The weight of the moment hit me harder than I expected. Morgan had been right there. So close, yet just out of reach. I blinked, my mind struggling to process what I had seen. The wind still carried traces of her scent, but she was gone, swallowed by the shadows that always seemed to cling to her presence.

Why is she here? Did she know I was here?

"Elara," Calla said again, stepping closer. Her voice was softer this time, as if she could feel the raw edge in my emotions. "Are you sure it was her?"

I nodded, unable to find my voice. My throat felt tight, like I'd swallowed shards of ice. It had to be her. There was no mistaking that silhouette, the way she stood, her presence. I hadn't seen her since... since everything fell apart. Since the rogue pack had split us apart, leaving her lost to me in a storm of violence and betrayal.

"I would know her scent anywhere. I smelled it every day of my life growing up. It's burned in my memory."

Calla didn't push me for more. She stood beside me in silence, her hand resting lightly on my arm, grounding me in a way I didn't realize I needed. For a moment, the world was just us—me and Calla, standing together in the growing twilight, with the ghost of my sister lingering just beyond reach.

I could feel Calla's gaze on me, steady and unwavering, as if she were waiting for me to make the first move. But I couldn't. Not yet. My body was frozen, my thoughts tangled in a confusing knot of hope and fear. What if she had been watching us this entire time? What if she knew what we were doing—what I was doing?

"I have to find her," I whispered, more to myself than to Calla.

"You can't." Calla's voice was calm, but I could hear the tension underneath. "At this point, your Majesty, she's a traitor to us all and you have no idea how dangerous she is."

I clenched my jaw, my fingers still gripping the cold stone of the battlements. The logical part of me knew she was right. Rushing after Morgan without knowing what I was walking into would be reckless—dangerous. But I had to try. I needed to.

"I don't think she wants to be found, Elara." Calla's words were gentle, but they cut through the fog of my thoughts with painful clarity. "Not yet."

I turned to her then, my heart heavy with unspoken fears. "Then why was she here? Why now?"

Calla looked away, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon where Morgan had vanished. "I don't know. But I don't trust it. What if she's being controlled by that rogue pack? She left with them."

The unease in her voice sent a shiver down my spine. The truth was, I didn't trust it either. Morgan had always been... unpredictable. Even before everything went wrong. Her resentment felt like a wall between us, a barrier I had tried so hard to break down. But she was still my sister.

"I need to talk to Alpha Bryce," I said finally, my voice firmer than I felt. "He needs to know she's here."

Calla nodded. "I'll come with you."

We descended the battlements together, my mind still spinning with what I had seen. My heart pulled me toward Morgan, but my instincts—the part of me that had learned to survive through countless battles—told me not to trust her. Ever. There was something off about her sudden appearance. Something that didn't sit right.

As we entered the courtyard, Lars and Bryce were in deep conversation, their voices low but tense. Alpha Bryce caught sight of us first, his sharp gaze shifting immediately to me.

"Queen Elara," he greeted, stepping forward. "You've found something."

I swallowed, nodding. "It's Morgan, my sister. I saw her... out there, near the edge of the meadow. She was watching us."

His face tightened, the calm mask he usually wore cracking for just a moment. "Are you certain?"

"I know my sister," I said, my voice steadier than before. "It was her."

Lars' eyes narrowed, glancing at Alpha Bryce before speaking. "That's not good. If she's here, the rogues might not be far behind."

"She didn't seem like she was with anyone," I said quickly. "She was alone. At least... I think she was."

Alpha Bryce crossed his arms, his expression dark. "I don't know much about Morgan, but if she's out there watching us, it could mean the rogues are planning something bigger than we anticipated."

Calla spoke up, her voice steady, "we know she's with the rogues now. We need to be cautious and prepare for that possibility.

They're right. There is absolutely nothing in Morgan's character that says she would even entertain talking to me.

I sighed and nodded my head. "You're right. She would never listen to me even if she wasn't mated to the leader of the rogue pack."

