The fight was brutal but quick. These rabid monsters might have been dangerous to a human, but against Knox and Hunt, they didn’t stand a chance.
I sagged against the wall, shoulder burning, lamp shards still clutched in bloody hands. The adrenaline was fading, leaving me shaky and exhausted.
“Mama!” The twins burst from the closet the second Knox gave the all-clear, running to me with tears streaming down their faces.
I dropped the makeshift weapons to catch them, checking frantically for injuries. Not a scratch. They’d stayed hidden, stayed safe, just like we’d practiced.
“We stayed quiet!” Thea said proudly through her tears. “Just like you said! Even when we heard the scary noises.”
“You did so good, baby. Both of you.” I held them tight, probably getting blood on their clothes but not caring.
Knox shifted back, and someone immediately tossed him pants. His eyes were wild as he crossed to us, hands gentle as they checked my wounds.
“Mary,” I said flatly before he could ask. “She had your phone. Said you were protecting her.”
His face went murderous, a snarl building in his throat. “My phone’s at the wedding spot. She must have-”
“Alpha,” Hunt interrupted from the doorway. “Three more locations hit simultaneously. The Hendersons’ house, the school, and the medical center. This was coordinated.”
“Casualties?” Knox asked, though his hands never stopped their examination of my injuries.
“Minor injuries only. The attacks were repelled quickly, but...” Hunt paused. “Someone fed them information. Told them exactly when we’d be distracted, where to strike for maximum chaos.”
“The wedding,” Knox said grimly. “They knew most of the pack would be there. Knew which houses would be vulnerable.”
Cole appeared in the doorway, blood on his shirt but moving easily. “The wedding party’s secure. Minor injuries only, the bride has a nasty claw mark but she’ll heal. But Knox... whoever planned this knew exactly where Lina and the pups would be.”
The implications hung like a stone in my stomach. This wasn’t random. Someone in the pack had told the rogues where to find us, when we’d be most vulnerable.
“Mary,” I said again, but Knox shook his head.
“She’s vicious but not stupid enough to work with rabid rogues. They would have turned on her too.” He paused, frowning. “Though she definitely took advantage of the chaos.”
“Check the council members,” Cole suggested. “Anyone who conveniently wasn’t at the wedding when the attack started.”
They began discussing pack politics and potential traitors, but I tuned them out. My babies were safe. I was alive. The immediate danger had passed. Everything else could wait.
Rowan tugged on Knox’s hand, looking up at him with those serious gray eyes. “The bad wolves smelled familiar.”
Everyone went silent, attention focusing on my too-observant son.
“Familiar how, buddy?” Knox asked gently, crouching to Rowan’s level.
“Like the mean lady,” Rowan said simply. “The one who hurt Mama before. They smelled like her perfume.”
Knox went very still. “You’re sure? They smelled like Mary?”
Rowan nodded solemnly. “The flowery smell that makes my nose itch. It was on them.”
“Could be transfer,” Hunt suggested. “If she was near them before the attack.”
“Or she helped coordinate this,” Cole said darkly. “Gave them information about patrol schedules, house locations.”
“But you said she wouldn’t work with rabid rogues,” I pointed out, shifting Thea to my other hip when she started to drowse against my shoulder.
“Not directly,” Knox agreed, standing slowly. “But she might have used them. Fed them information knowing they’d attack, then positioned herself to look innocent.”
“She answered your phone,” I said. “Made sure I knew you were busy protecting her instead of coming to help.”
