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Kaylee

“We need to take action now!” Marco shouts, getting a glare from Amelia. He grimaces, takes a deep breath, and looks back at our alpha. “I’m sorry for yelling, but this situation is frustrating,” he apologizes. Amelia nods in agreement.

“They’re planning to attack us, and we’re just sitting here doing nothing but watching their messages scroll by!” Marco continues, slumping back in his seat and running a hand through his hair. Maya takes his hand in hers and visibly calms him down.

“We’re here to plan what to do,” Amelia answers, looking around the table at each of us. Alexander is silent, his eyes focused on the screen as Ramos and his allies continue to plan our demise.

“Thanks to Kaylee’s quick thinking, we’ve prepared many shelters for our packmates to run and hide in. They’re fully stocked with non-perishable food,” David chimes in, concern on his usually smiling face.

A hand takes mine, and I look to see Lucas smiling at me reassuringly.

“Not only that, but Marco has upped our training, and Devon has been giving up many of Ramos’ secrets,” Kurt adds.

I sigh, all eyes turning to me with questioning glances. Many of us at this table know Ramos will continue planning until he’s sure he’ll win this battle. Two months is enough time for him and his allies to work out a plan and arrive at our borders. It will be a massacre if that happens.

“What are you thinking, Kaylee?” Royce asks, concern on his face. I don’t answer. I’m unsure about what I’m even thinking.

Ramos will stop at nothing as long as Lucas and I are alive. Even if we defend against the first attack, who’s to say we will win in the end? And if we did win, Ramos would return stronger than ever with Nathaniel Cross as his father-in-law. They’ll chip away at our defenses until we either surrender or die. If Lucas and I were in Oak Fur...

My eyes widen in shock at how simple the solution is. Simple, but also suicidal.

“You realized something,” Lucas says softly, his voice making me turn my head to face him. I see the acceptance in his eyes as we stare at one another. He must have come to the same realization long ago but had kept it to himself, knowing how happy being in Ivory Fangs made me.

“It’s a suicide mission, though,” I respond, unsure if anyone else at this table would support me.

“What’s a suicide mission?” Royce asks, uncertainty in his eyes. I sigh, unsure if I should voice the only solution to end this war with Ramos with minimal loss. Only two people would need to die if we played things right—but even I know this is wishful thinking.

Amelia studies me, her eyes staring into mine, searching for answers. I know she’ll figure out what I am thinking of doing, so I look away.

“No,” she finally says, her voice filled with power. “It’s too dangerous, Kaylee.”

“But it’s the only way to stop a full-out war,” I quickly retort. Amelia growls, her eyes hardening.

“It’s suicidal, Kaylee. You could die, your pup with you,” she fights back, her disapproving glare thrown my way. David places a hand on her shoulder, stopping Amelia from standing. She takes a deep breath, her mate’s touch calming her.

“Well, we have to do something! Lucas and I are the rightful heirs to be alpha and Luna of that pack. If we fight to reclaim it from—”

“You’re pregnant?” Marco cuts off my words, a look of shock on his face. Realizing what Amelia and I just admitted to, I take a deep breath to calm myself. Marco sounds slightly hurt, most likely because I never told him about being with pup.

“She is. It’s why I went crazy on Evette a few weeks ago,” Lucas answers instead, giving Marco an apologetic smile. “We weren’t planning on telling anyone until Kaylee was past the danger phase, but it seems we need to plan our strategy around this, considering Kaylee wants to take the fight to Oak Fur and have her and I take the pack as its alphas.”

“Wouldn’t she be the Luna?” Maya chimes in at this. Lucas chuckles, turning to smile at me.

“No. If Aunt Amelia can be an alpha, why can’t Kaylee?”

The pride with which Lucas poses this question makes my heart flutter. He wouldn’t force me into the role of the Luna, planning gatherings and parties. He would make me an equal ruler, my word holding the same weight as his in all decisions for our pack.

“No. I’m not sending you two back there to die,” Amelia shouts, slamming her fist on the table.

“What would you have us do here? Ramos has six packs on his side, readying to storm here in Ivory Fangs and kill everyone,” I shout, standing from my chair and snarling at Amelia. She shrugs off David’s hand and stands as well, the two of us releasing our inner power and glaring at one another. The room is silent, eyes on us, waiting to see what will happen.

“We will find another way, Kaylee, but I am not sending you, my goddaughter, back there to be slaughtered.”

“Amelia, there is no other way! Ramos had Blood Oath backing him. In two months’ time, there will be a slaughter here if we don’t act first. Wolves in Oak Fur are terrified for their lives, but they can’t leave!”

Her power surrounds me, threatening to crush me into submission, but I push back. The only way for those I love in Ivory Fangs to be safe is to kill Ramos and Marilyn. With them gone, we can take back Oak Fur and create a better future, a better pack for everyone there.

“No, Kaylee. My answer is n—”

“Then I will revoke my role as beta. I was chosen by the Goddess to be a leader when she made Lucas and me mates. Oak Fur needs that leader now.”

A surge of power springs forth deep inside me, and Amelia stumbles back as the room shakes.

“And if you won’t help me with killing your brother, then I will leave Ivory Fangs and do it myself to protect everyone I love, including my unborn pup,” I finish.

“I will, too. Wherever Kaylee goes, I go,” Lucas says, wrapping his arm around my waist, his power blending with mine in unison. Amelia glares at the two of us, but her power bounces off Lucas and me. We refuse to submit, to back down when the only way forward is the one I suggested.

“They’re right, love.” David’s voice breaks the silence and he takes Amelia’s hands in his. “We knew the possibility of war was high if Ramos learned you had become an alpha. The only way to save everyone is to kill him in his own territory.”

“But they could die, David. I promised Kaylee’s mother we would protect her,” Amelia argues, tears falling from her eyes. I want to go to her side, to hug her and assure her that everything would be fine if she just trusted us, but Lucas holds me back, shaking his head. If anyone can convince Amelia right now, it’s David.

“David is right, Amelia,” Kurt chimes in, standing from his seat and standing beside Lucas. “Lucas and Kaylee are the rightful heirs to Oak Fur. They need to be the ones to go and take down Ramos,” he adds, looking at the two of us with pride in his eyes.

“Now, we can either support them and plan the attack or keep fighting amongst ourselves. The choice is yours.” David says, giving Amelia a stern look. It’s the first time I have seen him oppose her—the first time I have seen him not take her side.

Amelia looks between us all, conflict in her gaze. Marco, Royce, Maya, and Alexander stay quiet.

[Are you sure this is the only way, Kaylee?] Marco links me. Turning to look at him, I see the hurt and worry in Marco’s gaze. He was the first friend I made when I came to Ivory Fangs. The first person I trusted. He’d helped me through Lucas’ rejection. Without him, I would have died.

[I have to do this, Marco. I’m sorry,] I link back. He closes his eyes in acceptance, knowing he can’t change my mind.

[Okay then. No matter what Amelia says, I support you.]

[Thank you, Marco. That means a lot to me.]