# CHAPTER 67: THE INTERROGATION
Dawn breaks. Cold. Grey. Unforgiving.
Alana stands at the window. Watching the light creep across the grounds. The evidence of yesterday's exodus. Still visible. Empty spaces. Where families once gathered. Silence. Where laughter once echoed.
*The pack. Reduced. But not defeated.*
*Those who remained. Did so. By choice. Not coercion.*
*And that. Makes all the difference.*
Through the bond. She feels them. The ones who stayed. Rising. Preparing. Steeling themselves. For what comes.
*Today. We secure. The traitors. Today. We turn. Threats. Into weapons.*
*Or eliminate them.*
---
The war room.
Assembled. The inner circle. Alexander. Derek. Morgan. Gideon. William. Vivian.
*The faces. Grim. Determined. Ready.*
"We take them. One at a time." Alana outlines. The plan. Formed. In the sleepless. Hours. "Separate. Isolate. Confront. With evidence."
*The strategy. Clear. But the execution. Dangerous.*
"Who first?" Morgan asks.
*Alana considers. The three names. Jason. Elena. Rebecca. Each different. Each valuable. In different ways.*
"Jason. He's our source. For the DA files. He has access. To information. We need." She pauses. "He's also. The most likely. To cooperate. He's been. Playing both sides. Already. We just need. To make sure. He's playing. For us."
*The logic. Cold. But sound.*
"Where is he now?"
"His apartment. In the city." Gideon answers. "He doesn't know. We know. About him."
*Good. The element. Of surprise. Intact.*
---
"Take a team." Alexander orders. "Quietly. Don't alarm him. Bring him here. For questioning."
*The command. Given. The action. Initiated.*
*Gideon nods. Rises. Leaves. To assemble. The team.*
*The rest. Wait. In tense. Silence.*
---
Two hours later.
Jason arrives.
Escorted. By Gideon. And two others. His face. Confused. But not. Afraid.
*He thinks. He's here. For a meeting. Or a task.*
*He doesn't know. What's coming.*
*Through the bond. Alana feels. His emotions. Curiosity. Wariness. But not guilt. Not yet.*
*He's good. At hiding.*
*Or he doesn't know. What he's done. Is wrong.*
---
The war room.
Jason stands. Before them. Looking around. At the assembled. Leadership.
"You asked. For me. Luna?"
*His voice. Respectful. Professional. The perfect. Subordinate.*
*Alana studies him. This man. Who helped them. While betraying them. Who played. Both sides. With skill.*
*How do you confront. Someone like that?*
*With truth. And leverage.*
---
"Sit." She gestures. To a chair. In the center. Of the room.
*Jason sits. His brow. Furrowed. With confusion.*
"Is something. Wrong?"
*Alana doesn't answer. Immediately. Letting the silence. Stretch. Build. Become. Uncomfortable.*
*Through the bond. She feels. His unease. Growing. The first. Stirrings. Of fear.*
"Jason." She begins. Voice. Calm. Measured. "We have. A problem."
*What kind. Of problem?*
"A trust. Problem." She leans. Forward. Meets. His eyes. "Someone. In our circle. Has been. Providing information. To the Special Unit."
*The words. Land. Like stones. In still water.*
*Jason's face. Changes. Subtly. A flicker. Of something. In his eyes. Quickly. Suppressed.*
*I don't. Know anything. About that.*
*The lie. Smooth. Professional. Exactly. What she expected.*
---
"Don't you?"
*Alana pulls out. The file. The evidence. Gideon compiled. Places it. On the table. Before him.*
*The file. Contains. Communications. Between Jason. And his handler. Transaction records. For payments received. Photographs. Of meetings. In the city.*
*The proof. Irrefutable.*
*Jason's face. Goes pale.*
"I can. Explain."
*The standard. Response. Of the caught.*
*Alana holds. Up a hand. Stops him.*
"I don't want. Explanations. I want. The truth."
---
*She lets. The silence. Stretch again.*
"Here's. What I know." She begins. Reciting. The evidence. Dates. Times. Amounts. Information. Passed.
