Chapter 13 - Rael
It was a cool morning, and Rael stood in the training yard, observing pack members go through combat drills.
Three days had gone by since that night with Alanis.
Three days of waking up with her in his arms, of eating with her, talking with her, and gradually building something that seemed more and more like a true relationship and marriage.
But the mission never stopped, and new intelligence had come in today.
“Rael!” August jogged to him from across the yard, with Javi behind him. Both looked grim. “We need to talk. Now.”
They went into a small building on the outskirts of pack territory that Silas had designated as the meeting point whenever they needed to talk about the mission.
The walls were covered with maps and intelligence reports laid on the table.
Silas stood behind a round table in the middle of the room, his expression dark.
“What is it?” Rael asked, but the atmosphere in the room informed him it was not happy news.
“The rumors are back again,” Silas announced. “And they’re worse than before.”
Rael’s jaw tightened. Three years ago, someone made severe allegations that the Weston Pack was involved in the trafficking ring.
They had months to prove their innocence, and they had done so, in collaboration with allied packs to clear the lies.
It had almost ruined their reputation, alliances, and all they had built.
“How bad?” Rael asked.
August pulled out a folder and dumped papers on the table.
“Bad. Our contacts from three other packs say there are rumors that we are not trying to shut down the network, but that we are actually running it. That the rescues we have been making are just a cover, and that we are actually running the auctions.”
“That is insane,” Javi snarled. “We’ve rescued dozens of women. We have been working our asses off to destroy this network—”
“And somebody knows it,” Rael sighed. “Someone knows we are close, so they are trying to discredit us before we can bring them to the light.”
“I agree,” Silas nodded, crossing his arms. “The timing is suspicious. Just as we are getting down to business, the rumors kick off again, twice as hard.”
Rael examined the reports. The rumors were going around in various places, like pack gossip networks and shifter business circles. “Whoever it is has resources and access.”
“There’s more,” August leaned forward, pulling out other pieces of paper, bank statements, and transaction records. “The financial angle.”
Rael glanced through them, his stomach sinking as he looked at one page after another. “Someone has been making it seem like pack funds are being funneled into offshore accounts.”
“Not just any offshore accounts,” August shook his head. “The same shell companies we have been following as part of the financial infrastructure of this trafficking network. Somebody has left a paper trail that makes it appear that it is we who are laundering money through these organizations.”
“How sophisticated is the forgery?” Silas asked.
“Very. Whoever did this is an expert. They backdated transactions, forged false invoices, and email communications. To an outsider, it would pass as perfectly legitimate.”
A rush of anger spread through Rael. “I cannot believe they are going through all this trouble, making up facts.”
“And it is working,” Javi said bitterly. “Two of our allied packs already began to question their association with us. They have not yet severed connection with us, but they’re on the edge. If this continues to spread, we will be—”
“Isolated. No allies and a target on our backs from every pack that thinks we are involved in this disgusting operation.”
The room fell quiet as everyone took in the extent of the danger rising on the horizon.
This was no longer merely a matter of their reputation. This was about survival.
“The Riverdale Pack is solid,” Silas spoke up finally. “Alpha Marcus wrote this morning. He does not believe the rumors, and he is working hard to dispel them in his pack, but he said that they were spreading at a rate he could not control.”
“Then we must find the source,” Rael looked at Silas. “There is somebody who is running this ruse. Provided we can tell who and can prove they are lying—”
“We are trying,” August murmured. “I followed the money trail as far as I could. The shell corporations are also incorporated in three separate countries, with stringent privacy protections. The email addresses used to send the forged mail are bounced off proxy servers. The person who did this knew how to cover up their tracks.”
Rael groaned and paced the room, his mind racing with possibilities. “What about the rumors themselves? How are they spreading? Is there a pattern?”
“That’s the interesting part,” Silas said. “They are not just spreading anywhere. They are going after specific packs, the ones that have business ties with us, that we have done business with on past missions, and that would be of use to us if this blows up.”
“Strategic,” Rael murmured. “They are trying to alienate us from our allies.”
