Page 191 of Moonlit Fate

“Looks like you two found some peace in all this havoc,” I said, nodding toward them as I grabbed a piece of toast.

Ilaric gave Mia’s arm a gentle squeeze before he dug into the mountain of eggs and bacon on his plate. “We’re working on it. Don’t worry about the pack. We’ll sort out the alpha mess.”

I shrugged. “That’s not on top of my list right now. Maybe it’s best if someone else took the lead for a while.”

Before he could respond, Atticus cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. I braced myself.

“I need to tell you all what’s happening in Crimson Fang territory,” he said. “Caius... he’s not just strong, he’s something else. Something worse.”

Joren frowned, pushing his plate away. “What do you mean?”

“His power. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen,” Atticus continued, tracing the tattoos on his right arm. “He doesn’t just control the pack; he controls everything. Land, people, other packs. He’s got his claws in deep.”

Hale leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “How do we even start to take on someone like that?”

Atticus’s gaze moved to me before answering. “We find his weakness. Everyone has one.”

Silence fell over us. I reached out, placing my hand on his. His skin was hot to the touch. I nodded, trying to absorb the gravity of Atticus’s words.

“The magic wielder Caius has been using... he’s not just a pawn. There’s fear in him, but also a tenacity that’s been twisted to Caius’s will. He’s bound by something more than loyalty—dread, maybe, or a promise he believes only Caius can fulfill.”

Mia set her fork down with a clatter, her nurturing warmth giving way to determined steel. “There’s always a chink in the armor, a sliver of doubt in even the most loyal follower. We need to find out what holds him so tightly to Caius. What does he want that he believes only Caius can give?”

Ilaric reached over, squeezing Mia’s hand. We all knew the stakes, and the conversation had turned from breakfast chatter to a strategic huddle against an enemy we were just beginning to understand.

“Right,” I said. “We’ll find it, whatever it is. We’ll use it to bring Caius down.”

Hale’s gaze was fixed somewhere beyond the table, his mind clearly weaving through strategies. He brought a hand up to his mouth, his index finger tapping methodically against his lips as if to drum out a silent rhythm only he could hear.

“If we can figure out what he’s after,” Hale finally said, “maybe we can offer him an alternative. Or at least convince him that his goals are unreachable with Caius. It’s a long shot, but worth considering.”

Silence descended as we all pondered Hale’s words. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, playing over scenarios in my head. He had a point. If we knew the magic wielder’s true desire, we’d have something to work with.

“Alliances,” I said, leadership pressing down on me. The others turned to me, waiting for more. “We can’t forget about the potential allies hiding in plain sight. There are packs out there who won’t stand for Caius’s rule if they knew the true extent of his madness.”

Nods went around the table, a silent agreement. We were a pack formed not by blood, but by a shared cause. That was our strength.

“Cut off his resources,” Joren said, scanning the map spread out before us.

“Expose his secrets,” Mia suggested.

“Turn his allies against him,” Lyza chimed in, fingers tracing potential routes on the parchment.

We were building something here, a plan with enough moving parts that it just might work. Each piece of the puzzle clicked into place with a satisfying snap, and I almost dared to hope.

Then Atticus stiffened. His tattoo, the one that snaked across his skin like a living shadow, pulsed ominously. His jaw clenched, and I knew without asking that something was wrong.

I touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

He glanced up, his ice-blue eyes holding a cyclone of emotions. “The tattoo... it’s burning. I have to go now.”

A collective sigh of regret passed through the group, but my pulse seemed to stop altogether. “I’m coming with you.”

He shook his head, the familiar stubborn set to his mouth leaving no room for argument. “It’s too dangerous. And I can’t focus if I’m worried about you there.”

“Please—” I started, but he cut me off.

“Stay.” The command could’ve been harsh, but his touch softened it, his hand cupping my cheek tenderly.

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