Chapter 9: The Truth Between Two Alphas

The lockdown entered its second day.

Winter Moon remained unusually quiet.

Warriors stood guard at every entrance.

No one entered.

No one left.

Whoever had ordered the assassination was still somewhere beyond their walls.

Inside the Alpha House, Jaxon hadn't slept.

Maps, reports, and witness statements covered his desk.

Nothing fit together.

Nothing made sense.

'You're missing something,' Drax muttered.

'I know.'

'Think about the timing.'

Jaxon leaned back in his chair.

Five years of peace.

Then suddenly...

False attacks.

Forged evidence.

A planned invasion.

And now an assassination.

Someone had spent years preparing this.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

Beta Ethan entered carrying another report.

"Our scouts returned from the eastern border."

"Anything useful?"

"Very."

He spread another map across the desk.

"Look here."

Three small villages sat between Winter Moon and Ash Fang territory.

"All three disappeared within the last four years."

"Disappeared?"

"Burned to the ground."

"Both packs blamed each other."

Jaxon's eyes narrowed.

"But neither of us actually attacked them."

"Exactly."

"Someone created conflict little by little."

"Until hatred became normal."

Jaxon slowly nodded.

"Who benefits from endless war?"

"The strongest pack left standing."

"Bloodlust," Ethan answered quietly.

Neither man spoke for several moments.

The possibility was impossible to ignore.

Meanwhile...

Sable stood outside the infirmary overlooking the village.

Children laughed while chasing each other through the square.

Families prepared lunch together.

Old men repaired fishing nets.

None of it matched the stories she'd heard growing up.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Naomi joined her on the porch.

"I expected fear," Sable admitted.

"Instead I found peace."

"Jaxon fought very hard for that peace."

"Tell me something."

"Did he always hate outsiders?"

Naomi smiled gently.

"No."

"Then why does he keep everyone at a distance?"

The old healer became quiet.

"Five years ago, his mate betrayed him."

Sable looked surprised.

"He had a mate?"

"A beautiful Luna named Giselle."

"She rejected him for another Alpha."

"She broke him in ways no battlefield ever could."

Sable lowered her eyes.

Suddenly many things made sense.

His guarded expressions.

His loneliness.

The sadness hidden behind his confidence.

"He never talks about it," Naomi continued.

"But every member of this pack remembers the man he used to be."

"He smiled more."

"He laughed."

"After she left... he only lived for his people."

Sable felt an unfamiliar ache inside her chest.

She barely knew Jaxon.

Yet hearing his story hurt more than she expected.

Later that afternoon, she found him standing alone near the northern wall.

"You're avoiding everyone," she observed.

"Occupational habit."

"Or emotional one?"

Jaxon glanced toward her.

"Naomi talks too much."

"Only when someone needs to hear the truth."

Neither spoke for several minutes.

The breeze carried the scent of pine through the valley.

"I'm sorry," Sable finally said.

"For what?"

"For what happened to you."

Jaxon stared toward the distant mountains.

"It happened a long time ago."

"Old wounds still hurt."

"Sometimes."

"Do you still love her?"

The question caught him off guard.

He thought carefully before answering.

"No."

"I miss who I thought she was."

"Not who she became."

Sable nodded slowly.

"I understand that."

"Do you?"

She smiled sadly.

"The Alpha of Ash Fang isn't my family."

"He's my uncle."

"My parents died when I was twelve."

"Since then, I've only been another warrior under his command."

"No special treatment."

"No kindness."

"Just orders."

For the first time, Jaxon saw more than an enemy warrior.

He saw someone who had spent years surviving alone.

"War changes people," he said quietly.

"So does loneliness," Sable replied.

Their eyes met.

Neither looked away.

'She's telling the truth,' Drax whispered.

'I know.'

At that exact moment, a scout sprinted toward them.

"Alpha!"

"Urgent message from the eastern watchtower!"

Jaxon immediately turned.

"Report."

"A lone rider is approaching under a white flag."

"From which pack?"

"Ash Fang."

"He claims he carries a personal message for Sable Embers."

Sable's expression changed instantly.

"For me?"

"Yes."

"He refuses to speak to anyone else."

Jaxon looked toward the eastern gate.

After days of silence...

Ash Fang had finally made its move.

The only question was whether the rider carried peace...

Or another lie.