Moonbound: Caught Between Mafia and Mate

Chapter 11: The Enemy Within

The cold light of dawn crept through the shattered windows of the mansion, casting eerie shadows across the walls. Smoke still lingered in the air, remnants of the explosions that had rocked the estate hours before. The aftermath of Matteo's attack was all too visible—scorched earth, broken walls, and wounded soldiers limping through the courtyard.

But despite the destruction, the mansion still stood. Lorenzo's men had fought fiercely to repel Matteo's forces, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before he struck again. The traitor's presence loomed large, adding a constant sense of paranoia to the already tense atmosphere.

Luna sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the faint marks on her hands from where the silver light had surged through her the night before. Her powers had exploded to life, more intense than ever, but with them came a new fear—fear of losing control, fear of what she might become.

The door creaked open, and Maria stepped inside. Her sharp gaze softened slightly as she took in Luna's pale face and tense posture.

"How are you holding up?" Maria asked, her voice low.

Luna glanced up, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine. Just... processing."

Maria crossed the room and sat beside her, the weight of her presence somehow comforting. "What you did last night was incredible, Luna. But I know it wasn't easy."

Luna sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. "I don't know what's happening to me. The power—it's stronger than before. I can feel it inside me, like it's... growing."

Maria's eyes flickered with understanding. "You're coming into your full strength as a wolf. It's overwhelming, I know. But you're not alone. You have me, and you have the pack. We'll help you control it."

"I don't just want to control it," Luna said quietly. "I want to use it. I want to fight."

Maria's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Fight? You've come a long way, Luna. I remember when you weren't sure if you wanted anything to do with this world."

Luna's jaw tightened. "I didn't. But things have changed. Matteo won't stop until he has me. And I'm not going to let that happen."

Maria smiled, a proud gleam in her eyes. "Good. You're stronger than you know, Luna. But remember—strength isn't just about power. It's about knowing when to fight and when to be still."

Luna nodded, though her thoughts were still swirling. She had taken down Matteo last night, at least temporarily, but it hadn't felt like a victory. It felt like a warning.

"Where's Lorenzo?" Luna asked, changing the subject.

"He's downstairs with Enzo," Maria replied. "They're trying to figure out who the traitor is."

Luna's stomach tightened at the mention of the traitor. The thought that someone close to them—someone inside the pack—was feeding information to Matteo made her blood run cold.

"I need to talk to him," Luna said, standing abruptly.

Maria caught her arm before she could leave. "Be careful, Luna. Whoever the traitor is, they're dangerous. Don't trust anyone completely, not until we figure this out."

Luna nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of suspicion. "I won't."

Downstairs, in the War Room

Luna found Lorenzo and Enzo hunched over the large map of the estate, their faces drawn and tired. Several of Lorenzo's lieutenants were gathered around the table, their expressions grim.

"We can't keep fighting them like this," Enzo was saying, his voice sharp. "Matteo knows every weakness we have. Every time we patch one hole, they find another."

"That's because they're being fed information," Lorenzo growled. "Whoever the traitor is, they're still out there."

Luna stepped into the room, and all eyes turned toward her. Lorenzo's face softened when he saw her, but the tension in the room was palpable.

"Luna," Lorenzo said, stepping toward her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she replied, though the exhaustion in her voice betrayed her. "What's the plan?"

Lorenzo exchanged a glance with Enzo before answering. "We're trying to figure out where Matteo will strike next. But without knowing who the traitor is, it's like fighting blind. They could sabotage any plan we come up with."

Luna frowned, her mind racing. "There has to be a way to draw them out."

"We've been watching everyone," Enzo said, frustration seeping into his voice. "But whoever it is, they're good. No slip-ups, no signs of disloyalty."

Luna's gaze flickered across the faces of the men in the room. She could see the suspicion in their eyes, the way they were all quietly assessing each other. It was tearing the pack apart, this constant fear of betrayal.

"There's one way," she said slowly, an idea forming in her mind. "We set a trap."

Lorenzo's eyebrows rose. "A trap?"

Luna nodded, her voice gaining strength as the plan solidified. "We feed the traitor false information. Something that will force them to act."

Enzo crossed his arms, intrigued but cautious. "And how do we do that without tipping them off?"

Luna stepped closer to the table, her eyes scanning the map. "We tell the pack that we've discovered a secret weapon—something powerful enough to turn the tide against Matteo. We make it sound like it's hidden somewhere in the mansion, something the traitor would need to steal or sabotage."

Lorenzo's eyes lit up with understanding. "And when they go for it, we catch them in the act."

"Exactly," Luna said, her heart pounding with the thrill of the idea. "It's risky, but it's our best chance to flush them out."

Enzo looked skeptical. "And what if the traitor doesn't take the bait? What if they're too smart for that?"

"Then we're no worse off than we are now," Luna replied. "But I don't think they'll be able to resist. Matteo's desperate. He'll want any advantage he can get."

There was a long silence as the men in the room considered her plan. Finally, Lorenzo nodded.

"All right," he said. "We'll do it. But we need to be careful. If this goes wrong..."

"It won't," Luna said, though the weight of the risk hung heavy in her chest.

Later That Evening

The plan was set in motion. Word had been quietly spread throughout the pack that a powerful artifact—a relic from the ancient werewolves—was hidden somewhere in the mansion. Only Lorenzo and his most trusted lieutenants knew the truth, but the rest of the pack believed it wholeheartedly.

Luna paced in her room, her nerves on edge. The trap was set, and now all they could do was wait. Every creak of the floorboards, every whisper in the hallway sent her heart racing, wondering if the traitor was making their move.

A knock at the door made her jump. She turned to see Enzo standing in the doorway, his expression grim.

"It's time," he said quietly.

Luna's stomach clenched with anticipation. She followed Enzo down the dimly lit hallway, her senses on high alert. The mansion felt different tonight—quieter, as if it were holding its breath along with them.

They reached the hidden room where the fake relic was supposedly stored. Lorenzo was already there, standing just out of sight, his gun in hand. He gave Luna a reassuring nod as she joined him.

"Stay close," he whispered. "We'll catch them."

Luna nodded, her heart pounding in her ears. She could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation of the trap about to spring.

And then they heard it—the soft click of a door opening down the hall. Footsteps, light but hurried, echoed through the hallway.

Luna held her breath, her muscles tensed. The traitor was coming.

The footsteps grew louder, closer, until finally, the figure stepped into view.

Luna's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the face of the person who had betrayed them all.