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I stare at the number on the screen. “Out of three thousand?”

“Exactly.”

That leaves one thousand fighters spread across Silver Moon and divided into six hour rotations. When the alarm sounded, some had to defend the border while others gathered and protected the two thousand pack members who couldn't fight. The numbers move through my head quickly until I realize how few warriors were actually available to respond inside the territory.

“About thirteen hundred,” I say.

Darian nods. “While everyone else was covering the border or protecting the pack.”

My eyes move down the request until I find my authorization beneath it. I approved the training after the hunter attack because I thought we needed it.

“He didn't leave a hole in our defenses,” Darian says.

“He created one.”

My Lycan snarls, and my claws push through my fingertips. Traitor.

I stare at my own name beneath Vale's request until Selena's face flashes through my mind. I approved it. I gave him permission to take those warriors out of position, and now my mate is gone.

Darian's hand closes around my shoulder. “Rylan.”

I look at him.

“We find them first.”

He's right. I can hate myself later.

“Pull everything Vale touched.”

Darian turns back to the computer while I return to the desk. He digs through deleted files and archived communications as I search Vale's physical records. Several minutes pass before he calls me back.

“The first rogue attack.”

I recognize the date before I reach him. Vale's name sits beside patrol schedules and security information that should never have left Silver Moon.

“That was before you and Arlene became our secretaries.”

Darian glances up at me. “You made us secretaries because you were trying to find whoever betrayed the pack.”

“And then Arlene found something wrong with Selena's tutor.”

His expression changes. “Brennan.”

I look at the information on the screen again. “Keep looking.”

I return to Vale's desk and search more carefully. One drawer is shallower than it should be, and when I remove the files inside, I find a false bottom. Several documents are hidden beneath it. I pull out the first one and feel my stomach tighten when I see Brennan's name beside Vale's.

“Darian.”

He leaves the computer and joins me at the desk. We read through the blood pact together, and I recognize enough of the symbols surrounding it to know we're looking at forbidden black magic. Vale's identity is protected. Anyone bound to the pact who tries to reveal his name dies before they can finish exposing him.

Darian's eyes lift to mine. “Brennan.”

The memory hits immediately. Brennan on his knees. My Alpha command forcing him to tell me who was behind what he'd been teaching Selena. His mouth opening just before his head exploded.

“He was trying to say Vale's name.”

“Yeah.”