*Jason listens. His face. Growing. Increasingly. Pale.*
"Here's. What I suspect." She continues. "You didn't do this. Because you hate. The pack. You did it. Because they. Have something. On you. Or someone. You love."
*The guess. Educated. Based on. Selene's story. The pattern. Of coercion.*
*Jason's composure. Finally. Cracks.*
"My mother." His voice. Breaks. "She's sick. Cancer. The Special Unit. Has access. To experimental. Treatments. They promised. To help her. If I..."
*The reason. Relatable. Human. But still. A betrayal.*
---
"How long?"
"Eight months." Jason's voice. Is hollow. "They approached me. After I started. Working at. The firm. They knew. About my mother. Before I even. Told anyone."
*The surveillance. On potential assets. Extensive. Thorough. Terrifying.*
"What did you. Tell them?"
"Everything." Jason's voice. Drops. To a whisper. "About the pack. The Luna. The bond. The prophecy." He looks up. Eyes wet. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
*The confession. Complete. The truth. Finally. Spoken.*
---
Alana sits back.
*The pattern. Confirming. What she suspected. The Special Unit. Finds vulnerabilities. And exploits them.*
*Jason. Like Selene. A victim. Of circumstance. Who made. The wrong choice. For the right. Reasons.*
*But unlike Selene. He didn't come forward. When he had. The chance.*
"Why didn't. You tell us? When we. Started working. Together?"
*Jason hesitates.*
"I was scared. They said. They'd kill her. If I exposed. The arrangement." His voice. Breaks. "And then... I started. To believe. Maybe it wasn't. So bad. The information. I gave you. Was real. I thought. Maybe I could. Balance. Both sides."
*The rationalization. Common. Among double. Agents. Telling themselves. They're helping. Everyone.*
*When really. They're helping. No one.*
---
"Here's. What happens. Now." Alana's voice. Hardens. "You have. A choice."
*Jason looks up. Hope. Warring. With fear.*
"Continue. Working for them. And face. Pack justice. For treason."
*The option. Terrible. Final.*
"Or work. For us. Fully. Completely. No more. Games. No more. Balance. You tell us. Everything. They want. To know. And we. Feed them. What we want. Them to know."
*The alternative. Dangerous. But possible.*
---
"My mother?"
"We protect her. Move her. To a location. The Unit. Can't reach." Alana's voice. Is firm. "You have. My word."
*The promise. Binding. As a Luna's. Oath.*
*Jason considers. The choice. The weight. Of the decision. Clear. On his face.*
"Okay." He whispers. "I'll do it. I'll work. For you."
*The commitment. Made. The allegiance. Shifted.*
*Or so. He says.*
*Through the bond. Alana feels. His sincerity. But also. His fear. His desperation. His hope.*
*The emotions. Real. But not. Completely. Trustworthy.*
*They would. Have to. Watch him. Closely.*
---
"Good." Alana rises. "You'll be. Under guard. Until. The current situation. Is resolved. After that. We discuss. Your future. With the pack."
*The terms. Clear. Non-negotiable.*
"Someone will. Bring your mother. Here. Tonight. She'll be. Safe. I promise."
*The commitment. Repeated. The assurance. Given.*
*Jason nods. Eyes wet. With gratitude. And shame.*
"Thank you. Luna. I won't. Let you down. Again."
*The promise. Spoken. The test. To come.*
---
Jason is led. Away. By guards. To a secure. Room. Where he'll stay. Under watch. Until. The crisis. Passes.
*One down. Two to go.*
*Alana exhales. The first. Confrontation. Over. But not. The hardest.*
*Elena. Next. The healer. Who touched. Her wounds. Who knew. Her vulnerabilities. Intimately.*
*That betrayal. Cut deeper.*
---
The afternoon.
Elena is brought. From the infirmary. Where she was. Working. On patients.
*Her face. Confused. Concerned. Not afraid. Yet.*
*The demeanor. Of someone. Who believes. They have. Nothing. To hide.*
*Through the bond. Alana feels. Her emotions. Genuine concern. For the pack. But also. Something else. A wall. A barrier. Blocking. Deeper. Thoughts.*
*The shielding. Of someone. Who knows. How to hide.*
---
They meet. In a different. Room. Not the war room. A smaller. More intimate. Space.
