Chapter 10: The Messenger of Ash Fang

The eastern gate of Winter Moon slowly opened.

A single rider entered the courtyard beneath a white flag.

Every warrior nearby rested a hand on the hilt of their weapon.

No one trusted an Ash Fang wolf inside their territory.

Jaxon stood at the front of the courtyard with Beta Ethan beside him.

Sable remained only a few steps behind.

The rider climbed down from his horse and lowered his head respectfully.

"I seek Sable Embers."

"I'm here," Sable answered.

The rider looked up, relief washing across his face.

"Thank the Moon Goddess you're alive."

"What happened?"

"The pack believes you died during the battle."

Sable frowned.

"Who told them that?"

"Alpha Rowan himself."

Jaxon's eyes narrowed.

"Rowan declared her dead without finding a body?"

The rider hesitated.

"Our Alpha said witnesses saw Winter Moon's Alpha kill her."

Silence swept across the courtyard.

Every pair of eyes slowly turned toward Jaxon.

Sable stared at the messenger.

"That's impossible."

"Because I'm standing here."

"Exactly."

"That's why I came," the rider replied.

"Some of us didn't believe the story."

"I volunteered to search the border one last time."

"Then I heard rumors that Winter Moon had captured a female warrior."

"I had to know if it was you."

Jaxon folded his arms.

"Did Alpha Rowan send you?"

"No, Alpha."

"If he discovers I'm here, I'll probably be executed for treason."

"Then why risk it?"

The rider looked toward Sable.

"Because she once saved my life."

"I owed her the truth."

Sable blinked in surprise.

"Finn..."

"You remembered my name."

A faint smile crossed the young warrior's face.

"You pulled me out of a burning watchtower two years ago."

"I could never forget that."

Jaxon quietly observed the exchange.

Everything about the young wolf felt genuine.

No lies.

No hidden aggression.

Only concern.

"Tell us everything," Jaxon said.

Finn nodded.

"Three weeks before the battle, several Ash Fang patrols disappeared near the eastern river."

"Every scene contained Winter Moon arrows."

"Then our food warehouses were burned."

"Again... evidence pointed toward your pack."

"Our Alpha believed war was the only answer."

"But you didn't?" Ethan asked.

"No."

"Because I was on one of those patrols."

"We were never attacked by Winter Moon."

"Then who attacked you?"

"I don't know."

"They wore masks."

"They moved like trained soldiers."

"They killed everyone except me."

"When I reported that, no one listened."

"Why not?"

"Because the evidence had already convinced everyone it was Winter Moon."

Jaxon exchanged another glance with Ethan.

The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fit together.

"There's more," Finn continued.

"A week before the battle, Alpha Rowan held a private meeting."

"With whom?"

"I don't know."

"But I saw another Alpha leaving the hall after midnight."

"Did you recognize him?"

Finn closed his eyes, trying to remember.

"He wore a black cloak."

"I never saw his face."

"But I noticed the emblem on his gloves."

"What emblem?"

"A crimson wolf."

Jaxon's expression darkened.

He had seen that symbol before.

Years ago.

At Bloodlust Pack.

Sable noticed the change in his face.

"You know that symbol."

"Yes," Jaxon answered quietly.

"It belongs to Bloodlust's royal guard."

The courtyard became deathly silent.

"Alpha Jasper..." Ethan whispered.

"We still don't have proof," Jaxon interrupted.

"Only suspicion."

"And suspicion isn't enough to start another war."

Finn reached into his cloak.

Every Winter Moon warrior instantly tensed.

"Easy," Finn said.

"It's not a weapon."

He removed a small silver pendant shaped like a wolf.

"I found this after the attack on my patrol."

"I thought it belonged to one of my men."

"Now I'm not so sure."

Jaxon accepted the pendant.

On the back was a tiny engraving.

A crimson wolf surrounded by a crown.

"Bloodlust," Ethan said quietly.

"Without question."

For the first time, they held something more than theories.

Not enough to accuse another Alpha.

But enough to begin investigating.

"Finn," Jaxon said.

"Will you testify before both packs if necessary?"

The young warrior swallowed hard.

"If it stops this war... yes."

"Even if it costs me my life."

Sable stepped forward.

"It won't."

"I won't let that happen."

Jaxon looked at her.

She spoke with complete conviction.

The same conviction he had heard from his own warriors countless times.

For the first time since she arrived...

She sounded less like an enemy.

And more like someone who belonged beside him.

'Careful,' Drax murmured.

'You're starting to imagine a future again.'

Jaxon looked away.

'No,' he answered quietly.

'I'm simply trying to prevent another war.'

But deep inside...

Neither he nor his wolf believed that anymore.