"Son of a bitch." The words came out quiet, lethal.
"There's more." Callum handed him a second paper, this one detailing guard rotations, Council member locations, even the typical crowd size for celebrations. "They've been watching us for months."
Kieran appeared in the doorway, his hazel eyes flashing gold with his tiger's rage. "Found claw marks on three trees marking sight lines to the square. They're planning a coordinated assault."
"During the Solstice Gathering." Dante's hands clenched around the papers hard enough to crumple them. "When families bring their children. When the whole damn town celebrates together. He never planned to hold a hearing on Maeve. He knew she’d never go."
"Hector wants a spectacle." Callum's jaw worked. "Prove Maeve can't protect anything. Undermine the Council's authority in one blow."
"How many?" Kieran asked, moving to study the map over Dante's shoulder.
"At least a dozen based on these notes." Dante traced the markings, his tactical training from years of enforcement work kicking in. "Maybe more if Hector calls in favors from allied prides."
Callum crossed his arms, his alpha presence filling the small space. "We need to tell the Council."
"No." Both men turned to stare at Dante. He set the papers down carefully, mind already racing through scenarios. "Not yet. If we alert the Council officially, Bram will push to cancel the gathering. Hector wins without throwing a single punch."
"And if we don't warn anyone?" Kieran's voice held an edge.
"I didn't say we don't prepare." He met both their gazes steadily. "I said we don't go through official channels. Not when half the Council still questions Maeve's authority."
Callum studied him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "You want to handle this quietly."
"I want to handle thissmart." Dante picked up the map again, committing every detail to memory. "We fortify without causing panic. Bring in people we trust absolutely."
"Emmett." Callum said immediately. "He's trained half the young shifters in town. They'll listen to him."
"Ryker too," Kieran added. "Wolf's got tactical experience and prophecy-honed instincts. If anyone can sense an attack coming, it's him."
"Good." Dante's mind catalogued names, positions, strengths. "We need magical protection too. Wards that won't be obvious but will slow them down, give us warning."
"Freya." Kieran's expression softened slightly at his mate's name. "She's been working with defensive plant magic since the blight last year. And Moira knows archival spells that could help."
"Lucien won't like being pulled into this," Callum warned.
"Lucien doesn't have to like anything." Dante folded the map, tucking it into his jacket.
They secured the cabin, erasing signs of their presence with practiced efficiency. The walk back to Hollow Oak took twenty minutes through snow-heavy woods, none of them speaking until the town lights shimmer became visible through the trees.
"She's going to be pissed you didn't tell her first." Callum's tone held a note of amusement despite the gravity of their discovery.
"She just fought three rogues while bleeding." Dante couldn’t help but feel proud in saying it, picturing her golden and fierce, defending what was hers. "She needs rest, not another battle to plan."
"You really think Maeve Cross rests?" Kieran snorted. "The woman runs on spite and whiskey."
"She'll rest," Dante said quietly.
They split up at the town's edge. Kieran headed for his cottage to brief Freya, Callum toward the Book Nook to find Moira and Lucien. Dante made for the Hearth and Hollow Innwhere Maeve had reluctantly agreed to stay while her shoulder healed.
He found her in the small sitting room, wrapped in blankets before the fire with Cora keeping watch. The fae enchantress looked up as he entered, her soft green eyes assessing.
"She finally fell asleep an hour ago," Cora murmured, rising gracefully. "Freya's herbs helped with the pain."
"Thank you." He meant it. "For staying with her."
"She's family." Cora glanced at Maeve's sleeping form with obvious affection. "Callum's told me stories about when they were young. She was always the one protecting everyone else." She met his gaze knowingly. "Now someone needs to protect her."
"Working on it."
