The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 74

ADRIAN’S POV

I’ve felt it for days but couldn’t pinpoint what. Just a nagging sensation. Like being watched. Like someone knows things they shouldn’t.

Now I know why.

“Explain this to me again.” I stare at Marcus across the wax table. “Slowly. Because I must have misheard you.”

“The supply route we planned three days ago. The one only inner circle knew about. Asher’s forces ambushed it. Killed two of our wolves. Took all the supplies.” Marcus’s jaw is tight. “They knew exactly where and when. Down to the minute.”

“And the safe house in the eastern territory?”

“Compromised. We evacuated just in time. Found evidence Asher’s wolves had been watching it for days. Knew our rotation schedules. Knew when guards changed.” He slams his fist on the table. “Someone told them Adrian. Someone from inside.”

A traitor. In my pack. Someone I trust. Someone who sits in these meetings. Someone who knows our plans.

The thought makes my blood run cold.

“Who knows about the supply routes?” I keep my voice level. I can’t let rage take over, I need to think clearly.

“Inner circle only. You, me, Clara, Chief Winters, Dr. Chen. And Kelvin for the eastern routes since he knows that territory.” Marcus counts on his fingers. “That’s it. No one else had access to that information.”

“What about the three who came with Kelvin? The defectors from Asher’s pack.”

“They’re kept out of strategic planning, they don’t attend meetings. Don’t have clearance for sensitive information.” He pauses. “But they’re around, they could probably overhear things. And could piece together patterns.”

I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to think we let enemy wolves into our home. Gave them shelter. Trusted them. And they betrayed us.

But the evidence is damning.

“Bring them in. All three. Separately. We question them. See if anyone breaks.” I stand. “And Marcus? No one else knows about this. Not yet. If there is a traitor I don’t want them spooked. Don’t want them running before we have proof.”

“Understood.”

He leaves. I stay in the war room. Staring at maps. At supply routes marked in red. At safe houses we can no longer use. At battle plans that are now worthless because the enemy knows them.

How long has this been going on? How much information has leaked? How many wolves have died because someone in my pack is feeding intelligence to Asher?

The door opens. Freya enters. She’s been training with Clara all morning. Looks tired but stronger. More in control. Her wolt more integrated every day.

“Marcus said you needed to see me?” She closes the door. Reads my expression. “What’s wrong?”

“We have a traitor.”

Her face goes pale. “What? Who?”

“Don’t know yet. But someone is feeding information to Asher. Someone close enough to know our strategies. Our movements. Our plans.” I gesture to the maps. “Two more wolves are dead because of it.”

She moves to the table. Studies the maps. Her analytical mind working. “The supply route. You planned that three days ago right?”

“In a closed meeting. Only inner circle present

“And this safe house. When did you set up the rotation schedule?”

“Last week. Again, inner circle only.”

“So either someone in the inner circle is the traitor.” She meets my eyes. “Cr someone is listening to your meetings. Or someone in the inner circle is talking to someone who’s the traitor.”

“I trust my inner circle with my life. With your life. They wouldn’t betray us.”

“Then it’s someone adjacent. Close enough to overhear. Smart enough to piece things together.” Her eyes narrow. “What about the defectors? The three who came with Kelvin?”

“That’s where my suspicion lands too.” I hate saying it. “But we gave them sanctuary. Saved them from Asher. Why would they betray us?”

“Fear. Coercion. Family still in Asher’s territory.” She counts off reasons. “Or maybe they were never really defectors. Maybe it was a setup from the beginning. Get inside our defenses. Learn our secrets. Report back.”

The thought makes my wolf snarl. We were played. Manipulated. Let enemy wolves into our home because we wanted to believe in redemption. In second chances.

“I’m questioning them. All three. Separately. Today.” I pull Freya closer. “But I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything.”

“Use your wolf. Your enhanced senses. Sit in on the interrogations. Tell me if anyone’s lying. If anyone’s heart rate spikes. If anyone smells like fear or guilt.” I cup her face. “Your partial shift gives you abilities you didn’t have before. We need to use them.”

She nods. “When do we start?”

“Now.”

The first interrogation is Ryan. Male. Early twenties. Came with Kelvin claiming Asher was going to execute him for failing to

recapture us.

He sits across from me. Nervous but that could be normal. Being questioned by your Alpha is always intimidating.

Freya stands in the corner. Eyes closed. Focusing on sounds. On scents. On heartbeats. Learning to filter through information her wolf can detect.

“Ryan. You’ve been with us for two weeks now. How are you settling in?” I keep my tone casual. Non–threatening.

“Good Alpha. Everyone has been welcoming. I’m grateful for the sanctuary.” His heart rate is elevated but steady. Normal fər this situation.

“Tell me about your last days in Asher’s pack. What happened?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify