Chapter 15 #2
Her anger is close to the surface; I can feel it from here. Dutch must sense it too because he doesn’t argue with her further, only scowls in silence.
“There’s no way it’s one of us,” Razor says, oblivious to Mia’s temper or just immune to the consequences.
“We never suspected Ramsey either,” Grey points out, and I shoot him a grateful look that he didn’t leave Mia to navigate that moment since she’s already trembling.
She crosses her arms to hide it, but I notice it anyway. Just like I notice everything about her.
At Grey’s words, the mood of the room shifts.
I hate this for them, but it can’t be avoided.
Grey looks at me.
“You’ve been quiet,” he says. “Do you agree with Mia’s strategy?”
Every head turns, their focus—and ire—suddenly aimed at me. But I’ve been assessed by rooms full of dangerous wolves before. So, I take my time and tell the truth.
“Yes,” I say. “Tightening the perimeter around the alphas is the smart play.” I glance at Lexi.
“If you’re worried about innocent people getting hurt, that’s less likely if all your soldiers are concentrated together.
That means they won’t have to fight alone.
And are less likely to die since they’ll have backup. ”
Lexi blinks like she hadn’t considered that.
Dutch makes a sound I take as rough agreement.
Andy jots more notes on her tablet.
I look back at Grey. “Going after Ramsey without closing the intelligence gap first is how you lose more people.” I pause. “But I want to add something else.”
Grey nods.
“The leak problem doesn’t get solved by changing patrol routes or limiting intel,” I say.
“Ramsey will adapt. He'll find new angles. Recruit new informants. All while you’re still looking for the old ones.” I hold Grey's gaze.
“Your best bet is to find the source now. While the circle is small. And we have to consider that the source could be anyone with access to sensitive information.” I let that sit for exactly one beat. “Including someone in this room.”
Razor makes a sound that isn’t quite a laugh. “Read my fucking mind with that one.”
His glower makes it clear I’m his number one suspect.
“Razor,” Grey says quietly. A warning, not a rebuke.
“I'm not accusing anyone,” I say, keeping my voice even. “I'm saying you can’t rule anyone out until you’ve investigated properly.”
Razor looks at me for a long moment. Then at Dutch. Then at Grey, who is watching the whole exchange with the particular patience of an alpha who has already thought this through.
“Nash is right,” Grey says. “Nobody’s above suspicion until we know for sure.”
“Which means we need a process,” Lexi says. She’s been quiet until now, absorbing. “Something structured. Fair.”
“Interviews,” Mia says. “One on one. Grey or Lexi present to—" She pauses, choosing her words carefully. “To detect inconsistencies.”
The room understands what she means without her having to say Use your alpha power to sense deception. Grey and Lexi exchange a look, the quick silent communication of mated wolves, and both nod.
“The problem,” Mia continues, and something in her voice shifts almost imperceptibly, “is that the interviewers need to be an unbiased third party. Not a member of our pack. Otherwise, Lexi and Grey might read it wrong. Pick up on the wrong liar.”
“Nash and Marcus,” Grey says.
I glance at Marcus. He gives me nothing, which is his way of saying obviously.
“We’re unbiased third parties,” I confirm. “No pack ties. No relationships that complicate the process.” Marcus kicks me under the table for that, but I ignore him and look at Grey. “If you’re comfortable with that.”
“And who’s going to investigate you?” Razor demands.
“Grey will,” I say, and everyone goes quiet, even Razor.
“Wait. Do you mean…” Dutch trails off, brow furrowed.
I nod.
“You sure?” Grey asks warily. “You don’t have to open yourself up like that.”
“Yes,” I say, “I do. If you’re going to trust me with finding a traitor in your pack, this is the least I can do to prove that trust is well-placed.”
Lexi breaks the silence that follows. “Can someone explain why everyone looks equal parts impressed and worried by whatever it is you’re going to do?”
Dutch gives a lopsided smile to his she-alpha and explains, “Nash is going to offer a blood oath to Grey. And you, by extension. The oath is a sacred thing among wolves.”
“Like the oath the pack took for us?” Lexi asks.
“Similar. Without the spoken oath, it’s temporary. A few minutes, maybe less. Long enough for Grey to read intent, not long enough to bind anyone permanently.”
“Oh.” Lexi’s eyes widen, and she glances at me.
There’s a new sort of respect in her eyes as she looks at me and Marcus, and I know she gets it in a way the rest of her pack can’t.
Any wolf volunteering access to their deepest, darkest secrets is vulnerable enough, but for an alpha to do it is like offering up their power.
And we’d sooner die than give that away. It’s in our blood.
“Are you sure?” Grey asks again. “We can find another way.”
“I’m sure,” I say quietly, sneaking a glance at Mia.
She’s watching me with an expression I can’t read, which is rare these days.
Marcus clears his throat and pushes to his feet. “I’m willing to go first.”
“Wait. Now?” Lexi asks.
Marcus shrugs. “Why not?”
“Damn,” Dutch mutters. “Hard core.”
Razor hasn’t argued another word, and when I check again, there’s grudging respect in his gaze now.
Grey stands and comes around the table to face Marcus and me.
“It’s a rare thing for a wolf to let another alpha inside his head,” Grey tells Marcus. “I appreciate this. So does my pack.”
“We’re all fighting for the same things,” Marcus tells him. “I’m happy to do it.”