Chapter 83 United Factions
ARDEN
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Honey sat on the porch, her legs swinging back and forth as she hugged the stuffed wolf Cade had given her. Her big, round eyes followed me intently while I packed the last of my things. She didn’t say a word until I crouched down in front of her.
“You’re really leaving?” she asked, her voice small, carrying a hint of hope that we might stay another night. I, too, longed to spend more time with her. She was one of the most beautiful she–wolves I had ever encountered–both inside and out.
“I have to,” I said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “But just for now.”
Honey nodded, then glanced toward Cade, who was loading the final bag into the car. “Take care,” she whispered.
I offered her a small smile. “I will.”
She tugged on the hem of my shirt. “And take care of Cade too.”
That made me chuckle a little, a short exhalation through my nose. “I will.”
“And come back. So we can play again.” She held out her pinky, just like last time.
I smiled, hooking my pinky around hers. “I promise.”
We held it for a moment, just like before. Then I leaned in, resting my forehead gently against hers.
But when I pulled back slightly, my smile faded. I looked at her carefully, ensuring she understood what I was about to say.
“Honey,” I said slowly, “I’m going to make sure you get your justice too. I mean that. Especially with Mr. Winters.”
Something in her shifted when I uttered that name. Her entire body stiffened, then began to tremble. Her lip quivered, and she clutched the stuffed wolf tighter. It shattered something deep inside me. That kind of fear doesn’t arise from nowhere.
I pulled her into my arms, cradling her tightly as she shook. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. None of it was your fault,” I murmured, even though I didn’t yet know the complete
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situation.
She didn’t respond, but she held onto me for a moment. And while I couldn’t promise her forever, I could promise this: “We’re going to take care of you,” I whispered. “Me and Cade. We’ll ensure we see this through to the end. No matter what it takes.”
It took her a while to let go.
I stood up slowly, giving her one last wave before heading toward Cade, who was already behind the wheel of the car, the engine humming quietly. I climbed in, closed the door, and buckled up.
“You alright?” he asked without looking, adjusting the rearview mirror.
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m ready too.”
He hesitated to respond, his hands lingering on the steering wheel for a second too long. He didn’t want me coming. Though he had agreed, I knew him well enough by now to sense the worry behind that fleeting glance he cast my way.
I turned in my seat toward him. “The best time to infiltrate Winters‘ office is while the council meeting is ongoing,” I reminded him. “They’ll all be preoccupied, and he won’t expect it. We’ll need a direct line of communication if anything goes wrong.”
His jaw clenched but he nodded, a silent agreement passing between us.
That was all I needed.
He reached into the glove box and retrieved a small, silver capsule. “Your scent suppressor,” he said, placing it in my palm. “It should last long enough to get you in and out.”
“Thanks.”
“Just don’t get caught, please,” he murmured, eyes focused ahead.
“Of course not,” I replied, clipping the suppressor onto the inside of my collar.
Fortunately, Cade’s current bloodline meant he was welcomed among the United Factions. While he wasn’t usually allowed inside the council meeting, his family name still held enough weight for him to roam the grounds. That alone provided us with a slight advantage.
Still, the closer we got, the more I could feel his nerves intensifying.
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Chapter 83 United Factions
“Stay safe, please,” he said as we hit the first bend in the mountain road.
I looked at him, my heart already thumping harder.
“You too,” I replied. “We can do this, Cade.”
His eyes flicked toward me, and I held his gaze.
“Not just for Honey,” I said, “but for the entirety of Fenra.”
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The United Factions headquarters loomed before us like a fortress, its guarded gates and cameras rotating quietly, ever–watchful. Tension twisted in my stomach as Cade parked the car in one of the private garages reserved for high–ranking members. I kept my head down and followed him quickly, my heart pounding behind my ribs like a drum.
He didn’t speak much as we entered through a less–traveled side corridor, but his hand brushed against mine for a brief moment–a quiet gesture that helped me regain my breath. He knew this place like the back of his hand, having walked its halls when he was younger, dragged along by his family during visits. He had shown me the layout again last night, and now his voice played in my head like a map guiding my steps.
We split up. He headed toward the meeting wing, while I ducked into a staff hallway and adjusted the nurse uniform I wore one of Cora’s old ones from her time working here. We were fortunate she was on our side.
Security was incredibly tight. I passed at least four cameras in my short walk to the employee restrooms, but with my ID badge clipped on and my hair tucked neatly under the nurse’s cap, no one looked my way twice. I pushed the bathroom door open and slipped inside, my fingers shaking slightly as I locked the stall behind me.
I waited. Each second dragged painfully.
Then I heard it—a short, buzzing signal echoing from the hallway speakers.
The meeting had started.
I counted thirty seconds before cautiously opening the stall door. Just as I stepped forward, the door creaked open again. A guard walked in, and my lungs froze mid–breath.
I quickly turned and stepped inside one of the cubicles, standing on top of the toilet bowl, praying he would leave without noticing my presence.
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Fortunately, the scent suppressant Cade had given me was potent. It masked my scent entirely, making me nearly untraceable. I exhaled in relief as I heard the door close behind the guard. I waited a full minute this time before stealthily making my way down the hallway.
Winters‘ office was on the third floor. I opted for the staff elevator, praying that no one would join me on the ascent.
As soon as I reached the hallway outside his office, I scanned the corridor–empty.
It was now or never.
The keycard Cora had given us worked flawlessly. The door clicked open, and I slipped inside.
The air was cold. The shelves were filled with binders, all labeled with official projects, meticulously organized in alphabetical order. A single painting hung on the wall behind his desk–a winter scene. Irony at its finest.
I didn’t waste a moment. I pulled out the flash drive Cade had given me and plugged it into the port. To my surprise, the desktop opened without requiring a password. Everything was wide open: research papers, project reports, expense sheets. There were even documents detailing Elite’s internal scholarship fund and a dozen other impressive initiatives.
Everything looked too pristine.
I frowned, skimming through the material regardless. My fingers clicked through the files, hoping to uncover anything suspicious. Some emails discussed funding requests; others were about clean–ups and volunteer programs. There was even a thank–you note from a council member.
Where was the dirt?
I muttered under my breath, clicking open folder after folder.
There had to be something.
Then I noticed a strange gap in the file directory–an empty line. It wasn’t just a space; it appeared glitchy.
My eyes narrowed as I hovered my mouse over it. To my surprise, a small space was highlighted–a hidden folder?
My fingers shook as I clicked it. A prompt appeared. “It’s encrypted,” I muttered under my
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I didn’t have the password, but I didn’t need to. I had the tool Cade supplied–a decryption program disguised as a file reader. I launched it and copied the file, transferring it to the flash drive. The loading bar crawled forward agonizingly.
Then-
Ping.
A text.
I glanced down at my phone.
Cade: Winters just said he’s going to the restroom. Hide now, please, Arden.
My heart stopped.
I watched the progress bar inch along at a torturous pace, cursing under my breath. I couldn’t give up now!
Did Winters sense that something was off?
I fixed my gaze on the loading bar, feeling as though my life hinged upon its completion. My eyes scanned the office; there wasn’t a cabinet large enough to conceal me.
Just then, I heard frantic footsteps approaching, prompting another curse to escape my lips.
“Please, please,” I whispered, as the progress bar neared completion.
Please… I couldn’t get caught.
