Chapter 282: Chapter 282

Chapter 282

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ROWAN

Piper was observant, had always been, with bright eyes which caught every little detail, every inconsistency.

And she wasn’t asking but relentless too, nothing seemed to stop her. Most of the time, she appeared to poke her nose in somebody’s affairs. And today wasn’t an exception either.

I had felt problems between her and Lila today during training, nothing overt, but there was a flicker of unease in Piper’s sharp comments and Lila’s little dodges that betrayed the ease of their

masks.

“Are you going to just keep staring?” Piper snapped, an edge of irritation lacing her tone as she caught me watching.

Maybe I’m just wondering how you always find the energy to keep tabs on everyone, I shot back, trying to lighten the mood.

“Someone has to,” she said, turning away, refocusing on Lila, who was deliberately avoiding our conversation.

Neither of them fell because of my doing. Now, what was most important for me was justifying myself.

If only I could do a good hunt, maybe then I might be able to shut those still lingering whispers in my mind. It wasn’t easy to

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convince wolves to join me. The first few I approached turned me down flat.

“Why would we trust you to lead anything?” one said, crossing

his arms.

“Look, I know I’ve messed up,” I said, trying to maintain an event tone while the frustration stewed within me.

“It’s not about me. It is about the pack. We need this hunt.”

Another wolf snorted. “And if something goes wrong, who takes the blame? Not you, I bet.”

“I’ll take full responsibility,” I replied firmly. “But I’m asking you to give me a chance. Let me show you I can contribute.

There were some murmurs, but finally a few of them relented. “One chance, Rowan,” said one. “Don’t screw it up.”

The hunt itself went better than I’d expected. We returned with enough game to fill the packhouse, and for the first time, I saw approval in their eyes.

“Not bad,” one of them said grudgingly as we unloaded the haul.

“Thanks,” I said, keeping my relief hidden.

Later, while putting some supplies away in the archives, my hand came into contact with something strange: a piece of paper was sticking out from beneath a pile of old ledgers.

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Curious, I tugged it out and unfolded it.

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It was a map, old and faded, with weird symbols put across it. None of them made any sense to me, but something about it felt important.

I took it into Aurora’s study, where she was currently tending to paperwork. “Found this while rummaging supplies.” I said, handing her the map.

She takes one look and all her ease turns. The readiness of her warmth was replaced with something I knew far from concern, even fear?

“Where did you find this?” her voice was steady, but with

tension.

“In the archives,” I said. “What do the symbols mean?

She folded the map carefully and laid it aside. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

My dismissal worked only to turn my curiosity ablaze. “Aurora, it pertains to the pack, which means I should know.”

She hesitated a moment, but her eyes latched onto mine. “Sometimes, Rowan, some things should be left well enough alone. Focus on the present.”

Her words hit at my pride, but I nodded. “If that’s what you say.”

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But it was the unease that lingered long after I’d gone. What wasn’t she saying?

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That evening, I waited for Lila to be by herself. She was caught mere steps away from the packhouse as I cut her off: “We have to talk.”

She froze; then her eyes met mine, carefully guarded. “About what?”

“Your disappearing during the night,” I said deadpan, “What‘ you doin

Lila’s eyes moved sideways in what seemed like an expression of urging to get herself free. “I don’t know what you are talking

about.”

“Well” I said. My voice came harsher than intended, and now,” and “I’ve noticed, and Piper. What’re you hiding?

Her lips set, and for a moment, I didn’t think she’d answer. Finally, she said, “I’m not hiding anything,” but the fear in her voice gave her away.

“Lila, I want to trust you,” I said, stepping closer. “But I won’t be able to if you keep shutting me out.”

Her walls began to crack. “Rowan, it’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it,” I pressed. “Tell me the truth.”

She sighed with a shaken exhalation, the movement of her

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shoulders showed she was tired. “It’s Calla,” she breathed, low. “She blackmails me.”

My gut twisted inside. “Why? What does she want?”

Lila faltered as tears began welling in her eyes. “To destroy the pack,” she said finally. “And she’s using me to do it.”

The weight and judgment in her words hung heavy in the air between us, and I knew not whether anger or pity were to be

shown.

Her words went down my spine. “You’re telling me Calla’s out there pulling strings, and you’ve been helping her?” My voice came low, but the accusation burned with every word.

Lila flinched. “It’s not like that, Rowan. She has something on me, something from my past.”

“What could be so bad that you’d betray the pack?” I exploded.

“It’s not betrayal!” she spat, her voice cracking. “I didn’t have at choice! She threatened to tell everyone what I did before I joined the pack. If you knew. if they all knew, I’d lose everything.”

I stepped back, my head reeling. “And what of that now? You surely don’t believe this secret of yours is worth the safety of every human and wolf who walks within this compound?”

“I tried to repair it,” she said, desperation creeping into her tone. “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. But Calla. She doesn’t care about that. She only wants chaos.”

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I shook my head. “You should have come to me. To Aurora. Anyone. We could have helped you.

Lila gave a harsh, mirthless laugh. “Help me? How? I’ve seen what happens to people who screw up here. Do you think Aurora or Dane would ever forgive me?”

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“You don’t know that,” I said, softening. “But if you keep this up, there won’t be anything left to forgive.”

She looked down, shaking. “I don’t know what to do, Rowan.”

“You start by being honest,” I said, firm. “No more hiding. No more excuses. You have to tell Aurora everything.”

Her eyes went round with panic. “I can’t. she’ll…”

“She’ll listen,” I said, cutting her off. “She’s fair. But if you don’t come clean, this is only going to get worse.”

She said nothing for a long moment, her eyes darting this way and that, the struggle playing across her face as it hunted for some kind of an escape.

Then finally, she nodded; her voice wasn’t much above a whisper. “Okay. but not yet. Please, Rowan. Give me a bit more time to try and make sense of all this.”

I hesitated. “Time’s running out, Lila. And if you don’t tell her soon, then I will.”

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Her tone was whisper soft, arresting as I turned to leave. “Rowan. thank you.”