Chapter 221
I turned to him fully now. “Ben. Stop.”
He froze.
The word carried more than sound. It carried weight. Authority. Something old and deep in my chest rose up, steady and undeniable, settling into place like it had always belonged there.
“You do not get to override me,” I said. “Not in this.”
His eyes widened, shock cutting clean through his anger.
“I am not asking,” I continued, keeping my voice calm, measured. “I am telling you what I am doing.”
Silence fell heavy between us, thick enough to press on my ears.
Ezra exhaled slowly. “She just asserted Alpha authority.”
“Yes,” Morgan said. “She did.”
Ben looked at me like the ground had shifted under his feet. “You never used that with me.”
“I never needed to,” I said softly. “Until now.”
He turned away, hands braced on the counter, shoulders rising and falling as he
dragged in air. I waited. Did not rush him. Some things had to be processed without interference.
When he finally spoke, his voice was rough, scraped raw. “If he touches you.”
“He will not,” I said.
“You cannot promise that.”
“No,” I agreed. “But I can promise this ends.”
Morgan outlined the plan while Ben poured himself fresh coffee with shaking hands, spilling a few drops on the counter and not bothering to wipe them up.
The gathering would be staged as a neutral Alpha meeting. Routine. Unremarkable the surface. A discussion of trade route recent instabi border noise. Silvermen could not ignore it without raising questions among his allies and rivals alike. The location would be public enough to draw him out and controlled enough to limit his options.
False information would leak through channels he trusted. That Savannah would attend alone. That Morgan would remain at a distance. That security would be light, almost insulting in its openness.
“He will mobilize aggressively,” Ezra said. “He always does.”
“And we will let him,” Morgan replied.
Hidden Alpha witnesses would already be in place. Alphas he had dismissed. Disrespected. Wolves with reasons to want the truth dragged into the light. They
would observe. Record. Bear witness. Not soldiers. Witnesses.
“This is not an execution,” Morgan said. “This is exposure.”
“And Sally,” I said.
“She is being moved now,” Ezra replied. “Heavy protection. Rotating teams. No pattern.”
Ben finally turned back to me. His eyes were
bloodshot,
bleeding through the anger.
should not have to
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I picked up my mug and took a sip of coffee. It was bitter. Too hot. It burned my
tongue and grounded me instantly.
“I choose to,” I said. “That matters.”
The rest of the morning passed in preparation.
I checked my gear, laying each item out and putting it back with care. Cleaned my weapon without loading it, hands steady, movements precise Changed clothes to
that would not draw attention. Ate when my body told me to even though my appetite was thin and mechanical. 1 washed my face cold water and watched myself in the cracked mirror until my eyes steadied.
something plain and unre
I stepped outside and let the sun touch my face, warmth spreading slowly across may
oraraet
things. Necess
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By early afternoon, the air had shifted.
My wolf paced just under my skin, alert but not frantic. Waiting.
The message came while I was tying my hair back, fingers fumbling for a second before I forced them steady.
Morgan’s voice was tight. “He is moving sooner than expected.”
Ezra cut in. “Multiple vehicles. Heavy numbers.”
I felt the pull in my chest sharpen, adrenaline spiking clean and bright. “How soon.”
A pause. Too long.
“Now,” Morgan said.
Ben was at my side instantly, hand catching my wrist. “We abort.”
“No,” I said.
“He is not supposed to be here yet.”
“That means he is nervous,” I replied. “And careless.”
Ben swore under his breath. “Savannah.”
I placed my hand on his arm, grounding both of us. “Trust me.”
He searched my face, fear and pride warring openly, his control hanging by a
thread.
“I am with you,” he said finally. “Every step.”
The ground hummed faintly beneath my feet as engines approached in the distance.
Too fast. Too loud. No subtlety left.
Silvermen was coming.
And the trap was already set.