Joe is a sharp man. He would not risk everything just to corner Ashton. That kind of move would damage both sides of the pack structure, and he knows better than to create a collapse that he cannot control. Still, without Ashton here to steady things, I felt like I was standing on unstable ground, unsure of where to step next.
Macy placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch firm but reassuring. "Relax for a bit. You're only twenty-six. You weren't raised to navigate this kind of internal power struggle. And honestly, this situation doesn't feel simple. There's more behind it than what we're seeing."
Her words settled in slowly, and I began to see the pattern she was pointing at. She was right. This did not unfold randomly. It happened while Ashton, Joe, and Jared were all away from the center of control. That timing felt too precise to ignore.
A thought surfaced, sharp and sudden.
Zachary.