*Alana sits. Across from. The healer. Who helped. Save lives. After the battle.*
*Who also. Helped the enemy. Target those. Same lives.*
"You asked. For me. Luna." Elena's voice. Is soft. Professional. "Is someone. Hurt?"
*The question. Innocent. The concern. Appearing. Genuine.*
*Alana studies. The woman. Before her. Mid-thirties. Gentle face. Healer's hands. The kind. Of person. You'd trust. With your life.*
*And yet.*
---
"No one. Is hurt." Alana begins. "But someone. Has been. Betraying. The pack."
*Elena's face. Shows. Appropriate. Shock. Concern. The expected. Reactions.*
"That's terrible. Do you know. Who?"
*The question. Too quick. Too smooth.*
*Alana pulls out. The file. Places it. Between them.*
*Elena looks. At the file. At the evidence. Her face. Changing. As she reads. The communications. The records. The proof.*
*Her own name. At the top. Of every page.*
---
"Tell me. Why."
*The demand. Simple. Direct.*
*Elena's composure. Crumbles. Instantly. Unlike Jason. Who held. For minutes. Elena. Breaks. Immediately.*
"They have. My daughter." The words. Tumble out. Desperate. "She's twelve. Lives with. Her father. In Oregon. They took her. Last month. Said they'd. Hurt her. If I didn't. Cooperate."
*The leverage. A child. The most. Vulnerable. Point. For any parent.*
---
"Your daughter. Isn't listed. In the pack. Records."
*Elena's eyes. Fill. With tears.*
"She's not. A wolf. She's human. Her father. Is human. We divorced. Years ago. But she's. Still my baby."
*The explanation. Making sense. The vulnerability. Hidden. From pack. Knowledge. A secret. Exploited.*
"Does Alexander. Know? About her?"
*Elena shakes. Her head.*
"I never. Told anyone. She was. My secret. My life. Outside. The pack."
*The isolation. That made. Her vulnerable.*
---
"What did you. Tell them?"
"Medical information. Mostly. Injuries. Treatments. Who was. Hurt. How badly. How long. To recover."
*The intelligence. Valuable. For planning. An attack. Knowing. Who could. Fight. And who. Couldn't.*
"What else?"
*Elena hesitates.*
"About you. The baby. Your condition. Your stress. Levels. Everything. I observed. In the infirmary."
*The violation. Intimate. Personal.*
*Alana feels. A flash. Of anger. Through the bond. Her own. And Alexander's.*
*But she. Pushes it. Down. Focuses. On the goal.*
---
"Your daughter. What's her name?"
"Sophia." Elena's voice. Breaks. On the name. "She loves. Horses. Wants to be. A veterinarian. When she. Grows up."
*The details. Humanizing. The betrayer. Making it. Harder. To hate. Her completely.*
"We'll get. Her back." Alana promises. "But you need. To work. With us. Completely. No more. Secrets."
*The terms. Same. As Jason.*
"Can you. Do that?"
*Elena looks up. Eyes. Desperate. Grateful. Hopeful.*
"Yes. Anything. To protect. Sophia."
*The commitment. Made. The allegiance. Shifted.*
*Again. They would. Have to. Watch. Closely.*
---
Elena is led. Away. To a secure. Location. Away from. The infirmary. Away from. Patients. She might. Compromise.
*Two down. One to go.*
*Rebecca. The last. Of the three.*
---
Evening.
Rebecca is brought. From the training. Grounds. Where she was. Helping. With preparations.
*Her face. Shows. Confusion. But also. Something else. Sharpness. Awareness. Not the innocent. Confusion. Of the others.*
*Through the bond. Alana feels. A different. Quality. To her emotions. Less fear. More calculation.*
*This one. Is different.*
---
The war room.
Rebecca stands. Before the table. Arms crossed. Defiant. Not scared.
"You wanted. To see me."
