The night was colder than usual as Hayley and Damien stood in the shadows of an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Ravenshade. The Midnight Society didn't hold meetings in fancy ballrooms or underground lairs; they conducted business in places like this, where secrets could be buried beneath steel and concrete.
"Are you sure about this?" Damien's voice was low, cautious.
Hayley's sharp golden eyes flicked to him. "I need answers. If the Society knows who put the bounty on me, I need to hear it from their own lips."
"They don't give information for free," Damien warned. "They'll want something in return."
"I can handle it." Hayley's voice was firm, but inside, she knew he was right. Deals with the Midnight Society never came without consequences.
A metal door groaned as it swung open, revealing a dimly lit corridor. A hooded figure motioned them inside without a word. The air smelled of damp metal and old blood, and a chill ran down Hayley's spine. She had faced rogue wolves, rival Alphas, and merciless assassins, but something about the Society felt different. Darker.
They were led into a cavernous room where a long table stood in the center, lined with figures cloaked in black. At the head of the table sat a man with piercing silver eyes and a sharp, angular face Lucien Vale, one of the Society's high ranking leaders.
"Alpha Silverfang," Lucien greeted with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You've come to our humble establishment. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Hayley met his gaze, unflinching. "I'm here for information. Someone in this city put a bounty on my head. I want to know who."
Lucien chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Straight to business. I do admire that about you, Hayley."
She clenched her jaw. "Do you have the information or not?"
Lucien tapped his fingers against the table. "Perhaps. But as you must know, the Midnight Society operates on exchange. Information for information. A favor for a favor."
Hayley expected this. The Society never played fair. "What do you want?"
Lucien's smile widened. "There's a vampire we need removed from Ravenshade. He's interfering in our affairs, disrupting the delicate balance of power. We'd like you to eliminate him."
Hayley's gut twisted. "You want me to act as your assassin?"
"Think of it as a…mutual arrangement," Lucien said smoothly. "You take care of a problem for us, and we tell you who wants you dead. A simple deal."
Damien tensed beside her. "This is a trap."
Hayley ignored him for a moment, considering. If the Society really knew who placed the bounty on her, she couldn't afford to walk away empty handed. But playing into their games meant stepping onto dangerous ground.
"Who's the target?" she finally asked.
Lucien's smirk was all the confirmation she needed that he had already expected her answer. He slid a photograph across the table. Hayley picked it up and felt her stomach drop.
A vampire informant, one of the few in Ravenshade she actually trusted.
"This is a mistake," she said coldly, dropping the photo back onto the table. "Sebastian isn't a threat to you."
Lucien arched his brow. "Then why is he so interested in your affairs? He's been keeping tabs on you, Hayley. Digging into things best left untouched."
Sebastian was no saint, but he had warned her about the bounty. If he was digging, it was for her protection. That made this an even bigger setup than she thought.
"I don't kill my allies," Hayley said, her voice like steel.
Lucien sighed, standing slowly. "That's unfortunate. Because without fulfilling your end of the deal, we have no reason to share our knowledge with you."
The tension in the room thickened. Damien shifted subtly, ready to strike if needed. Hayley knew she was outnumbered, but she wasn't going to back down.
"You're making a mistake," she said, keeping her tone even. "If someone in this city is willing to pay a fortune to see me dead, it means they have power. Whoever it is, they won't stop with me. You might be next."
Lucien tilted his head, considering her words. "Interesting theory. But that still doesn't solve our problem."
"I'll solve it in my own way." Hayley took a step closer, locking eyes with him. "I don't do your dirty work, and I don't play your games. But if you really want to make a deal, you'll find another price."
Lucien studied her for a long moment before nodding slightly. "Very well. Since you've piqued my curiosity, I'll grant you a lesser deal."
He leaned in, his silver eyes gleaming. "We'll give you one name. A piece of the puzzle. Consider it a…gesture of goodwill."
Hayley crossed her arms. "And what do you want in return?"
"A favor, to be determined in the future."
That was dangerous. Owing the Midnight Society a favor meant they could call on her at any time, for anything.
But she was running out of options.
She glanced at Damien, who gave a barely perceptible nod. He didn't like it, but he trusted her judgment.
"Fine," she said finally. "One name."
Lucien smiled. "Good choice."
He slid a small, folded slip of paper across the table. Hayley picked it up and opened it slowly.
The name written inside made her blood run cold.
She clenched her fists. "This can't be right."
Lucien shrugged. "Believe what you want. But that's who paid for your death."
Hayley's mind raced as she stared at the name.
Someone she trusted. Someone close.
She slammed the paper shut. "This conversation never happened."
Lucien chuckled. "Of course."
Without another word, Hayley turned and stalked toward the exit, Damien close behind her. The moment they stepped outside, she exhaled sharply, rage burning beneath her skin.
Damien touched her shoulder lightly. "What did it say?"
Hayley hesitated, then met his gaze. "It was someone in my pack."
Damien's jaw tightened. "Who?"
Hayley's voice was cold as ice.
"Riley."
Damien's eyes widened in shock, but Hayley didn't say another word.
She had trusted Riley for years.
And now…
She had to find out why her own Beta wanted her dead.