Chapter 18: 18: The Battle Plan

SERENA

I’m gaping at Sebastian. “You’ve got to be kidding me! The nerd from my accounting class? That was twenty years ago. What’s his problem?”

Sebastian’s pacing our room, his fingers threading through his hair. “You remember when I told his dad that if he messed with you again, there’d be consequences?”

I nod, still in shock. “I remember. But this can’t be about that, can it?”

The reality is sinking in. “Why would he want our daughter? And to mate with her? That’s disgusting.” My anger’s growing with every passing moment.

Sebastian stops pacing and sits next to me on the bed. He rests his hand on my thigh, probably trying to calm his wolf a bit.

“From what I understand, he never found his mate. He thinks that my interference cost him the chance to have a chosen mate, which is you.”

Sebastian’s eyes are flickering between green and black. He’s fighting to keep Thor in check.

It’s unusual for Thor to try to take over, but this is a direct threat to both his mate and his pup. He’s not taking it lightly.

I take a deep breath. “What part does Patrice play in all this?” I ask.

“Patrice is Jason’s cousin. He banished her brother from his pack for trying to intervene.”

“It seems that as an alpha, he has no respect for his pack members. He abuses them, and Preston tried to step in.”

“Preston is an alpha wolf through his mother, and it made him protective. When he was banished, Patrice offered to provide information so that her brother could be accepted back into the pack.” Sebastian explains, his voice filled with disbelief.

“And what about the retired alpha, his father?” I ask.

“Dead.”

“Dead how?” This story is getting weirder by the second.

Sebastian sighs. “Killed by his son for trying to intervene after his son took over. It’s a mess, Serena, but we have to go to war.”

“I can’t risk another attack or any more betrayal. I won’t risk our children being taken or harmed by this madman.”

“All I can think is that he must be suffering from moon madness. He has no chosen mate, never found his fated mate, and he’s in his forties. I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”

“Maybe it did, if he killed his father,” I say.

“Maybe. We need to get to work, I need to contact the council and our allies. This can’t wait.”

Sebastian kisses me deeply, still managing to give me butterflies. As he stands, I give his butt a playful smack.

Sebastian turns and raises an eyebrow. “How dare you kiss me like that, Alpha, and then just walk away.”

I wink at him and we both laugh as we head to the office to prepare for whatever lies ahead.

MAX

My father has mind-linked me to meet him in the office. When I enter, I see my father and Beta Jackson hunched over a map.

My mother is at the desk, flipping through a rolodex. “What’s happening?” I ask.

“We’re preparing for war, son. It takes a lot of planning to execute a solid attack that will minimize casualties on our side. Come here,” my father beckons me to the table where he has maps spread out.

“Wouldn’t it be more effective to just sneak in and capture the alpha?” I ask.

“Yes and no,” he replies.

As we’re studying the aerial views of Canyon Ranch pack lands, Beck walks in. “Alpha, Luna. Melanie was briefly awake. The doctor wanted me to inform you.” He announces as soon as he enters.

My mother lets out a sigh of relief. “Go on, Serena. Go check on our daughter,” my father tells her.

She nods and leaves the office.

Jackson signals for Beck to join us at the map table. He will be my beta one day, so it’s crucial that he learns as much as he can.

“If we enter from the Southwest side, they’re less likely to expect us from that direction. They’ll assume we’ll come in from the Northwest, simply because that’s where we’re located in relation to them,” my father says.

He’s drawing lines on the map to indicate borders and easy places to breach.

“How do you know about these borders and easy points of entry?” I ask, leaning over the map.

“Besides years of studying these maps, I’ve spent countless weeks in the woods, tracking and investigating. Both Jackson and I have been there many times over the years.”

“It’s our job to know these things, just in case. Once Alpha Jason took over, we made it a point to know even more. He ruined the alliance we had with his father. It’s a shame, really. He doesn’t have many allies left. Most of the packs have turned their backs on him.”

My father rubs his chin, his eyes never leaving the route he’s drawing on the map as he speaks.

I watch quietly as he and Jackson take turns placing marker points on the map, nodding to each other. They work in sync, like a well-oiled machine.

I hope that one day, Beck and I will be as efficient as they are.

“Can I make a suggestion?” Beck asks.

“Of course,” my father says.

Beck points to a spot on the map of Billings. “There’s a trail through the part of land we own where the ranch and stables are. It’s not very well maintained, kind of overgrown. I found it when riding one day. It leads to this part of public land,” he points to a spot on the map.

My father and Jackson both nod in agreement. “If we cross this public land about ten miles to the East, there’s a patch of forest there that backs up to Canyon Ranch. It’s only patrolled by one guard, and they make rounds about every two hours.”

“If we watch them closely, we can probably figure out a time when we could cross without being seen. This allows us to come from the North, through heavy vegetation. I don’t think they would see that coming.”