*A statement. Not a question. The attitude. Of someone. Who knows. Something. Is wrong.*
*Alana studies her. This one. Didn't break. At the sight. Of the file. Like the others.*
*Interesting.*
---
"Sit."
*Rebecca doesn't. Move.*
"I prefer. To stand."
*The defiance. Deliberate. The challenge. Subtle.*
*Alana doesn't. Rise to it.*
"As you wish." She slides. The file. Across the table. Toward. Rebecca. "We have. A problem. Someone in. The pack. Has been. Providing. Information. To enemies."
*Rebecca's eyes. Flick. To the file. But she. Doesn't. Touch it.*
"And you. Think. That's me?"
*I know. It's you.*
*Alana opens. The file. Herself. Reads. Aloud. The evidence. The communications. The transactions.*
*Rebecca listens. Her face. Unchanged. Unmoved.*
---
"That's. Interesting." She says. When Alana. Finishes. "But it's. Not proof. Of anything."
*The denial. Even with. The evidence. Before her.*
*Different. From the others. More confident. Less afraid.*
*Why?*
*Through the bond. Alana probes. Deeper. Past. The walls. The shields. The barriers.*
*And finds.*
*Nothing.*
*Not emptiness. But absence. A void. Where emotions. Should be.*
*This one. Is different.*
---
"What did they. Offer you?"
*Rebecca smiles. Cold. Thin.*
"Who?"
"The Special Unit."
*The smile. Widens.*
"I don't know. What you're. Talking about."
*The denial. Persistent. Even when. Pointless.*
*Alana changes. Tactics.*
---
"We know. About Jason. And Elena." She says. "They've already. Confessed. And agreed. To work. For us."
*Rebecca's smile. Slips. Slightly. The first. Crack. In the facade.*
"We know. How the Unit. Operates. Threats. Coercion. Leverage." Alana continues. "But you. You're different."
*She circles. The table. Studies. Rebecca. From. Different. Angles.*
"They didn't. Threaten you. Did they?"
*Silence.*
"They paid you."
*The statement. Lands. In the room.*
*Rebecca's eyes. Narrow.*
---
"You're smart. To figure. That out." Her voice. Changes. The pretense. Dropping. "But it. Doesn't matter. The Unit. Always wins. In the end."
*The first. Honest. Words. She's spoken.*
"Why do you. Say that?"
"Because. They have. Resources. Manpower. Technology. Centuries. Of experience. You're. One pack. In the mountains. With magic. And fur. You can't. Win."
*The assessment. Harsh. But not. Entirely. Wrong.*
---
"Then why. Are you. Here? If you think. We'll lose. Why stay? Why not. Run?"
*Rebecca. Hesitates.*
*The question. Touching. Something. Unexpected.*
"Because." Her voice. Drops. "They promised. Me a position. In the new. Order. After. They take. Control."
*The motivation. Different. From the others. Not fear. Or love. Or desperation. But ambition.*
*The hardest. Kind. Of traitor. To turn.*
---
"A position." Alana repeats. "In the new order. Where wolves. Are controlled. Studied. Eliminated. When convenient."
*Rebecca. Shrugs.*
"Wolves. Are dying. Anyway. The old ways. Don't work. The Unit. Offers. Survival. For those. Who cooperate."
*The rationalization. Of the collaborator.*
*Selling out. Her own kind. For personal. Advantage.*
---
*Alana feels. The anger. Rising. Through the bond. From Alexander. From Derek. From everyone. Listening. In the next room.*
*But she. Stays. Calm. Focused.*
"Let me. Make something. Clear." Her voice. Drops. The Luna. Emerging. "You've seen. The bond. The network. The shared. Power. You know. What we're. Capable of."
*Rebecca's eyes. Narrow.*
"So?"
"So the Unit. Doesn't know. Everything. They think. They understand us. But they don't." Alana steps. Closer. "You've seen. The proof. In our files. Of their operations. Their weaknesses. Their vulnerabilities."
*The counter-leverage. Revealed.*
"We have. Evidence. Enough. To expose. The entire. Operation. If we choose."
*Rebecca's composure. Finally. Cracks. Just. Slightly.*
---
"You're. Bluffing."
