Chapter 51

LLOYD

A tense silence filled the room before Tanner’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and quickly answered. “Luke? You’re on speaker. We just listened to the voice note you sent to Harris.”

“Good,” Luke replied, his voice steady. “I’ve sent voice notes to every alpha I know, but there are more packs I haven’t been able to reach. Is Alpha Lloyd there?”

“I’m here, Luke.”

“I’m not one for torture, and to be honest, I don’t want to keep them here any longer than necessary. Can we arrange to transfer them to the palace dungeon?”

“Agreed,” I responded. “Do you have the means to bring them over?”

“Yes, we can handle it. We’ll sedate them for transport. But there’s something else, more worrying…” Luke trailed off.

“What do you mean?” Tanner asked, the already strained atmosphere tightening further.

“These mercs were well kitted out. The night vision goggles had head-mounted binoculars fitted with memory cards, which means they were recording.”

Tanner’s expression changed to one of horror, and although I didn’t quite understand what memory cards were, the meaning was self-explanatory.

“Did they record anyone shifting?” Misty asked, her hand squeezing mine.

“Yes.”

“Fuck!” Tanner exploded. “Are you sure none of them got away?”

“I’m sure.”

“Thanks, Luke,” I said, my mind racing. Being exposed meant we would never live peacefully again. How could Axel be so careless?

“Give us a heads-up when you’re close,” Tanner added.

“Will do,” Luke replied before cutting the call. Tanner’s eyes met mine, a shared understanding passing between us.

Harris stood up, already dialing on his phone—likely calling Anthony.

What was Axel trying to achieve? Recording shifters? His strategy created a lose-lose situation. How did he expect to live if he were victorious?

This was no longer just about power but about survival—protecting the packs. Even if I never wanted the title, I had to stop Axel, and soon. Vetus growled in agreement, a fierce resolve echoing through our bond.

“We have to go,” Harris said urgently. “No mercenaries were spotted at Knox, but that doesn’t mean they won’t target us next.”

Charlotte rose to her feet, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. “Misty, promise me you won’t do anything reckless. Stay close to Lloyd, okay?”

“I will, Mom, but I doubt they’ll make it past the palace defenses.” They embraced, and as Charlotte pulled back, she gave me a look that plainly said ~Take care of my daughter…~

Getting to my feet, I hugged Charlotte and patted Harris on the back. “Keep in touch.”

“How do we stop him? And what about the recordings?” Chelsea asked anxiously once Misty’s parents had left, and we were all seated again.

Tanner expelled a breath. “I don’t know. Depends on whether they were uploading to a cloud or server. I’ll have to warn every pack, but I suspect he will only target the ones who took part in the attack on the palace, which puts Luke at the top of the list.”

Tanner rose to his feet, his gaze landing on Nickie. “Nickie, I need your help,” he said.

“Of course, Beta Tanner,” she responded, her eyes wide.

“Link with every warrior you know and tell them to spread the word and assemble at the training yard.”

“Yes, Beta.” Nickie’s eyes glazed over.

Tanner moved swiftly to the door, grabbing two guards. “Fetch the ceremonial knife from the gallery,” he ordered one. “Find Adam and Trent,” he instructed the other.

I listened to conversations in and around the place as warriors rushed to the training grounds. I hoped like hell there was no one in the palace loyal to Axel; even if they did pledge their loyalty, they had the technology to stay in touch with him.

Misty picked at her breakfast, but her mind was elsewhere. ~“Come here,”~ I linked. She readily sat on my lap, and I breathed her in. Through the bond, I felt the edges of panic and held her consolingly. She was worried for her parents.

First and foremost, I had to establish a Pack link.

~“You’ll have to give it a name,”~ Vetus interjected.

~“I know…”~

Within minutes, the guard returned, carrying the ceremonial knife. I gently set Misty on her feet, feeling the weight of what was about to happen, then took the knife and rose to my full height.

Adam and Trent rushed in, their eyes on the dagger in my hand. It was time to take charge, and I needed everyone on my side.

Vetus said in an “I told you so” voice, ~“They will be. I told you this is our destiny; no matter how much you try to avoid it, you are the alpha king.”~

“All right,” I began, “Since there is still a royal pack link in place, I will invoke the name of the pack I was born into. I don’t care what phrase of acceptance you choose, as long as it represents your loyalty to the Shadow Moon Pack.”

Using the name of the Shadow Moon Pack was bittersweet. Though they were all gone, their legacy lived on through this bond.

Taking Misty’s hand, I met her gaze, those gray eyes swirling with the same complex emotions I felt through our bond. The connection between us deepened as I cut my palm and then hers before clasping our hands together, blood mixing in a pledge.

