The security monitors behind us hummed with feeds from every corner of Evermere’s perimeter, our newly installed motion sensors casting jagged blue patterns across Alpha Jace’s scowling face. Zane had commandeered the holographic display table, spinning satellite images of Gray Shadows territory like a child playing with a stolen dessert as he taunted the man.
“Either your wolf’s gone deaf or I’m losing my touch, Beaudreau.” Zane’s grin stretched wide enough to show his dropped fangs. “Gold still napping after that last full moon?”
Alpha Jace’s knuckles popped as his wolf stirred beneath the surface.
“Zane.” I didn’t raise my voice. Didn’t need to.
“Rain check on the wrestling match, Jacey-boy,” Z huffed. “Casimir’s got his ‘no fun allowed’ hat on today.”
“Looking forward to it.” Alpha Jace bared teeth that were just a shade too sharp.
Ko’s chair scraped back. He circled the table in three silent strides, black hair slipping from its tie to fall across his face when he bent over Seri.
“We could sedate him,” he whispered, thumb brushing the pulse point beneath her ear. “Tie him to the flagpole until he remembers basic decorum.”
Seri’s laugh was musical despite her fatigue, and she pressed Ko’s palm to her cheek.
“Can I hear the basic plan now?” she asked.
“Lone wolves move gossip faster than cell towers.” Alpha Jace nodded, tapping coordinates into the holo display. Wolves materialized in amber clusters. “By sundown tomorrow, every rogue within five states will think that you’re in my territory alone while your mates are off on a monster hunt. They’ll hear that you’re injured, weak, and unguarded.”
Seri frowned, her fingers tracing the edge of the map.
“It’s a good plan,” she said slowly, “but I’m not sure it’ll be enough. Arabesque—”
That was as far as she got before the silence shackle shut her down again. The good thing about Father and Seb coming to stay with her was the possibility of that shit getting taken care of.
“Has him on too tight of a leash?” I guessed, and she nodded. “He’s not the kind to ask for permission, let alone obey a denial. Still.” I looked around the table. “That will pique his interest, but standard bait won’t hookthisshark. We need chum.”
“Something personal. Something that’ll make him act before he thinks.” Alpha Jace glanced up, his brown eyes locking onto mine. “A fake reunion for former Wandering Paw members. I can reach out to Rocco Kane. Claudio’s older brother. If anyone knows how to get under Claudio’s skin, it’s him.”
I leaned back against the table, my arms crossed as I considered the idea. It was a good play. Personal. Messy. Exactly the kind of thing Claudio wouldn’t be able to resist.
“Do it,” I said, nodding at Jace. “But make sure Rocco knows this isn’t just about settling old scores. If Claudio takes the bait, he’s walking into a trap he won’t walk out of.”
“Oh, he’ll help.” Jace smirked, already dialing. “Trust me. We plant something with Rocco’s scent, a shirt or his boots maybe, at the supposed reunion site and spread the rumor that he’s there.”
Seri’s fingers found mine beneath the table. They shook a little, and I squeezed them gently.
“He won’t come alone, though,” Ko noted. “He’ll bring at least ten friends. Five visible, five flanking.”
“Like we can’t smell dog-breath from five miles,” Zane snorted.
The debate dissolved into logistics such as escape routes, weapon caches, contingencies. Seri leaned onto Ko’s shoulder as he explained thermal scans, her head tilted lower as Zane poked at Alpha Jace, and her eyelids finally drifted down as I drafted a supply list. By the time we had the plan lock-tight, she was out.
“She slept all day yesterday, through the night last night, and barely managed to wake up in time for breakfast today,” Ko whispered as I scooped her up. “Should we be worried?”
“After what we did to her the night before last?” Zane chuckled. “Bro, she’s lucky to not be in a coma.”
I smirked a little, and Alpha Jace broke into a fit of coughing to cover his laughter.
“So long as we keep waking her up to hydrate and eat every few hours, she’ll be fine,” I assured Ko.
“You have a mate, wolf-boy?” Zane asked Alpha Jace as I headed toward the door with our precious little wife.
“Leilani. My luna,” he said with a nod, his eyes still glittering with amusement. “Been mated three years now.”
“Any advice for the newly married?” I paused to ask.
