The assassination attempt came three days after they returned to Blackwood territory.

Sera was in the training grounds, working with pack warriors on defensive formations. Normal Luna duties. Building trust. Showing she could fight alongside them.

The arrow came from nowhere.

Silent. Precise. Aimed directly at her heart.

Sera's instincts screamed. She twisted. Too slow. The arrow would hit

Marcus slammed into her. Knocked her sideways. They hit the ground hard.

The arrow buried itself in the tree behind where Sera had been standing. Silver-tipped. Poisoned. The kind that would kill an Alpha, let alone a Luna.

"Shooter in the north tower!" someone shouted.

Warriors scattered. Some racing toward the tower. Others forming protective circle around Sera.

But the shooter was already gone. Professional. Planned. Sebastian's prediction coming true.

Three days. That's how long peace had lasted.

Now the war was real.

Theron arrived within minutes. The bond had alerted him the moment Sera's fear spiked. He moved through the protective circle, hands already checking her for injuries.

"I'm fine," Sera said. Her voice was steadier than she felt. "Marcus got me down in time."

"The arrow was silver-tipped. Wolfsbane coated." Marcus stood. Blood on his arm. "Professional hit. Not rogue opportunism."

"Did we catch the shooter?" Theron demanded.

"No. Gone before we reached the tower. Left no scent. No tracks." Daniel, the warrior, looked furious. "They knew our patrol patterns. Guard rotations."

"Inside information," Sera said. "Again."

Because Dr. Chen wasn't the only traitor. Someone in Blackwood pack was feeding enemies intelligence.

Someone who wanted her dead.

"Lockdown," Theron ordered. His voice was pure Alpha command. "Full security protocols. No one enters or leaves without explicit permission. Double guards on all entry points. I want every pack member accounted for. Now."

Warriors scattered. Moving fast.

Theron pulled Sera aside. The bond was wide open. Both sharing fear and rage.

"This is what Sebastian warned," Sera said quietly. "The backlash."

"Then we increase security. Keep you safe until "

"Until what? Threats stop? They won't. Not as long as I'm the symbol of reformation." Sera's hands clenched. "We won the vote. But Sebastian was right we started a war. Wars don't end because we want them to."

"So what do you want to do?"

"Fight back. Find whoever hired that assassin. Eliminate the threat before they try again." Sera looked at the arrow. "Because next time, Marcus might not be fast enough."

Through the bond, Theron's fierce protectiveness.

"We find them," he agreed. "Hunt them down."

"Marcus," Sera called. "You know this pack. Know who might be feeding information to outsiders. Find the traitor."

Marcus nodded. "I'll start with pack members who had coalition contact. Threats. Blackmail. Bribes. I'll find them."

"Do it fast. We don't know when the next attempt will come."

That night, Theron couldn't sleep.

He stood in his father's old study. Now his study. But he'd never fully claimed it. Too many memories. Too much blood.

His father had died in this room. Fifteen years ago. Official story: suicide grief over his mate's death drove him to silver blade through the heart.

The real story was more complicated.

Theron had been twenty-one. Already seeing how his father ruled through fear and absolute control. The mate bond was his weapon.

"She's mine," his father used to say about Theron's mother. "The bond says so. She can't leave. Can't refuse."

Theron's mother had withered over years. Become a ghost. When she finally died body giving up because her spirit already had his father became worse. Paranoid. Violent. Used pack bonds to enforce obedience.

Marcus found Theron that night. In the gardens. Bleeding from another "training session."

"This can't continue," Marcus had said. Friend to friend. "He's destroying the pack. Destroying you."

"What am I supposed to do? Challenge my own father?"

"Someone has to."

They'd sat in silence. Then Marcus said the words that changed everything: "I'll help you. If you're willing."

Theron had understood immediately. Not public challenge. Private solution. The kind that looked like suicide but wasn't.

"If I do this," Theron said slowly, "I become exactly like him."