"Am I?" Alana tilts. Her head. "Gideon. Has been. Watching. Them. For years. We know. Names. Locations. Methods. Everything."
*The bluff. Partial. But. Effective.*
"If we go down. We take. Them. With us." Alana continues. "And you. As a known. Collaborator. Will be. First. On the list. Of those. They sacrifice. To protect. Themselves."
*The scenario. Plausible. The Unit. Would. Throw assets. Under the bus. To preserve. The larger. Operation.*
*Rebecca. Knows. This.*
---
"Or." Alana offers. "You work. For us. Double. The double. Agent. Feed them. What we want. Them to know. And survive. With the pack. When we win."
*The alternative. Presenting. The choice. Offering.*
"Because. We will. Win. The prophecy. Isn't. A fairy tale. It's real. And I am. The Luna. Of Two Worlds."
*The declaration. Confident. True. Felt. Through the bond. By everyone. Connected.*
*Rebecca's mask. Slips. Further.*
---
"I need. Guarantees."
"You get. None." Alana's voice. Hardens. "You made. Your choice. When you. Sold us. Out. Now. You make. Another. Turn. Or face. Consequences."
*The ultimatum. Clear. Non-negotiable.*
*Rebecca. Studies her. Long. Hard.*
*Then.*
"Fine." The word. Flat. Accepting. "I'll do it."
*The commitment. Made. But the trust. Nonexistent.*
*This one. Would need. Constant. Watching. More than. The others.*
---
Rebecca is led. Away. To a secure. Location. Guarded. By wolves. Who know. What she is.
*Three down. Three turned.*
*Or so. They claim.*
*Through the bond. Alana feels. Their emotions. Jason's. Genuine. Elena's. Desperate. Rebecca's. Calculating.*
*Three different. Motivations. Three different. Levels. Of trust.*
*But for now. Three assets. Against. The Unit.*
*Better than. Nothing.*
---
That night.
The war room. Again.
*The inner circle. Reassembled. To discuss. The results.*
"Jason. Sincere. I think." William. Offers. His assessment. "He's scared. Guilty. Wants to. Make amends."
*Agreed. His mother. Is real. The leverage. Is real. He'll cooperate.*
"Elena. Desperate. Her daughter. Is everything. She'll do. Whatever. It takes. To protect. Her."
*Also agreed. But watch her. Her fear. Makes her. Unpredictable.*
"Rebecca." Alexander. Speaks. His voice. Grim. "She's. Dangerous. I can feel it. Through the bond. She's already. Calculating. Her next. Move."
*Yes. She's. The riskiest. Of the three. But also. Potentially. The most. Valuable. She knows. The Unit's. Methods. Better than. The others.*
---
"We use them. Carefully." Alana decides. "Feed them. Information. Separately. Different details. To each. So if one. Betrays. We know. Who."
*The strategy. Smart. The precaution. Necessary.*
"What about. The raid?" Morgan asks. "Two days. We need. To prepare."
*The next phase. Of the crisis. Looming.*
"Tomorrow. We drill. Everyone. Positions. Signals. Contingencies. By tomorrow night. Every fighter. Knows. Their role."
*The plan. Forming. The preparation. Beginning.*
---
"One more thing." Gideon. Speaks. His voice. Tense.
*All eyes. Turn. To him.*
"The Unit. Has a new. Asset. Arriving. Tomorrow. Someone. With specific. Knowledge. Of the bond. And how. To disrupt it."
*The information. Chilling.*
"Who?"
"I don't know. The files. Don't say. But they're. Bringing in. A specialist."
*The threat. Escalating. The danger. Increasing.*
---
Alana closes her eyes.
Reaches. Through the bond. To the network. To every. Connected soul.
*Brothers. Sisters. Pack.* Her voice. Echoes. In hundreds. Of minds. *The enemy grows stronger. But so do we. Tomorrow. We prepare. The day after. We fight.*
*Whatever comes. We face it. Together.*
*The response. A surge. Of determination. Of unity. Of resolve.*
*Together. Always together.*
---
**END OF CHAPTER 67**
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