Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 55: We Have a Mole.

The pieces started clicking together in my mind, like the final strokes of a puzzle coming into focus. I could feel the adrenaline building, my thoughts racing as everything started to make sense. Finely.

"I have another question," I said, almost surprised by the clarity that was emerging. "How did Leo have access to the patrol schedule?"

Derek paused, his gaze narrowing as he studied me. "What do you mean?"

I leaned forward, my hands gripping the edge of the couch as I spoke. "If Leo is your biggest enemy, then the patrol must know him. How come no one's spotted him? No one has said anything, right?"

Derek's expression darkened, but I wasn't finished yet. I felt like I was finally seeing the full picture. "And now I'm connecting the dots. I only found out about the patrol schedule recently, when I joined. The places I've seen him—and the times—lined up exactly between the patrol shifts. He knew where to be and when, without being seen. The only exception was the hospital... but he couldn't have been there."

Derek was silent for a moment, his face carefully unreadable. The tension in the room grew thicker. "Are you suggesting we have a mole?" he asked, his voice low.

I took a deep breath, the weight of the realization sinking in. "I'm saying he has help. Someone inside the pack, someone who knows the patrol routes and schedules. They're feeding him information. And if they can keep Leo in the shadows, they might be doing the same with others." My mind was spinning, the scope of what we were facing becoming clearer by the second.

Derek's jaw clenched. "That's not something we can ignore," he muttered, as if already calculating the implications. "We need to find out who it is, and fast."

I nodded, my heart racing. "Exactly. Whoever this is... they're helping Leo. They might even be the reason we've been caught off guard so many times."

Derek stood up, his eyes blazing with determination. "We'll find them. Don't worry, Deniz. If someone's been feeding Leo information, they won't get away with it."

I could see the fire in his eyes—he was determined to protect us, to get to the bottom of this. And for the first time since all of this started, I felt like we had a fighting chance.

"We'll start by reviewing everything," Derek continued, his voice steady and full of authority. "Every shift, every patrol. Someone's going to slip up. And don't tell anyone from the patrol. It is hard to say but you are the only one I trust."

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "I have to go. I've been here too long—Aras must be worried," I said, my voice softer now. Without waiting for a reply, I turned and left.

The moment I stepped out of Derek's office, the cool air hit my skin, grounding me. My thoughts were still swirling, the weight of the revelations pressing heavily on my chest. Leo had someone helping him. That much was clear now. And if that was true, who else could we trust?

I pushed those thoughts aside as I made my way back to the others. Aras would worry if I lingered too long, and I couldn't give him another reason to doubt my safety.

Derek's Story

"She's smart," I muttered under my breath, leaning back in my chair after Deniz left. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration. The way she pieced everything together so quickly—it was as though the pieces had been staring us in the face all along, but only she could see the pattern.

And she was probably right. Leo hadn't been working alone. It explained everything—the precise timing, the gaps in our patrols, his ability to slip through unnoticed. A traitor among us. The thought made my blood boil. One of our own was helping that snake walk among us like a shadow. Unseen. Undetected. Until now.

But then my thoughts drifted back to the moment earlier.
I didn't say anything. I couldn't. But the truth weighed heavy on me, pressing down until I felt like I might shatter under it. It was my fault. Every damn thing that had happened to her—it all came back to me.

It was my fault she'd been taken. My fault she'd been hurt, my fault that she had to protect herself like that.

And now, it was my fault she felt like this—shaking, lost, and drowning in memories that should never have been hers to endure.

When she broke down in front of me, when she couldn't breathe, and I was the one who held her together. I'd been so close to her—closer than I'd been in a long time.

The last time we were that close, I kissed her. And now... I could barely stop myself. I wanted to kiss her again, to pull her into my arms, to shield her from everything and promise her I'd protect her for the rest of her life. But I couldn't. I was nearly engaged, for the Moon's sake. With another woman.

"I'm proud of you," David said, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. I could feel the amusement radiating off him, and it grated on my nerves. Always a cheerful supporter.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I did what was necessary to help her calm down. That's it."
David chuckled, the sound low and teasing. "Necessary, huh? Sure. But between us, I would've preferred you kissed her. It would've worked faster, don't you think?"

"David!" I snapped, my tone sharper than I intended. "She's part of my patrol. I was helping someone under my command. Nothing more."

He tilted his head, giving me a knowing look. "If you say so. But let's be honest, Derek—do you really think anyone's going to believe that? Hell, I don't believe it, and I live in your head."

"Enough." My voice dropped, but the irritation lingered. He always knew how to push the right buttons.
"Fine, fine," David said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "Whatever lets you sleep at night, Alpha." His grin didn't fade, though, and I could feel him stifling more comments.

There was a beat of silence before his tone shifted, serious now. "So, what's the plan for the mole?"
I exhaled slowly, letting my frustration melt into focus. "I'm going to find them," I said, my voice resolute. "And when I do, they won't escape."