"No. You become the wolf who saves his pack from a tyrant. There's a difference." Marcus looked at him with certainty. "Your father will never change. This is the only way."

Theron had spent three days deciding. Three days watching his father terrorize pack members.

On the third day, he'd made his choice.

They'd done it in this study. Made it look like suicide. Silver blade. His father's own weapon. Even left a note.

The pack had believed it. Mourned appropriately. Then quietly celebrated when Theron became Alpha and began reforms.

Only Theron and Marcus knew the truth.

That the new Alpha King had started his reign with patricide.

Theron looked at his hands. The same hands that had helped Marcus position the blade.

Some nights like tonight he wondered if he'd just become a different kind of monster.

The bond pulsed. Sera's awareness.

Theron opened his gate. Sent: Can't sleep either?

Back through the bond: Too much adrenaline. Keep replaying the arrow.

Marcus saved you.

I know. A pause. Are you okay? You're broadcasting guilt.

Old memories. Nothing important.

Liar. But she didn't push.

Come to my room, Theron sent. We should talk. Plan. Together.

Give me five minutes.

Sera arrived carrying Astra's research notes. She kissed him quickly. Checking he was okay.

"Astra's been analyzing the attempt," Sera explained. "Three possible culprits. First: Sebastian. Obvious. Seventy percent likely."

"Second?"

"Other coalition Alphas. Acting independently. Twenty percent likely."

"Third?"

"Someone we haven't identified. Operating in shadows. Ten percent but most dangerous." Sera pulled up another file. "She's also tracking pack members with coalition contact. Three names flagged."

"Who?"

"Lily Blackwood. Omega. Sister mated to Silver Ridge wolf. Been visiting regularly."

"Lily's been with us eight years."

"Or well-placed." Sera moved to the second name. "David Morrison. Warrior. Recently disciplined. Resentful."

"Marcus will investigate."

"Third " Sera hesitated. "Agnes."

Theron's blood ran cold. "The cook? Absolutely not. Thirty years "

"Has a grandson in Sebastian's territory. Hostage material. Same tactic he used with Dr. Chen." Sera's voice was gentle. "We can't ignore possibilities because we like someone."

Theron wanted to argue. But Sera was right.

"Investigate all three," he said finally. "Quietly."

"Agreed."

"And your security?"

"Doubled. And Marcus is teaching me advanced defensive tactics. If there's a next time, I want to be ready."

"There won't be a next time," Theron said. More prayer than promise.

Marcus found the answer two days later.

Not Lily. Not David. Not Agnes.

"Daniel Castellan," Marcus said. "The warrior who spotted the shooter. Who shouted warning."

"He's the traitor?" Sera's hands clenched. "He saved my life "

"After positioning you perfectly for the shot. After making sure you'd be in that exact spot." Marcus pulled up communications logs. "He's been in contact with Silver Ridge for three months. Feeding information. Your schedules. Guard rotations. Everything."

"Why would he help if he's trying to kill me?"

"Because the first attempt failed. Shooter missed. So Daniel pivoted. Played hero. Deflected suspicion." Marcus's jaw was tight. "He's professional. Trained for infiltration."

"Where is he now?" Theron's voice was deadly quiet.

"Secured. Holding cell. Waiting for you." Marcus looked at Theron. "He'll need proper interrogation."

Theron looked at Sera. "This is your call. He tried to kill you. You decide how we handle it."

Sera was quiet. Wrestling with morality and practicality.

"We need information," she said finally. "Names. Plans. Who's funding attempts. There might be others." She met Theron's eyes. "Do what you have to. I won't ask for details. But get answers."

Marcus nodded. "I'll handle it personally."

He left.

Theron moved to Sera. "You okay?"

"No. I'm authorizing torture because it's tactically necessary. I'm becoming exactly the kind of leader I said I'd never be." Her voice was flat. "How is that different from Alphas who use bonds as weapons?"