“Meaning they have knowledge of our network, Javi added. “This is somebody who has inside information about who our allies are and what sort of relationship we have.”
The implication hung in the air. If someone in their pack was feeding information to their enemies…
“We must be careful,” Rael stopped pacing. “If there is any leak in the pack…”
“I am on it,” Silas's lips flattened into a thin line. “But, in the meantime, we must address the immediate threat. Riverdale Pack is with us for certain, but we cannot lose the others.”
“We must strengthen those relations,” Rael nodded. “Preferably go in person.”
“Exactly,” Silas pointed at a map on the wall. “Shadowridge Pack and Moonstone Pack are the most vulnerable to breaking off. They are both in the north country, a day or so away. If we are able to persuade them to believe and maybe join us on this mission…”
“We will keep our network of allies and buy time to identify the true culprits.”
“I will go,” Javi offered. “I will go there tomorrow and speak to their Alphas.”
“Hell no,” Silas grunted, as Rael also said “No” at the same time.
Javi’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”
“Because you will start a fight five minutes after you arrive there,” Rael said in a dry and matter-of-fact tone. “These packs are jumpy enough already. They do not need you to act like you’re ready to cut the head of anybody who dares to challenge our integrity.”
“I can behave myself.”
“Can you?” Rael challenged. “Because a day ago, you were prepared to rain hell on half the pack because of a mistake during training. You think that energy will assist us in drawing diplomatic bridges?”
Javi rolled his eyes slightly, but made no objections. He knew Rael was right.
Rael turned to face Silas. “I will go.”
“Take August with you,” Silas nodded towards August. “He can do the financial explanations, should they require technicalities, and it indicates that we are serious about this if we have both of you there.”
August nodded. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Rael scratched his jaw. “I will use today to prepare, study the evidence, and compile a presentation that will persuade them.”
“What about me?” Javi demanded. “I am only expected to sit here while you two handle everything?”
“You will assist me in finding the leak,” Silas said sternly. “We need to find out who is feeding information to our enemies. That is as important as maintaining our relationships with our allies.”
Javi gave him a tight nod. “Fine. But if I find out who has been selling us out—”
“You will bring them to me,” Silas leveled him with a stare. “We will do this in the right way, Javi. No vigilante justice or whatever. We cannot afford to give anyone more reasons to turn against us.”
The meeting lasted another hour, where they discussed logistics, analyzed evidence, and came up with plans. When they were done, Rael felt like his brain was going to explode, and his shoulders felt stiff.
This was bigger than he’d thought. It wasn’t just about the trafficking network and what they were doing; it was the fact that they were also busy trying to wipe out anyone who crossed their path. And the Weston Pack was right there.
Rael spent the afternoon in the archives, scraping up material that would be used in their defense.
Sales books of a legitimate pack business.
Witness accounts of those who were rescued.
Reports by allied packs that they had worked with.
Communication records showed that they had been investigating the network, as opposed to running it.
It was a dull task, yet it had to be done.
They had to prove that the evidence was airtight in the event that they were to persuade skeptical Alphas.
By the time the sun began to set, Rael already had a complete dossier.
He also had a message dispatched to the pack telling his top men that he would be going on a diplomatic mission tomorrow.
Then he went home. He had to pack and prepare psychologically for what would probably be hard conversations with egotistical Alphas, but above all, he thought about how he was going to inform Alanis that he was going away for at least a week.
He did not want to think about that. They were only beginning to actually build something. It did not seem right to leave.
But the mission came first. It always had.
He pushed open the door to his house, thinking of necessities to pack, when he stopped dead in his tracks.
Alanis was in the living room, with bags packed. Not a bag or two. But several bags, neatly packed like she was going on a long trip. He also recognized that some of those bags belonged to him.
“What is this?” He asked carefully.
“I’m coming with you.”
Rael immediately connected the dots. “What? How did you even—”
“Sara told me about the mission when you sent word to the pack.” Alanis clenched her fists. “I can help you dispel rumors and possibly collect more intelligence on the network.”
