Page 75 of Broken Forced Mate

Theodore approaches, waving around a communication device. “Sir, we’re intercepting Thornridge radio chatter. You need to hear this.”

He activates the speaker, and Mordaunt’s voice comes out loud and clear.

“Primary objective remains the Amanzite stockpile. The secondary objective is the omega psychic. I want her alive and unharmed. Her abilities are too valuable to waste.”

My hands clench into fists. They’re still after her.

“What about resistance forces?” another voice asks.

“Eliminate all opposition except the omega. That includes the wolf who thinks he’s her bodyguard and any family members. Make examples of the leadership.”

The mention of killing me doesn’t bother me as much as the threat to Raegan’s family. They’re talking about taking out an alpha. These people have no limits.

“Sir,” someone addresses Mordaunt, “should we prioritize the omega capture over securing the Amanzite?”

“Negative. Secure the reserves first. The omega will come to us once we have what we want.”

The transmission ends, and we all gawk at one another.

“They think you’ll surrender to save innocent lives,” I tell Raegan.

“They’re not wrong.” She finally manages to sit up despite the medic’s protests. “But not in the way they expect.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have an idea. A way to use their expectations against them.”

The determined look in her eyes makes me nervous. There’s always something crazy coming when she gets that look on her face. “What kind of idea?”

“You won’t like it,” she warns. “It requires both of us to walk into maximum danger.”

Every instinct I possess screams against whatever she’s planning. But something has changed between us since our last argument. I can’t keep trying to shield her from her own choices.

“I’m listening,” I tell her.

She blinks at me a few times, like she thinks she might be hallucinating. “They want me alive because of my psychic abilities. They also want the Amanzite reserves. If we can make them think they can get both at the same time…”

“You want to use yourself as bait.”

The medic finishes her examination and steps back. “She needs at least twelve hours of rest to recover fully.”

“I’ll rest when this is over,” Raegan declares before swinging her legs off the cot.

“Raegan—”

“They’re coming whether I’m at full strength or not. Better to meet them on our terms than wait for them to choose the battlefield.”

Theodore approaches with more intelligence reports. “Our scouts confirm enemy movement. Three separate forces converging on our position from different directions.”

“What about allies?” Raegan asks. “Can my brother send reinforcements?”

“Already requested. Oren’s bringing fifty fighters, but they won’t arrive until midday.”

“After the assault begins.”

“Yes.”

Raegan stands and walks to the tactical map spread across our planning table. “Then we need to change their timeline.”