Joanna’s thoughts raced. She remembered the hospital, Alice’s triumphant smirk, Carson’s cold indifference. “Where do we start?” she asked, finally.
“Information,” Kael said. “Their weaknesses, their routines. Alice’s pride, Carson’s overconfidence. The packs that align with them—they all have vulnerabilities. We begin by collecting proof. Once we have leverage, we can sow doubt, fear… and eventually, chaos.”
Her pulse quickened. The idea of turning their own schemes against them was intoxicating. She imagined Carson’s expression when he realized he was no longer in control, when Alice’s trust in him began to falter.
“And,” Kael continued, “you must remain untouchable. Appear weak if necessary, play the victim—they’ll never suspect a storm is building behind those eyes.”
Joanna’s hand pressed harder against her belly, feeling the subtle movements of the pup. “I will do whatever it takes. For my child, and for myself.”
Kael handed her a folder marked with a single word: Carson. “Start here. The first seeds of betrayal. Small, precise, invisible until they bloom. You’ll watch them crumble from the inside.”
Joanna nodded, a plan forming in her mind. Every detail of their lives—their secrets, their alliances, their lies—would become tools in her hands.
The night stretched on, and Joanna traced her finger over the files, memorizing every schedule, every name, every moment they had thought was hidden. For the first time since the hospital, she felt control, a sense of power she hadn’t known she could claim.
Outside, the city remained oblivious. Inside, the seeds of betrayal had been planted. And Joanna, once a shadow in her own story, was finally ready to watch them grow.