Undercover

It's been a few days since that movie night—since Cam and I finally acknowledged all the things we'd been holding back for so long. It was a bit surreal, to be honest. We'd decided to give things another shot, but slowly.

Things were a bit awkward for me. To be truthful, I wasn't exactly used to this whole "being in a relationship" thing anymore. It had been years. His little flirtations, the casual touches, the way he looked at me—it felt so natural, but I couldn't help but feel out of practice in the romance department.

We'd been careful to keep things low-key around Caleb. He didn't need to see the awkwardness or the uncertainty that was still lingering between us. If things didn't work out, I knew it would hit him hard, and that wasn't a risk I was ready to take.

Today, though, we were taking a break. Cam had his hands full with work, investigating the rouges and trying to figure out the mastermind. I needed some space to clear my head, to not think about all the emotions swirling around me. A little time with Danny and Sophie would be a welcome distraction, and I knew Caleb would be excited to see them.

"Come on, Caleb! We're gonna be late for pizza with Uncle Danny!" I called from the hallway, already halfway out the door. We were running behind, but honestly, that was just par for the course with us. Danny had always been the one keeping us on time when we lived together.

My security details was already waiting outside for us to go. I told them five minutes fifteen minutes ago.

"Coming, Momma!" Caleb's voice drifted from down the hall as he scrambled to grab his shoes.

As we passed through the pack house, Alice's voice called from the kitchen. "Are you guys heading out?"

"Grandma, we're going to see Uncle Danny for pizza!" Caleb bounced over to her, looking up at me for confirmation.

Alice's face fell a little as she frowned. "Oh, I was making lunch for everyone."

"Sorry, Alice," I said, feeling a little guilty. "How about you save us a plate, and we'll have it for dinner?"

Her smile returned, and she waved us off. "Alright, enjoy yourselves."

We waved goodbye and headed out, ready for a change of pace.

We arrived at the café about fifteen minutes later than planned.

"Well, well, look who decided to show up!" Danny teased with a wide grin, motioning for us to sit down. The kids were already deep in conversation, catching up like no time had passed at all.

I rolled my eyes at his dramatic greeting but couldn't help smiling as I slid into the seat across from him. "You make it sound like we're always late, Danny."

He raised his eyes at the two body guards seated behind our booth and i could only shrug.

"Have you guys ordered yet?" I asked

"Yes, Auntie Avery! We got your favourite!" Sophie beamed up at me, clearly proud of her choice.

"Thank you, angel. "I smiled back at her.

I leaned back in my chair, soaking in the easy atmosphere of the café. The chatter between Caleb and Sophie was light-hearted, and Danny had that easy grin of his—the one that made everything feel like it was going to be okay, even if things felt a little messy.

"Momma, guess what?" Caleb's voice broke through my thoughts as he leaned forward, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"What, sweetie?" I asked, half-smiling as I took a sip of my drink.

"We're going to the park tomorrow! Uncle Danny said we could play soccer, and he'll help me practice," Caleb said, practically bouncing in his seat.

Danny chuckled, giving him a mock-serious look. "I don't know about helping you, buddy. I think you might be showing me a few things on the field."

"Definitely," I agreed, smirking at Danny. "Caleb's been practicing his kicks at home. You're in for a real challenge tomorrow."

Danny raised an eyebrow but smiled. "I'm up for it. Besides, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

We all laughed, and for a moment, it felt like things were almost normal again. The weight of the past few days—of the unspoken emotions between Cam and me—seemed to ease just a little.

Sophie, who had been quietly watching us, suddenly giggled. "Auntie, when you and Uncle Cam get married, can we all go to the park together?" she asked with a grin, her wide eyes full of innocent curiosity.

I froze for a second, my heart skipping in my chest. The question was so pure, so simple, it was impossible to ignore, but I wasn't sure how to answer.

"Well, Sophie..." I started, my voice unsure, but then I saw the bright smile on her face, the way her eyes sparkled with excitement. "I think we'd all love to go to the park together if that happens. But you know, marriage is a big thing, and we'll just have to see what happens."

She nodded thoughtfully, her attention already shifting to something else as she picked up a menu and began pretending it was a book.

I couldn't help but chuckle softly at her, marvelling at how simple life seemed through her eyes. If only things were that easy.

Caleb leaned over the table, looking at me earnestly. "It's okay, Momma. I like when you and Dad are happy. It makes me happy."

I felt my heart soften at his words, and the knot in my chest that had been there for days loosened just a little. "Thanks, buddy," I said, squeezing his hand. "That means a lot to me."

We all fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, the clinking of silverware and low hum of conversation from the other tables filling the space around us.

After a while, the kids and Luke headed to the arcade machine at the back of the restaurant.

"So..." Danny began, his voice quieter now, more serious. "How are things? You know, with... you-know-who?"

I let out a slow breath. "It's... slow. But it's something, I guess.

Danny's gaze softened. "That's good. You know, it's not easy jumping back into something after everything that's happened."

"I know," I whispered, my voice trailing off. "But I'm trying. For me, for Caleb... for us."

Danny nodded, his eyes warm with understanding. "Just don't lose yourself in it, Avery. Don't forget what you need along the way."

I smiled at him, grateful for the reminder. Sometimes, it felt like everyone else knew what I needed before I did.

"I'll keep that in mind," I said softly, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of my cup.

There was a beat of silence before Danny added, his tone lighter, "I have a date tonight."

"Shut up!" I practically screamed, my eyes wide. "With who?"

"Alex," he smiled, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"No way." I stared at him in disbelief. It made sense, of course. Danny and Alex had always had chemistry before finding their mates. But now... well, life had a way of throwing curveballs. Both of them had lost their mates, and the universe had somehow left them to figure out what came next.

