction-especially now, when Paige was so vulnerable.
“Get rid of her,” Ryder growled quietly through the mind-link.
“Yeah, we humans don’t have your magical healing,” Poppy said sweetly, matching Leah’s tone. “I guess it builds character-or maybe patience. Something you wolves could use more of.”
Leah hummed, unsure whether to take offense or be impressed, but chose to say nothing further.
I caught Ryder’s smirk from the corner of my eye-a brief flash of pride at Poppy’s sharp wit before he masked it with a serious expression. He was barely holding himself together, but so far, we’d managed to play our roles perfectly.
Leah led us down a narrow path winding between houses. The air here was different-crisper, cleaner, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth rather than smoke. The Midnight Pack’s territory felt colder, quieter, as if even the wind dared not disturb the stillness.
She unlocked the door to a small brick house and gestured for us to enter. Inside, the room was dimly lit by a single lamp near the door. It was simple but tidy-two couches, a table, and the faint scent of polish lingering in the air, evidence of recent cleaning.
“Put her on the couch,” Leah instructed. “I’ll get some bandages in case she’s bleeding under those blankets.”
“No need,” Jake said quickly, stepping forward. “I’ve already checked her thoroughly. No open wounds. She’s stable. I’d prefer to monitor her myself, if that’s alright.”
Leah raised an eyebrow, glancing between Ryder, Jake, and Paige. For a moment, I thought she might press the issue, but then she sighed. “Suit yourself. I’ll bring some tea. Everyone looks half-dead.”
She disappeared into the kitchen.
Ryder gently lowered Paige onto the couch, his careful touch making my chest ache with a mixture of relief and sorrow. Jake crouched beside her, checking her pulse once more before pulling the blanket up to her chin. Poppy settled on the opposite couch, wrapping an arm protectively around Jaxon, who now sat quietly, wide-eyed but calm as he took in the new surroundings.
I moved to the window and scanned the treeline. “We can’t stay here long,” I murmured through the mind-link. “The hunters will regroup, and the Midnight Pack will want answers before dawn.”
“Agreed,” Ryder replied. “We’ll give them only what they need to know. The less they learn, the better.”
Jake glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll stay with her tonight. She’s stable, but her vitals are unusual-as if her system is still realigning.”
“Meaning?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Her body is adjusting to whatever power she used,” Jake explained. “She’s fine for now, but she’ll need rest and quiet. Lots of it.”
I nodded, then looked at Ryder. He remained kneeling beside Paige, one hand tangled gently in her hair. The faint golden glow beneath her skin flickered softly, casting light along his wrist. He didn’t pull away.
Leah returned carrying a tray of cups, the clatter making me jump. “Tea,” she said briskly. “Chamomile. For shock.” Her eyes lingered on Ryder longer than I liked. “The cupboards in the kitchen are stocked. I’ll have some spare clothes and blankets brought over. And… I’ll let Alpha Josh know you’re here.”
“Thank you,” I said quickly before Ryder could reply. His patience was thin, and the last thing we needed was for him to lose it. “We’ll update him in the morning.”
She nodded curtly and left.
Poppy knelt by the couch, brushing Paige’s hair back with gentle fingers. “She looks peaceful,” she whispered.
“Yeah,” I agreed softly. “Let’s hope it stays that way.”
A fragile calm settled over us. Parker updated us on the rest of the pack, taking stock of who was missing now that Remy and the others had arrived. Jake set up a small monitor beside Paige, the faint beeping a steady rhythm that made the room feel less empty. Poppy finally coaxed Jaxon to sleep, curling up with him on one of the couches near the fire I’d just managed to light.
Ryder didn’t move. He stayed beside Paige, head bowed, eyes closed. I wasn’t sure exactly what had shaken him tonight, but being forced from our home had shaken us all. I couldn’t imagine the terror for those pack members old enough to remember the last time hunters had driven us out.
I watched him for a moment before turning back to the window. Outside, the Midnight Pack moved silently through the night, shifting guards and reinforcing the gates. They were efficient-too efficient.
A familiar unease crept in. “They’re suspicious,” I sent through the link. “They’re watching us.”
“They’ve been talking to our pack in the medic bay. Let them be suspicious-we’d feel the same. We mean them no harm, and we are safe. That’s what matters right now,” Parker replied, ever the peacemaker.
Before I could answer, Remy spoke up. “We’re heading to you now with Leo and Ronnie. The pack is settled and safe. We have nine missing in total-eight enforcers and a healer.”
A healer? The words hit me harder than expected. How had we lost a healer? We only had three: Jake, Amber, and Nina.
Jake was here. Amber was on leave, heavily pregnant, but I had seen her get off the truck myself-safe, shaken, but breathing.
That left only one name.
Cold dread spread through me like a slow poison.
I straightened, turning away from the window to face the others. “You said a healer’s missing?” I asked aloud and through the link, making sure Poppy heard.
Remy confirmed. “Yes. Nina never made it out. We think she was out on a run when the attack happened. Hopefully, she’s hiding somewhere, and we’ll find her tomorrow.”
But something in his tone faltered, the same sinking feeling twisting my gut as the pieces fell into place.
My heart hammered in my chest. “No,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. “She wasn’t caught up in the attack.”
Ryder looked up from Paige, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”
I met his gaze, voice low and steady. “I think I just figured out who our traitor is.”
For a heartbeat, no one speaks.
Then I look up at Callen. “Say that again.”
He meets my eyes, jaw tight. “I think I just worked out who our traitor is.”
The words hang there like a live wire.
Jake straightens from where he’s been crouched beside Paige, his expression flickering between confusion and disbelief.
“You can’t mean…” Jake starts, but trails off as he pieces it all together.
“Nina,” Callen nods. “She’s the only pack member unaccounted for that wasn’t on the front line, and if I’m right, she’s the one who’s been feeding the hunter’s information.”
A low, dangerous growl builds in my chest before I can stop it. “You’re sure?”
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