Page 45 of Fat Betrayed Mate
"Inside knowledge, how?" I frown at the surveillance photos.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Nic says. "Movement patterns, security protocols, even personal details about leadership. Someone's feeding them information."
I study the photographs—checkpoint setups, organizational charts recovered from captured hunters. It's alldisturbingly familiar, the methodical approach of someone who understands psychological warfare.
"Any progress on identifying their leadership?" I ask.
Nic and James exchange glances.
"Limited intelligence," James says carefully. "The organization appears decentralized, but there's clearly someone coordinating strategy."
"Someone with experience," Nic adds. "This isn't random violence. Sure, the people doing the dirty work are all angry, bigoted hunters and farmers without half a clue what they’re doing, but there’s sophisticated leadership. They know what they want. If onlyweknew what they want.”
They're being diplomatic, but I can see the frustration in their faces. They know there's a central figure behind all this, but the intelligence hasn't given them a name.
Which means it's time for me to stop protecting secrets that could get people killed.
"His name is Edward Wright," I say quietly.
The room goes silent. Both men turn toward me, and I see the moment recognition flickers in their eyes.
"Wright," James repeats slowly. "As in—"
"Fiona's father." I meet Nic's gaze steadily. "The man in those surveillance photos you've been trying to identify."
Nic leans back in his chair. "You've known this?"
"I suspected." It's a partial truth, but close enough.
"Christ, Thomas." James runs both hands through his hair.
"Edward Wright was married to a pack member," I say, deciding some version of the truth is better than continued lies. "Clara Wright, Fiona's mother. She died when Fiona was sixteen. You might remember her from when we were kids. They lived just outside of pack territory, but Fiona went to the pack school, and Clara came to pack hunts."
"I remember her," Nic says suddenly. "Clara Raven, before she married. I remember seeing her at a Parent-Teacher meeting or something.”
"Edward tolerated the connection because he loved Clara," I continue. "But he never understood what she was, never accepted it. Barely came into the pack territory, even though his wife and daughter were both members. After she died, he became hostile toward anything shifter-related."
"Hostile enough to threaten his own daughter?" Nic asks, and there's something in his tone that suggests he's guessing at more than I've said.
I meet his eyes. "Yes."
The silence stretches. Finally, James clears his throat. "Does Fiona know? About her father's involvement?"
"No. And she can't know. Not yet."
"Thomas—" Nic starts.
"He threatened to kill her," I interrupt, the words exploding out with six years of suppressed fear. "Six years ago, Edward Wright told me he would murder his own daughter if I didn't end my relationship with her. And based on what he did to Clara, I believed him."
"What he did to Clara?" James asks quietly.
"He poisoned her with wolfsbane," I say, my voice steady despite the churning in my gut. "Slow doses over months, untilher wolf couldn't surface and she couldn't heal. He killed his own wife because he couldn't stand what she was."
"Jesus," James breathes.
"So yes, I knew who Edward Wright was. I knew he was dangerous. And I've spent six years trying to keep Fiona safe by staying away from her." I look between them. "Now he's here, and staying away isn't going to protect her anymore."
Nic leans forward. "This changes everything."
