Briar’s POV
I absorbed everything Asher had just told , weighing each word carefully. If anyone discovered he was investigating the Alpha, he would be the one facing serious consequences. However, if we could gather solid evidence of the Alpha’s cris, that might give us grounds to remove him from power.
"Are you completely certain the Alpha murdered your parents?" I pressed.
"I wasn’t completely certain until today. Not until I returned here and saw everything with fresh eyes. The Alpha seizing the dical examiner’s reports imdiately. The Luna being mysteriously absent. All those additional guards stationed around the packhouse." Asher’s voice carried a bitter edge.
"But you told they were always heavily guarded."
"I lied to you. I didn’t want to alarm you unnecessarily. Those guards weren’t there until word reached him that I was returning to town."
"How can you be sure of that?" I demanded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, pressing it into my hands.
The hastily scrawled ssage made my blood run cold.
He knows that you know sothing. Be careful. He’s going to have everyone watching you. He already knew that you’d been to the . Watch your back. And don’t depend on your brother or sister to help either.
"Who wrote this?" My voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Beta Dean slipped it to as we were leaving the packhouse."
"Isn’t this evidence enough?"
"Not really. They’ll claim Dean is as ntally unstable as they say I am, that we’re conspiring together to fabricate lies."
"How convenient for them."
"Exactly why I need irrefutable proof. Mountains of it."
"What happens once you have this evidence?"
"I haven’t decided yet. But Greta and Rowan definitely know more than they’re admitting."
My phone’s shrill ring cut through the tension, and I glanced at the screen to see mom calling.
"That was quick," I answered.
"The search was easier than expected. Does she want to stay hidden?" Mom’s voice sounded strained.
"We assu so, but we’re not entirely sure yet."
A long pause stretched across the line. I could hear dad’s muffled voice in the background, though his words were indistinct.
"What’s wrong?" I asked.
"Finding her took no ti at all because she’s not actually hiding. Everything about her is posted on the dark web, which is highly unusual. There are even surveillance photographs."
I caught Asher’s attention and switched the phone to speaker, asking mom to repeat her findings. Asher’s expression grew increasingly troubled as she spoke.
"Nobody posts photographs on the dark web where humans might stumble across them," Asher said grimly.
"Precisely. Soone has been monitoring this woman for years," Mom confird.
"Years," Asher said quietly. "That’s exactly how long my parents have been dead."
The revelation hit like a physical blow. Everything I was learning about wolf pack dynamics contradicted everything I’d been taught growing up. I’d believed all packs worked together harmoniously, united against human threats. Instead, I was discovering internal warfare, betrayals, and conspiracies that rivaled anything humans were capable of.
The Hunters had fed nothing but carefully constructed lies. Every lesson, every belief system they’d instilled in was crumbling. Not that it mattered now. Mom and dad had ensured the Hunters were completely eliminated, leaving as the sole survivor for obvious reasons.
"Where is she located?" Asher asked.
"She’s living in Richmond. It’s a small town with only fifteen hundred residents, so new faces will be noticed imdiately. And she already has people surveilling her. Whatever she’s involved in, I don’t want you getting mixed up in it, Briar."
I looked at Asher, who nodded encouragingly. I spent the next several minutes explaining everything we’d discovered, every suspicion we’d developed, and every piece of evidence we’d gathered.
"We’ll investigate what we can from our end. You two need to be extrely careful. Don’t get yourselves killed over this. Once you uncover the truth, get out of there imdiately. That Alpha will eliminate you both if he learns you know what really happened," Mom warned.
"Don’t worry. We’re not staying here any longer than absolutely necessary."
The mont I ended the call, Asher jumped up and grabbed his keys.
"Where are you going?"
"We need to reach her house under cover of darkness so nobody spots us. We have to leave now."
We departed imdiately and drove for hours through winding back roads to Richmond. By the ti we arrived, it was well past midnight, and we headed straight to the address mom had provided.
The house was modest but well-maintained, nothing like the opulent packhouse or other luxurious werewolf residences I’d seen. We parked several houses away and crept silently up the street, slipping into her yard.
Moving around to the rear of the house, we peered through the windows. Ruth appeared to be either asleep or absent, as every light was extinguished. I approached the back door and knelt down, pulling out my lock-picking tools.
"Another skill the Hunters taught you?" Asher whispered.
"Of course."
Once the lock clicked open, we slipped inside, constantly scanning for any sign of surveillance, and quietly secured the door behind us.
"How’s your night vision?" Asher asked in barely audible tones.
"Perfect. I can see everything clearly."
"Good. That ans you won’t crash into any furniture."
We moved thodically through the back room into the kitchen, where I discovered mail scattered across the counter.
"Definitely the right house," I confird, showing Asher the na on several envelopes.
He nodded, and we continued through the dining room into the sparsely furnished living area. The house reflected an almost minimalist lifestyle, with basic furniture and few personal belongings visible.
We had just started down the hallway when suddenly a baseball bat ca swinging out of one of the bedrooms. Asher ducked just in ti, but I managed to catch the weapon after it struck the wall. I yanked hard on the bat, pulling a woman from her bedroom into the hallway with us.
"Ruth, it’s ," Asher said calmly. She imdiately stopped struggling and turned to face Asher, who stood with his hands raised peacefully, clearly intending no harm.
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