Asher grabbed my arm with enough force to make me stumble, dragging me toward the opposite end of the corridor. His grip felt protective, desperate even, as if he could shield me from the accusations hanging in the air like smoke.
She had absolutely no right to brand me a traitor.
My loyalty to the Hunters ran deeper than blood. This organization was everything I knew, everything I understood about survival and purpose. Before arriving at this army base, I had lived with other people briefly, but those arrangements never lasted. They made their boundaries crystal clear from day one, never allowing me the comfort of calling them family. The words ‘mom‘ and ‘dad‘ were forbidden territory, making their temporary guardianship painfully obvious.
I would never betray the only family I had ever truly known.
The commanders called everyone in for questioning but saved Asher and me for last. The strategy sent my mind racing with paranoid thoughts. Did they suspect one of us? As the newest recruits on this base, we lacked the established trust that years of service had built for the others. Suspicion would naturally fall on the outsiders first.
Asher disappeared into the interrogation room while I remained stranded in the hallway, my thoughts spiraling into darker territories. Through the windows, I watched other Hunters sprint toward a waiting helicopter, their movements urgent and coordinated. They loaded equipment with military precision before the aircraft lifted off, disappearing into the horizon.
Another mission was already underway before this mess got sorted out. The timing struck me as odd, almost reckless.
Asher’s interrogation stretched on endlessly, each passing minute amplifying
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my anxiety. When the door finally opened and he emerged, relief flooded through my chest like warm water. They summoned me next, and Asher offered a reassuring nod that promised everything would work out fine.
Inside the sterile office, Blackwood sat behind his desk, methodically reviewing my personnel file from the previous base. The folder looked thin, containing barely two years of my life documented in official reports and performance evaluations.
Blackwood broke the silence first. “This was only your second mission.”
“Yes, sir.” My voice remained steady despite the tremor in my hands.
“Explain why your mission count is so low.” His tone carried no accusation, just curiosity.
“I’m sixteen, sir. Typically, no one gets mission assignments until eighteen. You and my former Captain must have determined that my training level could handle field operations.” The explanation rolled off my tongue smoothly, rehearsed from previous conversations.
“Your training is exceptional. That obstacle course performance yesterday was remarkable. I’ve never witnessed you move with that kind of speed before.” Corbin interjected, and a satisfied smirk tugged at my lips.
“Nico challenged me to that competition. I refused to let some guy show me up, sir.” The memory of beating him still filled me with fierce pride.
Blackwood flipped through more pages. “Your scores exceed every benchmark we have. No previous accusations of werewolf collaboration exist in your record. Actually, your first mission involved shooting Luna Elena, reportedly the strongest Luna in the country.”
“Correct, sir. Given another opportunity, I would take that shot again without hesitation.” The conviction in my voice surprised even me. That mission had been my proving ground, the moment I earned my place among the Hunters.
Blackwood exchanged a meaningful look with Corbin before nodding decisively.
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“Dawn, we don’t suspect you of any wrongdoing. Your Hunter upbringing speaks for itself, and nothing will prevent you from continuing that legacy. However, fairness demands we treat everyone equally. We need you to remain in this office, pretending to endure the same extensive questioning as
the others.”
Corbin’s revelation hit me like a physical blow. “Really? You were just trying
to scare me?”
“The performance was necessary. Others were watching from the hallway, but they’ve moved on now.” He confirmed, and I felt my rigid posture finally
relax.
Relief and indignation warred in my chest as I settled back into the chair. “You scared me senseless. Do you have any theories about who actually did this?”
“We don’t believe a traitor exists within our ranks. Our working theory involves external surveillance, wolves monitoring our base operations. Their enhanced hearing could easily intercept our conversations.” Blackwood explained, his expression grim.
“What about that mission that just departed?” I pressed, needing to understand the bigger picture.
“They’re investigating a pack located closer to our position. Completely different team members from last night’s operation. We want to observe the
results of this mission.” He revealed.
“Smart strategy. That’s the most effective way to determine if we’re under surveillance or harboring a spy.” I agreed, appreciating the tactical thinking.
“Exactly our reasoning.” He confirmed.
We spent nearly an hour dissecting every detail of the previous mission, searching for overlooked clues or suspicious behavior patterns. Despite our thorough analysis, nothing seemed out of place. Every Hunter had performed their assigned duties with professional competence and unwavering focus.
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Blackwood received an incoming call while I remained in the office. The conversation lasted only minutes, but his expression grew increasingly troubled as he listened.
“What happened?” Corbin asked immediately after Blackwood hung up.
“Identical situation. The pack location was completely abandoned.”
Blackwood looked genuinely perplexed, his confidence shaken by this unexpected development.
“Where are they disappearing to?” I demanded, frustration bleeding into my voice. He pointed directly at me with sudden intensity.
“Precisely the question we need answered. Once we understand their destination, we’ll identify who’s orchestrating these movements. You’re dismissed, Dawn.” Blackwood declared, already rushing toward the door with urgent purpose.
The mystery deepened with each empty pack territory we discovered, and somewhere in the shadows, an unknown enemy was playing chess while we struggled to understand the rules.
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