Chapter 84
[ 1,474 words ]
Kade
The room feels too small for the weight pressing down on all of us.
But Felix’s words are the window of air we all desperately need.
An Alpha challenge.
Of course.
Why didn’t I think of that?
From the looks around the table, it appears as if Felix’s solution has had the same dumbstruck effect on everyone.
No one moves.
Every pair of eyes stays fixed on Felix like she just told us we all won the lottery.
He stands beside the long oak table, palms flat against the polished surface, with a smirk on his face.
“What? I’m more than just a hot piece of eye candy,”
Liam snorts out a laugh.
“Fuck yeah, you are.”
“I feel kind of stupid for not seeing it before,” Kiara says.
Felix waves her off.
“That is the beauty of spending more time with computers than people. We pathway junkies spent a lot of time recognizing patterns. So if those patterns give us no feedback, then I find one that does.”
Dex gives a quick flick of his eyes to Felix, who has been studiously ignoring him the entire time.
Torchlight flickers across the hard line of his jaw, and it looks as if he’s willing Felix to pay attention to him.
“Felix is correct. There is one thing the Assembly still values,” he says carefully.
“Tradition. Unfortunately for them, it has now come to bite them in the ass. Their hands will be tied if you go this Ronan, and any interference from their side would be an automatic forfeit for Aldren.”
Ronan leans back in his chair, dark eyes narrowed.
“I get to the point.”
Liam glances at me once before looking back at the Alpha.
“Are you prepared for it? For what may come after?”
This was asking a lot from Ronan.
It wouldn’t just end with Aldren submitting.
It would mean taking the responsibility for the entire shifter race and placing it on his shoulder.
My wolf lifts his head instantly inside me.
This will be dangerous, he growls.
Even with the challenge, we can be sure they won’t be overpowered easily.
“It is a risk,” Sebastian mutters.
“But not a greater one than allowing them to act first.”
But my pulse kicks harder because I can see the end in sight, and it is nothing like what I expected.
If Ronan challenges Aldren and wins, he will be head of the Assembly.
Alpha of Alpha’s.
And we, as his pack, would hold leverage over all the other packs in North America.
But that would also mean we may become a target if the other Alphas refuse to submit.
This could be the end of the Assembly, but the start of a whole new group of problems.
Then there is the issue of the battle itself.
An Alpha challenge always ends one of two ways: submission or death.
Only a fool would believe Aldren would submit.
I straighten slowly.
I can see Ronan debating with the idea, leaning towards it, and since I know this is the only real option, I give him a reason to jump.
“Let’s think about it. The Assembly’s strength comes from numbers and control. But if Aldren accepts the challenge, and he will because his ego won’t let him refuse, then all eyes go to the arena.”
Kiara folds her arms.
“Which gives us an opening.”
“Exactly. While the challenge unfolds, we move and barricade the exits so that when he loses, no one can flee, and all must answer the question of loyalty. Including the other members of the Assembly.”
Theo’s brows lift slightly as understanding settles over him.
Liam nods once toward me.
“The laws would prevent interference until the challenge ends.
The Assembly would be trapped by its own code.”
“And if they refuse to bend the knee?” Dex asks quietly.
Silence crashes over the room.
My wolf snarls low in my chest.
Then we kill them all.
I agree.
Dead men can’t seek revenge.
Can’t target, maim, or kill.
No, dead men can’t do anything.
Ronan’s fingers tap once against the arm of his chair while his expression hardens into stone.
Aria looks between all of us nervously.
“If we do this, will we get Hazel out before the Assembly realizes what’s happening?”
The tremble in her voice hits me harder than I expect.
It pulls out the darkness I do my best to hide.
This fear is unacceptable to my wolf and me.
I reach out into our bond to send a sense of calm through her.
Ronan stands, and all the attention in the room shifts to him.
“If I challenge Aldren,” Ronan says slowly, “there is no turning back.
This will no longer be a battle.
It will be war.”
“It’s already is,” Kiara says coldly.
A ghost of approval flashes across Ronan’s.
