I woke up to see myself lying down on my bed. I didn't know how I got here, but I guess the guards carried me when I fainted.

Immediately I woke up, I remembered the reason I had fainted. I stood up from the bed, as some of the servants urged me to stay, but I didn't listen.

I was still putting on the ceremonial cloth. I tore it from my body, wore something simpler, and headed to the door.

I walked past some guards who were trying to stop me from moving, but I managed to overcome their protest and ran towards the northern pack.

On my way, I kept on remembering the words of one of the guards, and my heart became more restless. Each time I tried to assure myself that Mariya and Leo were alright, it was as though it made it worse.

Soon, I got to the northern pack—a place not too far from the central pack but abandoned and lonely due to numerous attacks almost all the time. When I got there, there was smoke everywhere with lots of wolves and soldiers lying wounded on the floor.

I started searching for Mariya all over the place, then I saw her, lying down with wounds all over her body.

"Mariya!" I dropped to my knees, trying to lift her up.

She opened her eyes weakly. "Lila..."

"Where’s Leo?" I asked, using my eyes to search for him.

She couldn't respond; she just pointed at where he was lying.

I looked and I saw him, curled under a box, with his body shivering and covered with ashes.

I carried him into my arms. His breathing had already become faint.

I didn't know when I broke down in tears. "I’m here now," I murmured and kissed his forehead.

Mariya managed to stand up and walked to where I was standing.

"I tried to hide him," she said. "The fire spread so fast. Before I could run, it was already late."

I held her face. "It's okay, Mariya," I said. "You have done enough, and everything that has happened is not your fault."

She nodded weakly. "This time, we have to hide him properly."

I wrapped Leo in his blanket, lifted Mariya, and went off. I knew a perfect place where they would be safe—with Roan, an old man who had lived in the forest for many years now.

Roan is an old rogue who lived beyond the forest mountains. He was banished for challenging the elders many years ago.

When I got to his house, he opened the door before I could even knock.

"I thought you would never show up," he said. His words got me confused and speechless.

His gaze went to Mariya, then to Leo, and then he carried him into his arms.

I stayed and watched him tend to Mariya's wounds and wrap Leo in fresh cloth. When I wanted to leave, he promised me he would make sure to keep them safe.

That very night, I returned back to the palace looking stretched out and drenched with cold.

But I kept my cool. I needed to be strong. Though I was tired, I needed to attend the council meeting.

When I got in, everyone was already seated. Everyone's gaze came to me as though they were waiting for my arrival. Murmurs followed as I passed, but I didn't mind. Instead, I walked straight to where the king sat and demanded permission to speak.

The king hesitated before he gave me a go-ahead sign.

I stood at the center and then took a deep breath.

"This attack wasn’t random," I said. "It looked pretty much like a message. The messenger knows that the border was vulnerable and they struck with precision. If I’m to suggest, I think the traitor is someone amongst us."

Some wolves stood up, ranting; others claimed I do not have evidence to prove what I was saying.

There was an uproar of noise and side talks for some time. Then when everywhere went calm, I continued.

"It’s our responsibility as the council and leaders of the pack to protect the pack. If there’s no proof, then let’s find it."

Evan came forward and stood near me.

"She has a point," he said. "We’ve been too relaxed."

The elders looked between us.

"So what do you propose?" the king asked.

"A full lockdown for three days. I suggest every border, gate, and opening should be locked down while we carry out inner investigation before outside investigation."

One elder scoffed. "You? A newly returned Omega? You have no right to decide what happens here."

"No," I said, locking eyes with him. "This is no longer the Omega you used to know. I’m Lila of Lycan, an heiress to the Blood Moon. And if you think I will allow a traitor to invade our pack, then you must be mistaken."

My words struck him so hard, and he sat back immediately.

The king smiled. "Very well then," he said. "You lead the investigation and make sure that everything goes well."

Later that day, while I was in the moon garden, Evan found me.

He just came and stood beside me.

"Where did you go this morning?" he finally said.

I didn’t answer.

"I came to your room to check and know how you are doing after you fainted, but I didn't find you. And this evening, you stormed into the council meeting looking so worn out. What are you hiding, Lila?"

I turned to him slowly. "You have no idea what I’ve had to do to survive, and you have no right to question my movement."

Evan came closer,. "Lila, he called,you have to forget the past and let me in, Let me be your strength."

I scoffed. Strength? Did he just say strength? "You humiliated and left me in front of the whole pack gathering, choosing another. But now, somehow you want to be my strength because we have been bonded together?"

"I made a mistake," he said, "and I see it now. Just give me another chance to atone for all my mistakes."

I shook my head. "You don’t get to rewrite what has happened, and there's never going to be another chance for you, Evan."

"I’m not trying to rewrite it. I’m trying to fix it."

I laughed bitterly. "Fix it? With what and how? Do you plan to go back to the past and redo all you have done?"

He looked away, and I could sense a flash of tears in his eyes.

Then he said, "You’re hiding something, and I’m going to find out. I just want to be there for you, Lila—to make up for my past mistakes."

I stepped up to him, just right in his face. "Good luck with your finding."

We stared at each other for some time. I was scared, until some guards ran into the garden shouting.

"My lady, the western gate has been under attack!"

My blood ran cold. Another attack—but thank goodness this time it wasn’t where Leo and Mariya were hiding.

I left Evan in the garden to prepare—this time not for defense or protection, but for proper war.