Chapter 4

  Celeste

  The rogue camp was quiet in the early evening, most of the pack gathered around the central fire for dinner. But Celeste sat apart, near the edge of camp, staring at the small white stone in her paw. Alexandra had left it two nights ago. No message, just the stone, which meant she had information but couldn't risk a meeting yet. What if something happened? She thought, her mind racing through the things that could have happened. "You're doing it again," Koa said, dropping down beside her.

  "Doing what?"

  "Obsessing." He nodded at the stone. "You've been staring at that thing for ten minutes."

  Celeste closed her paw around it. "I'm not obsessing. I'm thinking."

  "About the princess?" Koa's tone was carefully neutral, but Celeste could hear the skepticism underneath.

  "Her name is Alexandra."

  "Right. Alexandra. Evelyn's daughter." Koa picked up a stick and started drawing patterns in the dirt. "Celeste, I need to ask you something, and I need you to really think about it before you answer." "Okay..." She said, eyeing him suspiciously. "Can we actually trust her?" Koa looked up, his eyes serious. "I know she helped us. I know she seems genuine. But she's been raised by Evelyn her whole life. What if this is a trap? What if she's feeding us false information to lead us into an ambush?" Koa asked, nervous and clearly overthinking this whole situation.

  Celeste had expected this. Koa was protective, cautious, always thinking three steps ahead. It was what made him a good fighter and an even better brother. But sometimes his caution felt like doubt. She was surprised because she had thought that Koa took a liking to her, which was interesting that he still had doubts.

  "It's not a trap," Celeste said firmly.

  "How do you know?" He countered, fidgeting with his paws. "Because I saw her face." Celeste remembered that night in the forest, Alexandra trembling so badly she could barely stand, tears streaming down her face as she offered to help. "Koa, she was terrified. She could barely get the words out. That wasn't an act."

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  "Fear can be faked."

  "Not like that." Celeste shook her head. "You didn't see her step between me and Evelyn. She was shaking so hard I thought she might collapse, but she did it anyway. That's not the behavior of someone setting a trap. That's the behavior of someone who's desperate to do the right thing even though it terrifies her." Koa was quiet for a moment, still drawing in the dirt. "She reminds you of yourself, doesn't she?" The observation caught Celeste off guard. "What?". "When we were younger. After Mom died." Koa's voice was gentle. "You were so angry at Dad for not being there, for not protecting her. You went against everything he wanted, trained in secret, pushed yourself until you were ready to break. Because you couldn't just sit there and do nothing."

  Celeste felt her throat tighten. "That's different.". "Is it?" Koa looked at her. "Alexandra is going against her mother, risking everything, because she can't sit there and watch the injustice anymore. Just like you couldn't.". "I..." Celeste didn't know what to say to that.

  "I'm not saying you're wrong to trust her," Koa continued. "I'm just saying... be careful. Because if you're wrong, if she betrays us, it won't just be you who gets hurt. It'll be the whole pack. And Kane." The mention of Kane made Celeste's chest ache. She hadn't seen him since that day at the ranch, hadn't been able to talk to him, to explain, to make sure he was okay. For all she knew, Evelyn had locked him away somewhere, or worse. "I know the risks," Celeste said quietly. "But Koa, we can't win this war through fighting alone. We're outnumbered, outmatched. If we have someone on the inside, someone who can warn us about attacks, who can help us avoid conflict... that could change everything."

  "Or it could get us all killed."

  "Maybe." Celeste looked down at the white stone again. "But I'd rather take that risk than give up on someone who's trying to help. Someone who's brave enough to stand up to Evelyn, even though it terrifies her." Koa sighed, tossing the stick aside. "You're not going to change your mind about this, are you?"

  "No."

  "Fine." He stood up, brushing dirt from his fur. "But I'm watching. And if anything seems off, if she does anything that puts the pack in danger, I'm pulling the plug on this whole operation. Understood?". "Understood." Celeste stood too, bumping her shoulder against his. "Thank you. For trusting my judgment, even when you don't agree with it.". "That's what brothers are for." Koa's expression softened. "Just... be careful, okay? Both with Alexandra and with Kane. I don't want to see you get hurt."

  "I'll be careful," Celeste promised.

  As Koa headed back toward the fire, Celeste looked down at the white stone one more time. Alexandra was out there somewhere, in the heart of enemy territory, risking everything to help them. Something that someone risks for someone. It can’t be a trap….right? The least Celeste could do was have faith in her. She just hoped that faith wouldn't get them all killed.