The progress bar crept across the screen, climbing from sixty-eight percent to eighty-three, then ninety-five.

Bernard leaned closer, his eyes locked on the monitor.

The bar reached one hundred.

The screen flickered.

ACCESS GRANTED.

A single folder appeared. It had no name and no date.

Bernard clicked it.

The monitor went black for a moment before a strange logo filled the screen. Beneath it sat a single encrypted file labeled Operation Harvest.

His brows drew together.

“What is Operation Harvest?”he muttered

Brandon stepped closer. “What did you find?”

“A strange logo and an encrypted file labeled Operation Harvest. I have no idea what it means yet.”

“Can you decrypt it?”

“I’m working on it. Whoever encrypted this knew exactly what they were doing. It’ll take some time, but I’ll find a way in.”

“Keep at it,” Brandon said. “I want every detail.”

“You have my word.”

Bernard turned back to the monitor. The unfamiliar logo remained on the screen, as if daring him to break through its secrets.

He studied it for a few seconds, then looked at Brandon.

“I’ll bring Tom in. He’s better than I am at this, and we can trust him.”

Brandon nodded. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

Bernard reached for his device and dialed Tom’s number.

The next moonrise, Elara walked back and forth across her chamber, twisting her fingers together. Moonlight streamed through the windows, filling the chamber with a warm glow. It was the day of her royal mating.

Emma caught her hand as she passed. “You’ll wear a hole in the floor if you keep this up.”

Elara let out a nervous laugh and stopped for a moment.

Lyn smiled as she adjusted the edge of Elara’s gown. “You’re going to be fine.”

Maelis gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Everything is ready.”

Surrounded by Emma, Lyn, Maelis, and a few of her Moonallies, Elara took a slow breath. The knot in her stomach was still there, but it didn’t feel quite as heavy anymore.

At the right time, the entire place was filled with highly exotic cars and private jets. She almost cried when she saw power brokers, otherwise known as men of timber and caliber, who accompanied Bernard and the Crowe family. It was hard to single Bernard out as the family wore the same attire. Joel was quite helpful. She really loved the way he supported Bernard. Joel and Bernard’s attire looked more identical and that made them look like twins.

Tears of joy began to escape her eyes. She wondered who would have accompanied Bernard to the dowry/gift presentation if his family had not shown up at the dying minute. In truth, the Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways and heaven truly helps those who help themselves.

She appreciated Emma in her heart one more time for encouraging Bernard and her. From what she did, Elara agreed that the difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is how high your feet are raised.

“I think your father knew Bernard was Crowe’s grandpup before you broke the news of your relationship with Bernard to him,” Lyn said as they all watched the family through her bedchamber window. She narrowed her gaze and turned to her.

“I think you are right,” she said. “He knows Bernard is Crowe’s grandpup,” she grinned.

“The king did not know Bernard was Mr. Crowe’s grandpup,” the high Luna who had just walked into her chamber, said and smiled. “Get ready to receive your gifts, silverheart,” the high Luna said as she examined her dress. “You look stunning!” She grinned and left the bedchamber.

She was escorted to the executive lounge for the first part of the ceremony, where the presentation of gifts would take place. Once that concluded, everyone would proceed to the temple, where the Moon High Priest would lead them in exchanging their marital vows. After the vows were complete, the celebration would continue with the royal mating entertainment.

Brandon was seated beside Emma, watching the performers on stage, when his device vibrated in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, excused himself with a slight nod, and answered the call in a calm voice.

“Talk to me.”

“Alpha Brandon,” Tom said, his voice tight with urgency. “I found something. One of the folders inside the chip contains an audio recording. It’s a set of instructions for the attack.”

Brandon’s expression remained unreadable, but his eyes sharpened.

“What does it say?”

“I listened to the entire recording. The speaker instructs two cooks to mix sleeping pills into the guards’ food. Once the guards lose consciousness, masked attackers are to enter the palace through the hidden tunnel beneath the cookhouse.”

Brandon’s gaze drifted across the palace grounds. Music floated through the air as guests laughed and applauded the entertainment. Around them, the celebration carried on without a hint that a carefully planned attack was only moments away.

“You’ve done well, Tom,” Brandon said. “Don’t alert anyone else. Stay where you are until you hear from me.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

After ending the call, Brandon motioned for Teddy to come over.

Teddy was at his side within seconds.

“Did something happen, Alpha?”

“The guards are not to touch anything from the cookhouse,” Brandon said quietly. “Have the emergency cookhouse prepare fresh meals immediately. Make sure they’re delivered through the security route. No one outside the security team must find out that the meals have been replaced.”

“It’ll be done.”

Brandon paused before giving his next order.

“The dishes from the cookhouse stay exactly where they are. No one touches them.”

Teddy frowned.

“You want to keep them as evidence?”

Brandon gave a slight nod.

“Yes. And go to the general cookhouse. Tell them I’ve ordered a short break before the next round of service. Have fresh food brought in for the staff as a reward for their work since moonrise.”

Teddy’s eyes narrowed.

“Make the cooks believe they’re all expected to eat the poisoned meals.”

Teddy frowned for a moment before realization dawned on him.

Brandon held his gaze.

“The guilty already know which meals were poisoned. One way or another, their reaction will reveal who they are.”

Teddy nodded.

“I understand.”

“Separate them from the others and make it seem as though they’re being treated as honored staff,” Brandon said. “Then make sure they finish every bite. After that, keep a close eye on them.”

A slow smile spread across Teddy’s face as he understood the plan.

“They won’t suspect we’ve already uncovered their plan.”

