Anya filtered the comms again, focusing on Silas Vex's encrypted frequency. He was coordinating the Hybrid attack, exploiting Kaelan's distraction.
She quickly typed out a concise, anonymized tactical message containing Silas's current location and his attack vector (the West Wing). She needed to get it to Kaelan without revealing her intelligence gathering.
She found an encrypted, single-line terminal link Kaelan kept open for Beta reports. It was risky, but her only option. She injected the message under a fake Beta ID.
Moments later, Kaelan's voice—rough, furious, and amplified by the bond—roared through the comms: "Zara! Abandon Sector 7. Silas is redirecting the Hybrids to the West Wing! Move!"
Relief washed over Anya, quickly followed by paralyzing fear. She had saved him, but she had also revealed her capability to hack his internal network.
She slumped in the chair, pulling the damp robe tightly around her. She was a human, fighting a Lycan war, and her success meant her eventual demise, should Kaelan discover her betrayal.
The fighting outside subsided as the Pack shifted its defense. Then, the rhythmic sound of heavy boots echoed down the hall. Kaelan was returning.