Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 192

**Briony's POV**

"Everyone made it back safe," Noah said, rubbing his tired eyes. "Maxwell and the others went to get the kids from school. Would've been easier carrying you two if it wasn't for that narrow hidden door."

Christopher stuck his head in. "Heard voices - you guys okay? There's a healer downstairs for the kids. Mom's orders - you and Freya get checked too. No arguing."

I started to protest, but his serious expression shut me up. "Fine. Give us ten minutes to wake these little ones."

"Need help?" Christopher was already walking in, gently shaking a boy's shoulder. "Hey there, little warrior. Time to get up. The healer wants to make sure you're ready for the next adventure."

The boy's eyes snapped open. "Alpha!"

"Shh." Christopher pointed to the sleeping girl in my arms. "Mind if I carry your friend downstairs?"

Watching this usually intimidating future Alpha handle a child so carefully made my chest warm. The girl reached up sleepily, and he lifted her like she was made of glass.

We got all the kids awake and headed downstairs. The living room had been turned into a makeshift medical station - beds everywhere, supplies organized on every surface.

"How wonderful!" Luna Isabella called from the stairs, beaming.

"What's wonderful?"

"Nothing important." Her eyes held something I couldn't read. "Get yourselves checked, then Dora's got breakfast ready."

The examination went smooth. Most kids were just scared, nothing serious. Watching parents pick them up one by one felt bittersweet.

But some parents were still recovering from injuries. Those kids stayed with us.

"It's okay," I told a teary-eyed girl. "We'll hang out together until your dad's better, alright?"

She nodded and grabbed my shirt.

The pack house turned into a daycare for the rest of the day. Sophia ran obstacle courses in the backyard while Freya taught basic self-defense moves. Hard to believe she'd been so fierce last night.

By evening, everyone was exhausted. I brought my little shadow upstairs for a bath and bed.

"Sister Briony," she said quietly, "can I sleep with you?"

"Of course. Bath first, then maybe some cartoons?"

In the bathroom, warm water melted away her tension. She even started humming. These peaceful moments almost made me forget last night's chaos.

After her bath, I put one of my T-shirts on her - it hung like a dress. We curled up under the covers watching some kids' show I'd never seen.

Her breathing evened out pretty quick. I tucked her hair back and closed my eyes.

Then sobbing woke me up.

She sat in the middle of the bed, tears streaming down her face.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" I pulled her close.

"The window..." She pointed with a shaking finger. "It made noise, and then you disappeared..."

My heart lurched. Third floor. If there really was noise outside...

*Anyone on patrol right now?* I sent through the mind link while holding her tight.

Multiple responses came back immediately. But the next second, my door burst open and all five boys practically fell over each other getting in.

The girl screamed and buried her face in my neck.

"Seriously?" I glared at them while stroking her hair.

"What happened?" Maxwell panted.

"Sound by the window. Just checking if patrols were nearby."

They scattered instantly. Ethan and Noah bolted out - probably checking the perimeter. Benjamin positioned himself between us and the window. Maxwell and Christopher approached it carefully.

"It's okay," I whispered to the girl. "See? Benjamin's protecting us. He's one of the strongest warriors here."

She peeked at Benjamin, who gave her the gentlest smile I'd ever seen from him.

"They're just checking to make sure everything's safe. Like knights protecting a princess."

That got her attention. She watched the triplets' movements curiously, even giggling when Christopher nearly tripped over the curtains.

The inspection took forever. They checked the window, opened it, looked outside. I could tell they were mind-linking without including me.

Finally, Maxwell turned around. His expression was serious until he saw the girl staring at him, then he forced a smile.

"All clear. Everything's safe."

A knock interrupted us.

"Come in."

An unfamiliar warrior stepped inside. "Sorry to disturb. Alpha Adam needs the three of you in his office immediately."

The triplets exchanged looks. Christopher started toward me. "Benjamin, you - "

"I'll stay." Benjamin's voice was firm. "You two go."

After Maxwell and Christopher left, Benjamin sat on the bed's edge. The girl studied him with big eyes.

"Are you really the strongest warrior?" she whispered.

Benjamin paused. "Maybe not the strongest, but strong enough to keep you safe."

"Will you stay? Until Sister Briony falls asleep?"

"Absolutely."

She dozed off quickly under his watchful gaze. I settled her properly, then looked at Benjamin.

The door opened again. Maxwell and Christopher returned, faces grimmer than before.

"What happened?"

"Nothing major." Maxwell's voice was tight. "We need to talk. Benjamin, can you watch her?"

Benjamin nodded and actually lay down on the far side of the bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping child.

I followed Maxwell and Christopher downstairs, dread building in my chest.

*Guys, where are you?* I called to my teammates.

*In our rooms,* Cyrus responded. *But there are guards outside. We're being watched.*

*Same here,* Sophia sounded tense. *I'm with the kids and Delta Diana in the living room, but something's off.*

*Noah won't stop pacing in my room,* Freya added. *Won't tell me anything.*

My stomach dropped.

Alpha Adam's office felt like a trap. He sat behind his desk, expression stone-cold. Luna Isabella stood to one side looking helpless. Maxwell and Christopher flanked their father like bodyguards.

The door closing behind us sounded final.

"Please sit," Alpha Adam said. It wasn't really a request.

I stayed standing. "What's going on?"

"I have some questions about your team."

*This is bad,* I warned my teammates. *In Alpha Adam's office. They're questioning us.*

"What kind of questions?"

"How long have you worked together?"

So that was it. They suspected us. The attack, maybe something else - but they didn't trust us anymore.

I took a breath and started explaining. "Mark, Sophia, Cyrus and I met at trials two summers ago, as you know..." I went through how we met, trained together, became Sentinels.

"Freya's someone I met when things got really dark. We went through hell together and escaped together. That kind of bond runs deeper than blood."

Alpha Adam listened silently. When I finished, he leaned forward, eyes sharp as blades.

"How well do you really know your teammates? Their backgrounds? Their pasts?"