“Alanis, this is diplomatic work. Delicate dealings with paranoid Alphas that are already skeptical.”
“Which is why you need me. I do not belong to the political system of the pack. I am an outsider who decided to come with you. That must count for something.”
Rael stared at the determined look on her face. She had a point. It may be of benefit to have a person who was not a member of the pack and had no reason to lie to go with him. But that did not mean it was safe.
“These packs may be our friends, but they are anxious, and anxious men are erratic. Unsafe. I cannot assure you of your safety.”
“You can spare me your assurance of my safety. I can manage myself just fine.”
“No, I do not think you understand. This is pack politics, Alanis. It’s complicated and volatile and—”
“And you think I will be a liability,” her voice turned harsh. “Say it, Rael. You do not believe I can handle it.”
“I never said that.”
“But it’s what you meant.” Her eyes flashed with hurt and anger. “You suppose because I cannot shift, I will be dead weight on this trip.”
“No,” Rael said softly, walking closer. “I know you are strong, but I know these packs too. I know how they think. With you around…it might complicate matters.”
“Or it might not. You must prove that you’re not running the trafficking network, right? Well, I am living evidence. I was at the very auction, Rael. I was almost sold off, but you purchased me to save me. I can testify to that.”
Rael’s jaw clenched. Damn it, she was right. Her testimony would be quite effective. But the idea of taking her into a world full of hostility, of subjecting her to danger.”
“It is not just about the negotiations,” Alanis searched his eyes.
“If you find leads on the network, and there is an opportunity to save more lives, to save more victims, I must be there. The last time you freed those women, we just let them to go with no assistance, no resources, no plan of what to do next. That is not good enough, Rael. These women should be properly taken care of.”
Rael exhaled sharply. Fuck, she was saying all the right things. They had been so preoccupied with the immediate rescue that they had not thought of what followed. Where did those women go? What did they do to rebuild their lives? And were they safe, or were they in no better places than that?
“You’re right,” he admitted. “We could have done better.”
“Exactly. So let me come. Let me help make sure that we do this right.”
Rael looked at her set jaw and glanced down at the packed bags. He could order her to stay, pull rank, and keep her in his pack—where it was safe.
But that would spoil what was bubbling between them. It would show that he did not trust her or regard her as his mate and wife.
And there was the fact that she was correct. She could help. Her presence could boost their argument about the pack and help any victims they might meet because she was also one of them. He just wished it didn’t frighten him so much.
“Alright,” he said at last. “You may come. But you will do this my way. You will follow my lead, don’t go anywhere without me, and—”
“I am no dummy, Rael. I understand.”
“Okay,” he sighed deeply. “We leave at dawn. It will be at least a week, maybe more. August is coming too.”
“I’m ready.” She gestured to the bags. “I have packed our bags for two weeks.” She shrugged. “Just in case.”
Of course she did. She thought of everything.
Rael pulled her into his arms, needing to feel her against him. “I will be worried about you all the time.”
Resting her head against his chest, she murmured, “I will be fine.”
“Yes, I know,” he kissed the top of her head.
She pulled back and looked at him with a small smile. “I will be fine, Rael. I promise.”
“You better be. If anything happens to you…” He could not complete that sentence. The thought of anything happening to Alanis ripped his heart apart.
“Nothing will happen. We will go, vindicate your pack, and we will return. Together.”
Rael wanted to believe her. He hoped that this would be an easy task and that they would give their evidence, and all would be well.
But he knew that nothing was ever that easy.
Nevertheless, stroking Alanis’s head, he thought about how she did not want to be left behind. His heart sank. She wasn’t a liability. She was his mate, and perhaps it was time that he began to treat her like one.
“Together,” he echoed.
She nuzzled into his chest, and he tightened his arms around her.
Despite the mission and the danger that lay ahead, Rael had a glimpse of hope.
Maybe they could do this. Maybe they might be able to prove the pack’s innocence, destroy the network, and start a new life together that was not shadowed by crisis and survival.
But they needed to get through the week first.