"Yeah, it's been a while since I've put myself out there," Danny continued, shrugging like it was no big deal, but I could see the hint of nervous excitement in his eyes. "We've been texting and catching up, so we thought we'd grab dinner."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "You're telling me this now?" I grinned. "Alex, huh? Didn't see that one coming."

"Well, neither did I," he admitted, a chuckle escaping his lips. "But sometimes life has a funny way of surprising you."

I couldn't help but smile, a soft warmth filling my chest as I watched him. I was happy for him, even if things felt uncertain and complicated.

"Well, I'm happy for you, Danny. You deserve to be happy again. And Alex—she's a great girl."

Danny nodded, his smile softening. "I hope so. But, you know, we'll take it slow. See where it goes."

I didn't have to say anything else. We both knew that life after losing your mate was never easy. But if anyone deserved a second chance at love, it was Danny.

"And I'll make sure to show up at the restaurant to 'accidentally' drop by if it gets too awkward," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

He laughed, shaking his head. "You're not invited. I'll handle it myself, thank you very much."

I raised my hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But if you need backup, you know where to find me."

"Good to know," Danny replied with a wink, clearly feeling more at ease now.

I smiled and leaned back in my chair, a warm, comforting feeling wrapping around me as I watched him. Life had its ups and downs, but I was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could turn out okay for all of us.

Camden POV

Avery had been gone for a few hours, giving me much-needed time to clear my head. When she's around, she consumes my every thought.  The need to constantly be around her was strong.

I stood in the cellar, Joel handling the rogues for his "interrogation" session. The sound of their muffled cries echoed through the stone walls, but nothing was coming from them that we didn't already know. They had no idea who gave them the shirt, only that they were hired to attack anyone with that particular scent.

Avery had been going on her runs since moving into the pack, so whoever orchestrated this knew her routine. That wasn't a coincidence.

One of the rogues whimpered again, his voice faint, "We don't know! We didn't know it was the Alpha's girl!"

I was beyond fed up with their pitiful excuses. They were too useless to be of any help, and I wasn't about to waste my time on them any longer.

I turned on my heel and made my way upstairs. Joel could handle it. I needed a break from all of this.

When I stepped out into the woods, the cool air hit my face, but it wasn't enough to clear the knot of frustration tightening in my chest. I kept my pace steady, heading toward the pack house.

Just as I rounded the corner, my phone buzzed in my pocket, I pulled it out, seeing Annabeth's name flash across the screen. My heart quickened. This was the call I'd been waiting for.

"Annabeth," I answered, keeping my voice low.

"I have an update," she said, her tone crisp and focused.

"Wait," I cut in. "Let me get to my office. It's soundproof. I'll be there in two minutes."

I didn't wait for her response before I took off running.

As I burst through the door to the pack house, I spotted my parents lounging in the living room, cozy in their little world. My stepmom gave me a bemused look.

"Cam, where's the fire?" she teased, glancing up from her book.

"Not now, Mom," I said, already on my way upstairs. "I'm late for a meeting."

"Alright, but I left a box of documents in your office for you to sign," she called after me.

I barely registered her words, already heading to my office. I slammed the door behind me, effectively soundproofing the room, and took a seat in my chair, setting my phone on speaker.

Okay, I'm ready," I said, my voice tight with anticipation.

Annabeth's voice came through clearly, like she was reading from a well-organized report.

"I've been looking into the shady doctor who treated Avery," she started. "He was just a fill-in, someone who came into the clinic a few times. I haven't been able to locate him anywhere, but I paid a visit to the nurse who worked that day. She doesn't know much, except that he's from another pack."

I leaned forward, listening intently. "Go on."

Annabeth's voice tightened as she continued. "I did some digging into clinicians in the area and found another doctor with similar initials F.A. If this is our guy, it looks like he faked his credentials to get in. It's about a days drive but i'm on my way to the pack now to speak with him. I'll try to gather information without tipping him off."

I was already on edge, but her next words hit me like a punch.

"Cam, I'm going to be blunt. This doctor, he's not just some random guy passing through. He's been known to treat rogues off the books—people on the fringes, those who don't belong to any pack or are on the run. He's done this several times before, and I'm starting to think he's got his own little network. Rogue pack members come in for treatment under false names, and he's been helping them stay under the radar. No ones ever caught him before but that's what the rumours are saying.

I could feel the weight of her words settle in. I swallowed hard, a sinking feeling building in my chest.

"If this guy is the one who treated Avery, it explains why those rogues knew exactly where to find her," she continued. "Whoever's behind this is tracking her movements, or at least her routine and they've been using him to do their dirty work."

I ran a hand over my face. "Whoever's pulling the strings knows exactly how to stay off the radar. This was five years in the making and no one suspected a thing."

"Stay on him, Annabeth. We need answers, and we need them fast. I'm sure this guy is involved, don't let him slip away."

"I know," she replied, her voice unwavering. "I'll keep you updated."

"Annabeth" I pressed "If anything looks suspicious, You contact me immediately."

"You got it"

I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. The frustration of it all was overwhelming.

I stood up, moving toward the window, my thoughts racing.

I had to protect Avery. I had to protect Caleb. And the pack. I wasn't going to let whatever this was tear everything apart.

I made a mental note to reach out to my contacts, to get more eyes on this doctor. Every lead, every piece of information was crucial now.

As I turned back toward my desk, the door to my office opened slightly, and my stepmom's voice came through, soft and concerned.

"Cam? Is everything okay?"

I hesitated, then forced a smile, masking the storm inside. "Yeah, just... a lot to process."

She nodded, but I could see the worry in her eyes. I didn't have time to explain, not right now.

"I'll handle it," I said, more to myself than her, before walking past her and out the door, my mind focused on the next move.

Hopefully in the next day or so i'll have some concrete information.