Page 66

66

Lucas

Watching everyone around me change into their new clothes—black pants, a black long-sleeved shirt, a black facemask, and the white bandanas that would identify us to Devon’s guard friends—I pray silently to the Goddess. I pray she watches over the wolves gathered in the clearing with us for a quick and easy takeover and for things to go smoothly so that no innocent wolf dies tonight.

Kaylee is already in the crowd, sending teams of four off after handing them a map for their starting position. The plan is simple: we’ll surround Oak Fur and slowly work our way inside the packlands, taking out the houses marked on the map belonging to the men Ramos trusts. The innocent will be spared, but those who have caused more harm than good under Marilyn and Ramos’ command will be put down like the rabid mutts they are.

“You know, when we left, I never thought we would come back with intent to kill,” Simon says from beside me, his mask already covering the lower half of his face.

“I did,” I admit as Kaylee points toward the west side of the pack. Everyone has ten minutes to get to their positions, and some need to be driven to get closer to their position on the map.

“Remember how I asked you over a month ago if you thought Kaylee and I could reclaim Oak Fur, and you said ‘maybe’?” I ask my friend, turning to give him an amused smile. “Has your answer changed since then?”

Simon chuckles at my question, his eyes turning to watch Kaylee. Even while pregnant, she emanates the power of a strong leader, a leader I would have never had by my side if I’d married Marilyn like Ramos wanted.

“It has,” Simon answers quietly, his eyes softening as Evette joins Kaylee with a few omegas trained in first aid care. “I believe that by the end of tonight, Kaylee and you will have successfully reclaimed Oak Fur.”

I smile at this, remembering how annoyed Simon had been. He’d thought I would be the one to leak information about Kaylee. No one had thought Ramos would be bold enough to send a spy just because of rumors spreading that Kaylee and I were in Ivory Fangs after rescuing her from Shadow Moon’s clutches. If it weren’t for Ramos being so paranoid, Kaylee and I would still be in Ivory Fangs planning for our pup and helping my aunt and uncle take care of the pack.

“I’m still mad you woke me up for that conversation, but also glad you did. You stuck to your word and made Kaylee an alpha alongside you,” Simon says with a chuckle, patting my shoulder. “The old Lucas would never have done that. You would have kept Kaylee under you as a Luna and she would have never become the woman she is now.”

“You’re right.” I agree, turning away from watching Kaylee and grabbing my own mask from the box on the stump beside me. “The old me would have looked down on Kaylee for being a woman. Rejecting her was the shittiest thing I could ever do, but it was also the thing that made us become stronger.”

Simon makes a noise of agreement, and we watch and wait. He will go with a few other wolves to the north side of Oak Fur, sneaking in through the stream there. Kaylee, Titus, Ash, and I will cut through the pack from here, passing by the stream with the willow tree we used to hide under as pups, as this route is the quickest to the packhouse. We’re just waiting for Kaylee to finish organizing the wolves.

“Simon, are you ready?” My aunt comes to our side, her hair braided back out of her way and her mask covering the lower half of her face. The same gray eyes as mine stare at the two of us, an edge to them that I have only seen once—the same knife-like gaze she gave me when I rejected Kaylee. It seems my aunt has fully accepted the battle ahead and is ready to kill.

“Yeah, I am. Will wolves be guarding Evette and her team?” Simon asks. I can tell he’s worried about his mate. This is the first time she’s left her pack, having grown up in Silver Paw.

“Yes. Eddison and his men are staying back to keep an eye on Hale and his family, as well as Evette and the omegas helping in the medical team,” Aunt Amelia states, nodding her head towards the waiting van. “Now, we must go if we want this operation to run smoothly.”

Simon and I wish each other luck before he and my aunt disappear into the van. By now, the wolves in the clearing had nearly all gone, and only a few groups starting this operation on our territory were left. Titus and Kaylee were waiting quietly, their eyes on the sky as they watched the moon climb higher with each passing second. Ash hugged Devon, whispering something into his mate’s ear before watching Devon climb into a van.

Walking towards my friend, I place my hand on his shoulder and watch the sadness in his eyes slowly flicker away.

“I told Devon to wait an hour away. I don’t want him caught by Ramos’ men after just healing from the injuries Marco gave him,” Ash whispers quietly.

“Trust me, I would have Kaylee do the same thing if she would let me,” I state, getting a laugh out of him.

“You and I both know she would kick your ass again if you tried,” Ash counters, snorting.

“That she would,” I agree.

“Has Royce gone with Amelia and David?”

“Yes. Simon is with them,” I state, and we turn away from the entrance of the clearing and make our way to Kaylee and Titus.

“Two minutes,” I hear Kaylee mutter, covering her face with her own mask. I sigh, stepping forward and taking her hand in mine.

“We will win this,” I promise her, kissing the back of her hand.

“I know,” she says, her eyes twinkling under the moonlight. “It’s either that or everyone we love dies.”