“I pledge my loyalty to you, my mate, and to the Shadow Moon Pack,” she vowed. I couldn’t help but almost grin as she deliberately avoided using any titles.

Chelsea stepped forward next, making her pledge with the same resolve. Then I nodded at Nickie, who eagerly dropped to her knees, holding up her hand for the ritual.

When it was Adam and Trent’s turn, I gave them the option to remain with the Monolith or Knox Packs. But both knelt before me without hesitation, their loyalty clear.

They all looked between Tanner and me, waiting for me to accept him, but I had other plans. I could tell by Tanner’s grin that he’d already guessed.

I grabbed Misty’s hand and said, “I can’t do this without you. I’m not well-versed in the intricacies of banking, but you and Chelsea are. Meet with Shelley and review the accounts. Identify any properties with a landing pad. Axel won’t stop unless I make him, and we need to pinpoint his location somehow.”

I turned to Adam and Trent. “You will make sure they are safe. Understand?”

“Yes, Alpha,” they echoed.

“Adam, ensure all Axel’s access is revoked—vehicle trackers, etc. You know who to speak to,” Tanner added.

Adam nodded and gestured for them to follow.

“Let’s do this,” I told Tanner.

Axel was cunning, always one step ahead. Dealing with him required a level of deceit and strategy that didn’t come naturally to me. I wasn’t one for playing games or resorting to underhanded tactics, but outwitting someone like Axel would demand it, especially in this century.

~“Conniving little bastard,”~ Vetus remarked, and I silently agreed.

Long before we reached the training grounds, the noise of gathering warriors reached my ears.

“I want to send squads of warriors to the packs for protection,” I said. “You know them better than I, so I’ll leave you to choose.”

“Okay.” Tanner nodded in agreement.

“There’s no way I can accept all of them before deployment, never mind in a day.”

As soon as they spotted us, the chatter died down, replaced by a tension-laden silence. Uncertainty flickered in their eyes, and I knew I had to set the tone.

Clearing my throat, I addressed them. “Good morning. Most of you know who I am, and as much as I’d like to welcome you all into my pack, it will take a few days. Axel is determined to throw discord among the packs and reclaim the throne. Aurus was targeted this morning, and they lost four warriors to human mercenaries.”

I paused, letting my dominance fill the space, listening for any murmurs of dissent, but most expressions shifted from uncertainty to outrage.

“He will continue to target wolves’ lives and expose us to the human world, and once he’s done that, we will no longer live in peace.”

“All hail the alpha king, His Majesty Lloyd Tenebris,” a warrior shouted, and every warrior thumped his chest and bared his neck.

Tanner grinned proudly, but I held up my hand. I had to nip this in the bud straight away. “I do not care for the title majesty or sire. You will address me as Alpha.”

“Yes, Alpha,” the warriors shouted, thumping their chests again.

“As Alpha mentioned, all packs are being threatened. I need volunteer squads to head to packs within half a day’s driving range”—he paused, calculating how many packs were close—“so, twelve squads.”

The warriors lined up in their respective squads, and Tanner looked pleased with the discipline. He had been the beta for years, and it looked like every warrior here respected him.

Squad leaders stepped forward, indicating their willingness. In the shortest time, Tanner instructed them, and they left the training grounds.

I breathed a little easier knowing that the Packs would have some added protection and hoped they were loyal. I was taking an awful chance sending out warriors that weren’t in my pack.

Every squad had names and consisted of twenty-four warriors. Even though we’d deployed twelve, a quick count showed that thirteen squads were left.

“We’ll do this by squad, but as Alpha said, this will take time, so don’t be offended if we don’t make it through the ranks,” Tanner reiterated.

I turned to Tanner. “Will you pledge your loyalty as beta to the Shadow Moon Pack?”

Tanner dropped to one knee, raising his palm for the cut, his voice ringing loud and clear. “I stand before the spirits of our ancestors and the living members of this pack to pledge my unwavering loyalty. I vow to protect and serve, to honor our traditions, and to defend our lands. My strength is your strength. My blood is your blood. I bind myself to the Shadow Moon Pack as beta, so long as breath remains in my body.”

To say I was astounded that he used the old traditional pledge was an understatement. I’d given everyone in the dining room the freedom to choose their own words, but Tanner’s pledge now meant every warrior would use that exact wording.

~“Sorry,”~ he linked me. “~I know this is going to take even longer than anticipated, but for the first time in my life, I felt the words were fitting.”~

~“By the time we’re done, I’ll have bled out.”~ I grinned. Secretly, I was worried because I knew this would take too long.