“I know exactly where you’re talking about,” I say.

Looking over at my father, he has a blank look on his face. This tells me he’s deep in thought about what Beck has just suggested.

We wait quietly for him to respond.

“It could work. I know right where this trail is that you speak of. I used to ride it regularly years ago. It’s important to always know where your land borders, to be prepared for what can come at you.”

“I doubt Jason has made any effort to know his borders in the same way we do. Probably not even close to what his father knew, and since he killed his father, well he’s at a great loss not having that knowledge at his disposal.”

“I think we send out a patrol to confirm what you have just said, Beck,” my father looks up to him making eye contact. “Do you want to head that up?”

“Yes, Alpha, I can do that,” Beck replies.

“I’m going with him,” I declare.

Jackson shakes his head. “Sending both of you isn’t wise,” he counters. “We need you for another scouting mission. We can’t risk losing both our future leaders in an ambush.”

I can’t help but snort, earning a glare from my father. “He’s got a point, Max. Don’t let your ego get the best of you.”

I raise my hands in a gesture of surrender. “All right, all right. What’s the plan then?”

Jackson outlines his strategy. “First, Beck will head out with a group of warriors and a tracker. Once he’s back, you’ll check the southwest border areas I’ve marked on this map,” he points to three red x’s.

“In the meantime, we need to inform the council of our situation and intentions. We also need to reach out to our allies. The Black Moon pack will definitely support us. The others are a bit further away, so their involvement depends on our timeline.”

We settle down to strategize and assign teams. My father and Jackson start making calls.

Our plan is taking shape. I just hope we can act before another rogue attack. It’s obvious that Alpha Jason is using rogues to do his dirty work, instead of risking his own warriors.

MELANIE

I hear my mom’s voice, a soft whisper in my ear. “Wake up, sweetheart, we need you back.” Her hand gently strokes my hair.

The pain in my head has lessened, and the sharp pain in my side is gone. I slowly open my eyes, squinting against the harsh white lights.

I turn my head toward my mom’s voice. Her face lights up with a smile when our eyes meet. “There you are,” she murmurs.

“Water,” I croak. My throat feels like it’s filled with sand. She moves away for a moment, then returns with a glass of water.

She helps me sit up. A sharp pain shoots through my side, but it quickly fades. I take slow, careful sips from the glass she holds to my lips.

The water is cool and soothing against my dry tongue and throat. I can’t remember the last time water tasted so good. “How long?” I manage to ask.

My mother looks momentarily confused. “Oh, you mean how long you’ve been out?” I nod.

“Five days, honey. But you’re going to be okay. They had to re-inflate your lung, so we kept you sedated. They removed the chest tube this morning. Do you remember waking up when Beck was here?”

I close my eyes for a moment. I do remember that. I thought it was a dream, but now I realize it wasn’t.

“Yes, I think so. Why was he here with me? Why wasn’t it you, or Dad, or even Max?” I ask.

My mom gives me a gentle smile. “We were taking turns. He wanted to be here. He feels guilty, like he failed to protect you.”

I blink in surprise, “Why would he feel that way?”

My mother hands me the water again and I take a few more cautious sips. She then places the cup on the bedside table and takes my hand.

“From what I’ve seen and heard, he thinks you might be his mate,” she says.

“Excuse me?” I blurt out, taken aback. My heart starts to race at the thought.

The monitors hooked up to me start beeping loudly, causing a nurse to rush into the room.

“Is everything all right, Luna?” the nurse asks, checking the wires attached to me. “Are you in pain, Melanie?” she asks me.

I shake my head no, and my mother chuckles. “She’s fine. I think I just surprised her with some news.”

The nurse glances between us, then nods and exits the room.

“How embarrassing,” I mutter. Turning back to my mother, I ask, “Why would he think that? I’m only turning eighteen in a few weeks. I wouldn’t know, my wolf wouldn’t recognize him.”

My mother shrugs. “Your father knew I was his mate before I did. He felt it, almost from the moment we met. Beck has been in your life since you were born. It’s possible his wolf knows already. That does happen.”

She brushes my hair back from my face. “Regardless, this doesn’t mean you have to act on it. You have three years before your wolf will recognize her mate. Be patient. If he is your mate, it’s not a bad thing. He’s a good man and he cares about you. Plus, selfishly, it would keep you here in the pack.” She gives me a reassuring smile, squeezing my hand.

I’m not sure how to process this information. It’s thrilling, but also terrifying.

What if I follow in my mother’s footsteps, give my heart to him, only to have it shattered when I discover he isn’t my mate? I don’t think I could bear that.

I wonder what Max thinks of all this. I need to talk to my brother. He usually has sound advice and he knows Beck better than I do.

Yes, that’s what I’ll do as soon as I can leave this hospital room. I’m going to talk to Max.