Page 27 of Rebel for Claws
Malcolm shifted uncomfortably, his blue eyes reflecting the shock they were all feeling. "So, what's our next move? We can't let him continue this."
"We need a comprehensive game plan," Kieran said, echoing Vivian's words from the previous night. "As much as we want to just storm in and tear Thorne apart, we need strategy."
Smart. Kieran has learned from his father's measured approach, but without the burden of deception.
Vivian felt the familiar thrill of tactical planning, her mind already working through possibilities. "I have an idea. The High Council meets in two days for their quarterly gathering at Moon Hollow. It's the perfect opportunity to expose everything."
"Moon Hollow is heavily guarded," Logan pointed out, his tactical mind clearly assessing the challenge. "Getting in undetected would require?—"
"Not undetected," Vivian interrupted, her violet eyes bright with strategy. "I infiltrate the meeting openly. I let them think they've caught me."
The shocked silence tells me they think I'm insane. Maybe I am, but it's the best way to get close to Thorne when his guard is down.
"Absolutely not," Alaric said immediately, his Alpha authority brooking no argument. "I won't let you walk into a trap."
Vivian turned to face him fully, letting him see the determination in her eyes. "It's not a trap if we control it. You'll be there as one of the Alpha representatives—maintain your traditional facade and act as if you're unaware of my plan. Meanwhile, you can discreetly aid my infiltration."
"With backup," Damon added thoughtfully, his strategic mind clearly working alongside hers. "Kieran, Malcolm, Logan, and I could position ourselves around the perimeter. Close enough to intervene if needed."
Elena leaned forward, her blue eyes intense. "It's risky, but it could work. Especially if we coordinate the timing perfectly."
They're actually considering it. These brilliant, dangerous people are willing to trust my plan.
Alaric's grey eyes searched her face, and she could feel his internal struggle through the mate bond—his protective instincts warring with his recognition of the plan's merits.
"If we do this," he said finally, his voice rough with emotion, "we do it right. Full coordination, multiple contingencies, and the moment it goes sideways, you get out."
"Agreed," Vivian replied, though they both knew that if it came down to it, she'd sacrifice herself to ensure Thorne's downfall.
Two days to prepare. Two days to finalize our strategy and potentially end three centuries of oppression. No pressure at all.
Maya stepped forward, her scientific mind clearly processing the implications. "The timing is actually perfect. If the secondary prophecy requires your completed mate bond to unlock Alaric's dormant abilities, you'll need that power for what's coming."
The mate bond pulsed between them at Maya's words, and Vivian felt her cheeks warm as she realized what the hybrid was suggesting.Complete the mate bond. With Alaric. Soon.
"We have two days to plan," Kieran said, breaking the charged moment. "Let's use them wisely."
As the group began discussing logistics and contingencies, Vivian caught Alaric's intense stare. The heat in his eyes promised that their conversation about completing their mate bond was far from over.
Two days to prepare for the most dangerous mission of our lives. And two days to decide if I'm ready to become something more than just a rebellion leader—to become an Alpha's mate and help reshape our shifter world forever.
TWELVE
ALARIC
Dawn broke crisp and clear over Alaric's estate. Alaric stood in his grand foyer, watching the final preparations of their mission unfold with the methodical precision of a military operation. Two days of relentless planning had led to this moment, every contingency mapped and every variable accounted for. Yet the knot in his stomach tightened as Vivian descended the marble staircase, fully geared for battle.
Christ, she's breathtaking.
His fated mate moved with lethal grace in her black tactical gear, the fitted clothing accentuating every dangerous curve while showcasing the arsenal strapped to her body. Twin handcrafted swords crossed her back in an X formation, their silver hilts catching the December morning light. Throwing knives lined her hip holsters, and he knew from their training sessions the past two days that she could place each blade with surgical precision. Her blonde hair was braided back and her violet eyes burned with anticipation.
She's going to be walking into the most dangerous situation of her life.
"Final gear check," Kieran announced, his tone commanding the room as he stood near the weapons cache they'd assembled. His dark tactical clothing and the array of concealed weapons made him look every inch the deadly force he'd become.
Alaric made himself focus on the plan rather than the primal urge to lock Vivian away somewhere safe. As the Alpha representative of the Silvercrest pack, he couldn't carry weapons into Moon Hollow's sacred meeting ground—a frustrating limitation that left him feeling exposed and useless for this mission.
"Communications?" Logan called out, his auburn hair gleaming in the light as he checked his earpiece. The former enforcer, now current Beta of Silvercrest pack, moved with the controlled precision of a predator, his green eyes missing nothing as he surveyed their tactical setup.
