Page 57 of Broken Forced Mate

“It’s not a marital dispute. It’s a command decision being influenced by personal feelings instead of tactical necessity.”

My brother draws in a long breath and says, “Fine. You can go. But you will obey the security team that accompanies you.”

I open my mouth to thank him, but Wyn interrupts, stating, “I’m the team leader.”

“No,” I refute before anyone else can speak. “You’re compromised. Your judgment regarding my safety will put the entire team at risk.”

“Then who leads?”

“I will,” Ash volunteers. “I’m a neutral party with relevant experience in psychic-assisted operations.”

The suggestion makes sense from a tactical standpoint, but I can see Wyn’s jaw clench at the thought of me under someone else’s command in a dangerous situation.

“Agreed,” Oren decides before Wyn can object. “Ash leads, Raegan provides psychic reconnaissance, standard team for backup and extraction.”

Victory tastes sweeter than I expected, but it comes with the bitter aftertaste of Wyn’s disapproval seeping into our incomplete bond.

“Mission parameters?” Jay asks, ever practical.

“Intelligence gathering only,” Ash responds. “We identify enemy positions, supply lines, and defensive preparations. No engagement unless absolutely necessary for team survival.”

“Timeline?”

“We leave in two hours. Night operations provide better concealment for both conventional and psychic surveillance.”

The meeting breaks up with assignments and final preparations. As pack leaders file out, I catch Oren’s arm.

“Thank you,” I tell him.

“Don’t thank me yet,” he replies. “Thank me when you and my wife both come home alive.”

The worry in his voice reminds me that beneath the alpha leader lies my big brother, the one who used to check under my bed for monsters when we were children.

“I will come home,” I promise. “And I’ll bring intelligence that helps us win this war.”

Two hours later, we’re gearing up for departure. The reconnaissance team consists of Ash, me, two Llewelyn operatives, Sera and Kira, and Jay and Tobias representing our pack’s conventional assets.

Wyn helps me adjust the tactical vest, grumbling the whole time.

“This is a mistake,” he mutters as he checks the communication equipment.

“Your faith in my abilities is overwhelming.”

“My faith in your abilities isn’t the issue. It’s the hundred things that can go wrong out there that you haven’t trained for.”

His hands pause on the radio clipped to my vest, and I can feel his reluctance to let me go through the incomplete mate bond we share.

“Promise me you’ll listen to Ash. No heroics, no unnecessary risks.”

“I’m not an idiot, Wyn.”

“No, but you’re brave enough to be stupid sometimes.”

Before I can respond to that backhanded compliment, Ash appears with final equipment checks.

“We move in five minutes,” she announces to the assembled team. The primary objective is intelligence gathering on Thornridge positions and supply lines. The secondary objective is identifying infiltration routes for potential sabotage operations.”

“Rules of engagement?” Sera asks.