Morven nods. “Of course.” He’s still holding Mia by her shoulders, as if he’s scared to let her go again, and she looks up at him with a giant question mark floating above her head. Relentingly, he releases Mia and turns to Jasper.
“Walter Bridgers and his regressive regime must not be allowed to spread any further,” he says. “Jasper Apollo, the Rocky Pack will stand with you in this fight.”
“Yes!” Jasper smacks the table. “You’re serious?”
“You have our support.” Morven nods and it’s like the entire room exhales. Salazar and Tobias clap, so do I. Mason shoots me a wink and I smile back. Jasper walks to Morven and they shake hands as we all watch in relief and excitement.
As the joyful fever cools, Salazar stands, coughing to quiet the room, then speaks.
“With your help, Alpha Morven, we stand a chance of winning this battle. But we must act quickly. Walter is likely rallying his troops and moving into position as we speak. May I make a tactical suggestion?”
Jasper nods and moves back to his seat. “Please.”
“We need to move the action away from the city. Someplace with less risk of collateral damage.”
“How would we do that?” Jasper asks.
“Move the alpha.” Salazar’s suggestion is met with silence and skepticism, but he continues. “Announce he’s being taken somewhere for intensive medical care. If Walter is coming for yourself and Jericho, he and his forces will be drawn to wherever Jericho is supposed to be. We position the bulk of our troops in the surrounding area. Walter won’t see it coming.”
Jasper thinks for a second, rubbing his chin. “Walter won’t fall for it. He will assume that wherever Jericho is going, so too are the bulk of our forces. My father’s safety will be at greater risk.”
“With our armies around him, he will be protected.”
“No. It’s too dangerous,” Jasper says.
“Besides,” Tobias joins the discussion. “If we move our entire armed forces to wherever Jericho is, the city and the packhouse will be vulnerable.”
Morven taps the table and speaks. “You can leave a stronghold of forces here. Our army will make up the bulk of wolves to protect your alpha.”
I can tell Jasper isn’t buying this plan just yet.
“As much as I respect you and the strength of your troops,” Jasper says, “I can’t leave my father’s fate in your hands alone. But if it were possible to make Walter think we were strengthening our forces in the city while moving Jericho somewhere else, perhaps this plan might work.”
Tobias has picked up a pen and is scribbling on a pad in front of him. “We could make it appear as if we were moving Jericho in secret while preparing for war in the city. Then switch things up.”
Jasper toys with his bottom lip, thinking. “Perhaps, but how can we convince Walter that we’re secretly moving Jericho but leaving our troops here?”
Before I know it my mouth is opening. “I can do it.”
Every eye in the room turns to me. Mostly, the expressions are skeptical, and a little confused. Mason is raising an eyebrow though, and Jasper is looking at me with concern glistening in his eyes.
“I’ve been in Walter’s head before and somehow, he’s been in mine.”
“What? You didn’t say?” Jasper tries to hide the look of disquiet on his face.
“I know,” I say. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to worry. But while I was traveling, I used the Lunar Plane to find the rogues, and while I was there Walter found me. Somehow, he’s able to search like I am. He put these images into my head that weren’t real.”
“What sort of images?” Salazar asks while Olivia and Mia share a knowing, worried look.
“It doesn’t matter, they were fake,” I say. “But if he can put false images in my head I’m sure I can put them in his. I’ll show him where we’ve moved Jericho and convince him we’re trying to trick him by leaving the majority of our forces at home.”
“You can do this?” Morven asks. “It would take extreme mental prowess.”
I almost grin at him. “It’ll take more than that. But it’s okay. I’m the blood wolf. Actually, I discovered that about myself at your pack. It’s what I was born for.”
“My mate is more powerful than you’d think,” Jasper says, grinning at me.
Morven keeps staring at me a little longer than I’d like, but eventually the conversation continues. “Very well.”
