Page 15 of Nick
“Exactly,” Sarah said.“We’ve been under Vincent’s thumb for far too long.It’s time we reclaim our freedom.”
“Here’s to freedom, then,” Conall said, tipping an imaginary glass in a toast.
“Let’s make sure we do this right,” Quinton added, his words deliberate and serious.“We can’t afford any missteps.”
“Agreed,” Nick said.“We’ll need to be smart, strategic, and most importantly, united.”
“Let’s get to work, then.First things first,” Sarah started, the words catching slightly in her throat.“We need to establish—”
A sharp knock at the door cut through her words like a claw through silk.Sarah’s head snapped toward the sound, her body going taut.The others fell silent, their postures instantly alert, muscles coiled and ready for any threat.
“Stay there,” Sarah said as she edged toward the door.She peered through the peephole, her breath a trembling whisper.“What the hell?It’s Larissa,” she said, glancing at the other Sunburst wolves.“Did one of you call her?”
All four men shook their heads, and with a frown, Sarah opened the door.
“Malcolm was heading this way, and I had to know what was going on,” Larissa said without preamble.There was no accusation in her tone, only an undercurrent of urgent curiosity—a strategist seeking information, Sarah realized.
Larissa would be a good addition to the group—assuming she wanted to overthrow Vincent.
Then again, Larissa had always wanted anything Malcolm had—and vice versa.Their competition had been legendary when they’d all been in grade school together.
“Come in,” Sarah said, stepping aside.As Larissa crossed the threshold, the air seemed to shift, charged with new potential.
“Is everything all right?”Larissa asked, her gaze sweeping the group, landing on Nick last.An eyebrow arched ever so slightly at the sight of him.“Hello, Nick.”
“Everything’s…complicated,” Sarah admitted, feeling secrets heavy on her tongue.“We’re planning to move against Vincent.”
Larissa’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing in not anger but contemplation.“I figured as much,” she said, making her way over to sit on the sofa between the twins.
Sarah watched as Larissa settled into the circle.“As I was saying,” she continued.“Vincent has gone too far.It ends now.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the group.
“Malcolm, your strength in battle is unmatched,” Sarah said, addressing him directly.“And Larissa, your strategic mind will give us the edge we need.”
“Quinton, Anders, Conall,” Sarah continued, turning to include the others, “you’ve always explored everywhere you could get to—your knowledge of the terrain is invaluable.”
“Hidden paths, secret tunnels, the cave system—we could use any of it to blindside him,” Anders agreed.
“We know this land better than he ever will,” Conall said.
Quinton, usually quiet, spoke up.“I’ll gather intel on his guard rotations.We’ll need to strike when they least expect it.”
“Timing is everything,” Nick said, leaning forward.His muscular frame seemed coiled, ready for action.
“There’s a pack meeting tonight at Sunburst Mesa—when the sun sets,” Una said.“I think that’s our first move.”
“Nick needs to be there,” Sarah added, her gaze darting across the faces of her allies.
“Reintegration into the pack will give him reason to talk to us without worrying about being seen,” Quinton chimed in, his voice as calm and quiet as ever.
“Agreed,” Anders said, always pragmatic, already calculating the risks and rewards.“We need every advantage.”
Sarah’s breath caught in her throat at the thought of Nick stepping back into the world he’d been forced to leave.
“Will Vincent go for it?”Conall asked, clearly worried about the dangers.
“He has to,” Larissa said.“It’s time for Nick to reclaim his place.And we’ll be with him.”
