shuhaige
Chapter 324
better.”
We walked further away from camp, then Piper suddenly froze, staring at something half buried in the dirt. “What’s that?”
I knelt next to her and brushed the loose dirt away. Whatever it was, it gleamed in the moonlight a dagger, the handle carved all over with signs and symbols.
Piper gasped. “I’ve seen this before.”
I frowned, turning the weapon over in my hands. “Where?”
“It’s from Calla’s network,” she said, her tone laced with unease. “These symbols were in the archives Rowan and Lila mentioned.”
A chill ran down my spine. “Then this isn’t just about Orion’s pack. Calla’s influence might be deeper than we thought.”
Piper straightened, her face hardening. “We need to tell Aurora. Now.”
Piper and I were standing in Aurora’s quarters, the dagger lying on the table between us. Aurora’s fingers hovered over the intricate symbols on the handle as her face twitched in noveldrama
confusion.
“This dagger.” she started, her voice trailing off as she turned it over in her hands. “These markings are you absolutely certain
they’re linked to Calla?
Piper nodded, her tone level. “Rowan and Lila found similar symbols in the archives. They’re linked to Calla’s network. This isn’t a coincidence.”
Aurora’s jaw clamped tight as she studied the weapon. “If this is Calla’s network, then this is more than the Orion’s pack. They are working in concert to take us apart from within.”
I swallowed as my discomfort floated to the top of the cauldron of my anxiety. “If these are aligned, then this was a plan concocted well in advance. This explains why Orion is confident.”
Piper crossed her arms over her chest, a stance unmistakable for defense. “We have to strike first, Aurora. They’re relying on us being uncertain and divisive.”
Aurora shook her head, pacing around the room. “Strike impulsively, it is exactly what they’re expecting, thus giving them their excuse to attack.”
Her voice sharpened. “And so we’re just going to sit around and let them pick away?
“No,” Aurora said firmly, wheeling on us. “We prepare. Every patrol will be doubled, every scout will have strict orders to report even the smallest movement. I will not let them catch us off guard.”
The air was thick with tension between Piper and me as our eyes
met. Finally, my voice came low. “What about this dagger? Shouldn’t we show it to the council? They need to know what we’re up against.”
Aurora looked caught off guard; the weight of her leadership shone in her eyes. “Not yet. If we show this now, it may cause panic. We need more information before we act.”
Piper stepped forward, undaunted. “Aurora, every minute we waste gives them an edge. The pack should know what’s going
on.”
The ice in Aurora’s voice began to melt, though her firm stance did not waver. “I understand your frustration, Piper, but trust me on this. The truth will come out but only when we’re ready to act on it.”
Piper let out a sharp sign; she was unhappy, yet said nothing
more.
In the dead silence, Aurora looked at the dagger for the last time, the skin on her fingers barely touching the cold metal. “It’s different now,” she whispered low.
The gleam was soft as her eyes raised to our eyes in which determination fluttered to life.
“We’re no longer protecting only our pack. We’ve unraveled all their webs now. And we cannot afford to lose this one.