"Because you're doing it to save lives. Not control them. There's a difference."

"Is there? Right now it doesn't feel like it."

Theron pulled her close. "War makes monsters of us all. Question is whether we remember we're monsters and try to be better when fighting stops."

"And if fighting never stops?"

"Then we hold onto each other."

Marcus returned six hours later. Exhausted. Haunted. Victorious.

"Daniel talked," he said. "Sebastian hired him. Three months ago. Fifty thousand to infiltrate. Another fifty when you're dead."

"Are there others?"

"Two more. Kitchen and cleaning staff. I've secured them. Removed by morning."

"And Sebastian's plan?"

"Multiple attempts. Arrow failed. Next was poison in your food tomorrow. Kitchen operative was handling it." Marcus's expression was grim. "After that, public attack. Make it look like rogue violence."

"What do we do with the traitors?"

"Daniel's broken. Recommend exile. Other two never acted just infiltrated. Give them choice: blood oath renewal or exile."

"Blood oath?" Sera asked.

"Ancient ritual. Binds wolf to pack magically. Breaking it means death. Agonizing death." Theron was matter-of-fact. "Extreme but effective. If they swear, they can't betray again. Physically impossible."

"Offer them choice," Sera decided. "If they swear loyalty, they stay. If not, exile. But Daniel exile him. I don't want him dead. But never in our territory again."

"Done." Marcus looked relieved. "And Sebastian? What's our response?"

"We take it to Council," Theron said. "Lodge formal complaint."

"That'll take weeks. Meanwhile he keeps trying."

"Then we make it clear " Theron's eyes were cold. "Next attempt means war. Full pack war. We'll destroy Silver Ridge completely."

"That's extreme."

"So is hiring assassins." Theron's jaw was set. "Sebastian needs to understand touch Sera again, and I'll burn his entire world down."

Through the bond, Sera felt his absolute certainty.

"Send the message," she agreed.

The message was delivered by Marcus personally. He walked into Sebastian's compound alone. Handed him a written declaration from Theron.

Sebastian read it. Laughed. "He's bluffing. Blackwood won't start war over one Luna."

"You don't know Theron well," Marcus said. Calm. Reasonable. "He killed his own father to protect his pack from tyranny. You think he won't kill you to protect his mate?"

Sebastian's laugh died. "That's just rumor "

"It's truth. I helped him do it. Made it look like suicide. We've kept that secret fifteen years. But I'm telling you now so you understand we're not bluffing." Marcus leaned forward. "Touch Sera again, and Theron will destroy you. Personally. I'll help. Unlike you, we don't hire assassins. We do it ourselves."

Silence.

Sebastian's face went pale.

"Your move, Sebastian. Keep trying to kill Sera and start a war you'll lose. Or accept reformation passed and move on. Choose wisely."

He left.

The declaration was clear. The threat credible.

Now they waited.

Two days later, a package arrived. No return address. Wooden box with Silver Ridge seal.

Marcus opened it carefully. Inside was a white flag. Traditional truce.

Underneath, a handwritten message:

"Your Alpha made his position clear. I acknowledge it. No further attempts will come from my territory. Matter closed.

However.

Reformation has consequences beyond assassination. There are wolves many wolves who will never accept modified bonds. Who will resist with every method available. You've won the battle. But the war for tradition vs. progress is far from over.

Watch your back, Luna Ashford. Not all threats wear Silver Ridge colors."

Sebastian

Sera read it twice. "He's backing down. But warning us there are others."

"He's right," Astra said. "I've been tracking communications. Seven territories coordinating. Not assassination. Legal challenges. They're building a case to overturn the reformation vote."

"Can they?" Marcus asked.

"If they find enough instability evidence during probationary period? Yes. Re-vote." Astra's face was grim. "This time, they'll be prepared."

The war had entered its second phase.

Law and politics instead of arrows.

Somehow, more dangerous.