Then he looks toward Barric, his tone shifting to one that reminds me of a general.
“Send scouts to every potential ally we have left.”
Barric immediately nods.
“How long do they have to answer?”
“Twenty-four hours. We don’t have time to waste. I want them completely off guard, in case our numbers are smaller than we expect.”
Relief visibly washes across Aria’s face moments before I can see her surround herself in an indomitable armor.
She is ready to get her friend back, and I’m ready to do everything in my power to give her what she wants.
Felix rises from his chair, next placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Sounds like we’d better get a move on.”
She gives a mock groan.
“Felix, you’re a slave driver.”
“Oh please, I don’t work your pretty ass harder than your mates do.
I see the way you limp in the dining den at breakfast.”
“Ew, Felix,” Liam groans.
She flushes, but a smirk lines her face.
“Don’t be jealous.”
“Aria,” Liam yells in horror at the topic of their banter.
They are walking out of the room when Felix says, “Not for long, so let’s get to work so I can get ready for tonight.”
As Felix passes Dex, I catch the expression on Dex’s face.
Longing.
Regret.
Greed.
It’s gone almost instantly, buried beneath his usual calm mask, but I still see it.
I know the look of a male on the edge, one barely holding everything together.
I need to keep a closer eye on him.
My wolf agrees.
Ronan turns toward Theo and me.
“You two will choose the enforcers who will come with us.”
Theo nods once.
Ronan continues, “I want our sharpest on the battlefield. We’re going for maximum damage in the shortest amount of time possible. However, I don’t want to leave any holes in those who will remain behind to defend the territory if this goes wrong.”
I glance toward Theo.
“Let’s get started.”
Theo pushes off the wall.
“Already have names in mind.”
“Good,” I say.
***
The next twenty-four hours pass in brutal preparation.
With our choices made, the enforcers spent their time training, sharpening weapons, and working on their team’s hand-to-hand combat.
The group of enforcers staying to protect the pack went all through the mountain and assigned shifts while reinforcing the two doors leading inside and double-checking the hidden ventilation.
And waiting.
The waiting is the worst part.
We won’t know who is standing with us until we’re on the field.
Ronan decided it would be best for them to meet us there, so we didn’t draw any attention by having them come here.
It will also show us who is ready to stand by our side and who is too afraid to step out of line.
It’s a line in the sand we will soon need.
When we retire to our bed, we spend the night wrapped together, just my band’s heart beating against each other, our bond humming in proximity, giving warmth and comfort.
It reminds me of what I have, what I’m not willing to lose.
I don’t sleep.
I just enjoy the moments one exhale at a time.
***
By the time dawn finally breaks on the second day, our convoy is in front of the mountain, splitting into two groups beneath the cover of darkness.
In one group are Aria, Liam, and Felix.
They will be going in first.
Put a decoy of sorts.
The ruse used to make the Assembly think we foolishly took their bait
In the second is Ronan, Sebastian, Theo, Dex, Kiara, and me.
We’ll be waiting at the meeting point for our allies.
Waiting for the perfect time to strike.
My wolf prowls, ready to shift at a moment’s notice.
Dex says something quietly to Felix, and he answers him back in sharp, hushed tones before turning back to his group.
Dex looks like he wants to turn him around, but thinks better of it and leaves for the other side.
I approach Aria.
“You ready?”
“No,” she admits.
A faint smile pulls at my mouth.
“An honest answer.”
She snorts softly.
For a second, the tension eases, but then reality crashes back in.
I hold her determined blue gaze, lowering my voice.
“Listen to me carefully. No matter what you see in there, you keep your head.”
She nods once.
“I will.”
I step closer.
“I mean it, Aria. The Assembly will use Hazel against you if they can. They’ll try to make you panic. Make you reckless. Hazel’s survival depends on you staying calm.”
Liam’s voice cuts into the moment.
“Time to go.”
“See you soon,” Aria says, brushing a soft kiss to my lips before going to do the same to Ronan and Theo.
Then their trio is heading through the trees, away from us.
I hate every second of it.
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