Alpha Bryce's gaze softened slightly, his features more thoughtful. "I'm sorry about all of this, Queen Elara. I know this is difficult, but I don't think it would be a good idea to look for the Moonstone shards tonight. There is no doubt in my mind that they have a trap set up for you out there."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. A trap. It made sense in the worst possible way.

"Honestly," I said, more to myself than anyone else. "Her showing up here was probably entirely her idea and there most likely is a trap set somewhere out there."

Calla leaned forward in the chair she'd sat in, her emerald eyes glinting with determination. "We can't let fear dictate our actions. Morgan may think she's playing a clever game, but she underestimates us." Her fingers danced nervously over the table, tracing the patterns of the old wood, but her voice held steady. "If she's out there with the rogues, we need a strategy. We can't confront them head-on, not yet."

"Exactly," I replied, my voice tinged with frustration. "We can't just sit here and wait for her to make the first move. She's always been the one to manipulate the game, and this time is no different." The weight of the situation bore down on me, and I rubbed my temples, trying to stave off the headache that threatened to overwhelm me.

"Perhaps we can use the element of surprise," Alpha Bryce suggested, his brow furrowing in concentration. "If we gather our most trusted warriors, we can launch a reconnaissance mission. Find out exactly what they're up to without them knowing."

"Surprise?" Calla scoffed, shaking her head. "Do you really think we can outsmart them? We have no idea how long the rogue pack has been watching all of us. They know our every move; they've been playing this game longer than any of us. And now that they have someone who knows the Queen's scent..." Her voice rose, laced with a mixture of anger and fear, as she crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. "If we go in unprepared, we might as well be walking into a slaughterhouse."

The tension in the room thickened, wrapping around us like a suffocating blanket. I glanced at Alpha Bryce, who was staring into the distance, his jaw clenched. "What's bothering you?" I asked softly, sensing that he was wrestling with something deeper.

He turned his gaze toward me, his blue eyes filled with a storm of emotions. "I just have never had since blatant attack and disrespect brought to my pack.." His voice dropped, the gravity of his words hanging heavy in the air. "We're a peaceful pack. They are too brazen."

Lars stepped forward, his expression grave. "Majesty, we can't afford wishful thinking. Morgan's choices have consequences, and they could cost us dearly. We need to focus on what's real—on what we know." His voice was firm, but I could sense the underlying concern for me, for all of us.

I felt a tightness in my chest as I considered the implications. "I know. She made her decision when she decided to abandon all of us. I know she's a danger. I know. We have to do what we can to keep the Night Fall Runners safe. That is what is most important. Sister or not, we have to keep the wolves safe."

Bryce's gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw the leader, the protector who had always stood by my side. "I agree. We have to protect my pack."

"But how do we do that?" I asked, my voice quivering slightly. The enormity of our situation felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. "We can't just sit back and wait for them to strike, especially if they are coordinating something."

Alpha Bryce nodded slowly, his brow furrowing in thought. "We need to fortify our defenses and gather intelligence. But we also need to show a united front. If they think we're fractured, they'll exploit that weakness."

Calla's eyes gleamed with determination. "What about a feigned display of strength? If we appear to be gearing up for a confrontation, perhaps they'll hesitate to make their move. We can create a diversion while we search for Morgan."

Lars frowned. "That's risky. If they catch wind of our plans, they might retaliate before we're ready. We need to tread carefully."

"Then we split our forces," I suggested, a sudden spark of inspiration igniting within me. "A small group can stay here and fortify our position while a few others—maybe Calla and I—attempt to lure Morgan out, draw her away from the rogues."

Alpha Bryce studied me, his gaze penetrating. "And if she doesn't come alone?"

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "Then we'll have to be ready to confront the rogue pack."

"Don't mistake your hope for recklessness," Calla interjected, her voice steady but fierce. "We're playing a dangerous game here, Majesty."

"Then we'll have to hope that being ballsy is what we need to succeed," I replied.