“That’s exactly what I want,” Brandon replied. “If they realize we’ve uncovered their plan, they’ll warn the attackers. Let them believe everything is unfolding exactly as they expected.”

“I understand.”

As Teddy was receiving instructions, Emma reached for Brandon’s arm.

She had been watching him ever since he answered the call.

“Is everything all right?”

Brandon met her eyes and gave her a reassuring smile.

“It will be. I just need to take care of something.”

She searched his face, sensing he wasn’t telling her everything.

“Please be careful.”

“I always am.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before turning to Teddy. Teddy nodded in understanding, then made his way toward the palace cookhouse.

Inside the cookhouse, the lunch service was nearly complete. Covered serving carts lined one side of the chamber, waiting to be delivered to the guards stationed throughout the palace.

Bella stole a quick glance at Nyxara.

Nyxara answered with the slightest nod.

Everything was ready.

Within minutes, the guards would eat the drugged meals. Once the sleeping pills took effect, the palace defenses would collapse, leaving the attackers free to enter through the hidden tunnel beneath the cookhouse.

The door swung open.

Teddy walked in with several security warriors, wearing the same easy smile he always carried.

The cooks paused and looked up.

An older she-wolf stepped forward.

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Teddy said warmly. “Alpha Brandon sent me with new instructions. The royal banquet has begun, and the guests are being served first. That gives all of you a short break.”

Relieved smiles spread through the cookhouse.

“You’ve been working since moonrise,” Teddy continued. “The Alpha doesn’t want anyone missing a proper meal. Rather than letting this food go cold while the guards finish a security inspection, he wants you to enjoy it first. Fresh meals will be prepared for the guards afterward.”

No one questioned the order.

Several of the cooks thanked Brandon as they uncovered the serving trays and began filling their plates.

Meanwhile, Teddy had already replaced the poisoned food with identical dishes. To everyone else, nothing appeared to have changed, and the cooks believed they were eating the same meals that had been prepared for the guards.

Bella kept her smile in place.

“I’ll eat after everyone else,” she said.

Nyxara glanced at her, then looked back at Teddy.

“So will I.”

Teddy smiled as if he hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

“I’m afraid the Alpha was very clear,” he said. “Everyone sits down and eats together. No exceptions.”

He uncovered the serving trays and scooped generous portions from the dishes containing the poisoned food. Then he set one plate in front of Bella and the other in front of Nyxara.

“Here,” he said. “The two of you deserve special treatment.”

A soft beep came from Bella’s pocket.

Her hand twitched toward it, but Teddy was already watching her. She let it drop to her side and looked back at him with a faint smile.

“I didn’t realize he’d be checking.”

“He won’t,” Teddy said. “I will.”

He took a step back and waited.

“Go ahead. Enjoy your meal.”

The other cooks chuckled, making it impossible for Bella and Nyxara to refuse without drawing attention.

Reluctantly, they picked up their forks and joined the others, pushing the food around their plates without taking a single bite.

Conversation soon filled the cookhouse.

For several minutes, everything appeared perfectly normal.

The first cook set his spoon aside and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“I’m full,” he said with a satisfied smile.

Another pushed back his chair, stretched his arms, and headed for the door.

“Time to get back to work.”

The rest of the cooks rose one after another, thanking Teddy as they made their way out of the cookhouse.

A few minutes later, Bella’s serving spoon slipped from her fingers and struck the floor with a sharp clatter.

Nyxara turned toward her.

“Bella…?”

The chamber fell silent.

Across the table, Nyxara pushed back her chair and started to rise, but Teddy met her with a cold stare that clearly told her to sit down and finish eating.

“Nyxara…”

The word had barely left Bella’s lips when she tried to get to her feet again.

“Rushing somewhere?” Teddy asked, his voice calm but edged with warning.

The two women exchanged a quick glance.

Bella’s device beeped again, but she didn’t dare reach for it.

“Pick it up,” Teddy said, keeping his gun trained on her. “Open it. And if you try anything stupid, I won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.”

Bella slowly picked up the device and unlocked the screen. She opened the message, then handed it to Leo. Leo scanned the screen before looking up at Teddy, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.

He looked toward the security warriors hidden around the cookhouse.

“Positions.”

Within moments, several security warriors quietly took their positions on the feeding table. Some slumped against the walls with plates still in their hands, while others remained seated with cutlery resting loosely between their fingers. From a distance, they looked exactly like security warriors who had eaten the poisoned food and fallen asleep where they sat.

While the security warriors took their positions, another message appeared on the device.

“Reply.”

Bella hesitated for a moment before typing a short message and sending it to the unknown sender.

Everything is going as planned.

A reply appeared almost instantly.

Show me.

She immediately recorded a short video, keeping the camera low as she slowly swept it across the feeding chamber. The guards sprawled across the floor looked exactly as if they had eaten the poisoned food and collapsed where they stood.

Once she finished recording, she sent the video.

A few seconds later, another message arrived.

You’ve done well. Meet me at the usual place tomorrow. You’ll get your reward then.

The conversation ended.

With their wrists secured in handcuffs, the guards escorted the two women away.

Teddy slipped the device into his pocket and gave a silent signal.

The security warriors who had been pretending to be unconscious rose from the floor one after another and quietly moved into position.

At the same time, the hidden security warriors emerged from their concealment, spreading out around the cookhouse while another team silently surrounded the entrance to the tunnel beneath the floor, sealing off every possible escape route.

Only a few minutes passed before the silence was broken by the sound of footsteps echoing through the passage.

The steady rhythm grew louder with every step.

The attackers had taken the bait. They were finally walking straight into Brandon’s trap.