Weeks of planning my father’s demise have finally come to light.
With Jaxon on our side, along with our other allied packs from the district, and working day and night with the witches, I know it’s now or never. There is always a trick or two up Ryker’s sleeve, and if we wait a second longer, we could lose months of preparation—which I refuse to do.
As I finalise the details of the mission, there is a soft knock at my office door.
“Come in,” I instruct.
The handle dips, and Evan emerges from the hall.
“Everything okay, pups?”
He nods and steps inside, shutting the door behind him. “Just wondering what you’re up to.”
Without hesitation, he walks around my desk and sits directly on my lap. I blow out a breath of relief at how comfortable he’s become, and his affection is what keeps me going.
“I’m wrapping some things up before we take Ryker down.”
Evan visibly tenses in my hold. “Can I come?”
“No,” I say heavily.
“Why?”
“Because I need you here where it’s safe.”
“But I can help.”
My nostrils flare. “I said no.”
His eyes widen with the sudden change in my tone. I curse myself internally before holding him closer.
“I need no distractions,” I say honestly. “And with you there, I’ll be worried about you the entire time. You need to stay here where it’s safe. Okay?”
He purses his lips. “But I can fight. You’ve seen my sparring, I’ve got so much better.”
“I know you’ve been improving drastically in training, but that’s beside the point. I need you safe, and when this is over, you will be by my side forever.”
“Okay,” he exhales.
“It has nothing to do with your abilities,” I admit. “But the second my father gets a whiff of what you mean to me, it’s game over.”
Evan swallows. “I get it.”
I study his expression as I watch a million different thoughts fly through his head. “Are you mad at me?”
“No,” he whispers. “Just worried.”
“Everything is going to be alright,” I say softly. “We’ve got a good army, and I know he won’t see us coming. We’ve spent too long perfecting this.”
“How are you going to do it?”
“The witches have been working for months on a spell that should be strong enough to confuse Ryker when we attack,” I start. “Then we plan on taking out his men, freeing the women and children, and then isolating Ryker so we have him at his weakest. He might be powerful, but I know he’s not invincible.”
“Will it work?”
I shrug. “We will have to wait and see.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Evan murmurs, panic flashing across his face.
