Page 76 of Sacrifice

“Winning isn’t enough,” Aisling interjects. “We have to survive. And not just us—the entire pack. We have to consider every possible outcome.”

“Survival is the bare minimum,” Luka adds, his voice firm. “We’re not just fighting for ourselves—we’re fighting for the future of Pacific City.”

I lean against the wall, arms crossed over my chest, an unreadable expression on my face. “Our best shot at survival is to turn Lianna Rossi into an asset rather than a liability. She’s willing to betray Caius and work with the Angels for her son, that much we know.”

“Betrayal is in their blood,” Nero interjects with a crooked smile, but there’s no humor in his eyes. “Rossi men have a penchant for turning on each other. It’s like a twisted family tradition.”

“Then let’s exploit that tradition,” Aisling says sharply. Her grey eyes are like storm clouds, brewing with a mix of strategy and something else—anger, maybe, or determination. “We use the discord in the Rossi ranks to our advantage. If Lianna is desperate enough to turn her back on Caius for her son, then she might just be desperate enough to ally with us.”

“Desperate allies are dangerous,” I warn, but as I look around, I see the sentiment taking root. It’s a risky play, but it’s got potential—a lot of potential. The pack members exchange glances, their expressions a mixture of trepidation and intrigue.

“Risky or not, we need every advantage we can get,” Gunnar points out. “And if playing into Lianna’s hands means securing safety for her son, then she just might bite.”

“Exactly,” Aisling nods. “Lianna Rossi could become an unexpected ally. Not one we trust, but one we can use. We’re not making friends here—we’re forging a weapon.”

“Alright, let’s think this through,” Gunnar says. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, gaze sharp and calculating. “We reach out with an offer—protection for her son. But we do it smart, make her believe she’s not just choosing the lesser of two evils, but actually winning something.”

“Sure, we can protect the kid,” Luka chimes in, his voice low and steady despite the tension simmering in the air. “But how do we ensure she doesn’t double-cross us? Lianna’s cunning; she’ll have plans within plans.”

“Exactly,” Oberon adds, his voice a deep rumble that commands attention. “We need contingencies. Lianna’s allegiance will be as fragile as glass. One wrong move and she’ll shatter any deal we make.”

“Then we don’t make moves that break glass,” I say, trying to inject some levity into the conversation. It falls flat. “We need to be clear about our terms, make sure she knows we’re serious.”

“Deadly serious,” Aisling murmurs, and there’s a steely look in her eyes that tells me she’s far from the vulnerable omega Lianna once tormented. She’s a force unto herself, and right now, she’s focused entirely on dismantling the Eclipse.

“Let’s lay it out then,” Gunnar says. “What does Lianna value most? Her son’s life, without question. We offer safety, sanctuary even. But we also need to show her that aligning with us is her best shot at keeping him safe long-term. We’re not just another pack. We’re the pack that can end Caius’s reign.”

“Sanctuary with teeth,” Oberon nods approvingly. “She’ll need to see strength in us, or she won’t respect the offer.”

“Right.” I glance around at the faces of my packmates, each one set in grim determination. This isn’t the path we thought we’d be taking, but it’s the one that’s opened up before us. “So, we present ourselves as the alpha choice for her. But we do it smart. We keep her on a tight leash, and at the first sign of betrayal…”

“We cut her loose,” Aisling finishes, her voice hard as flint. “And if it comes to that, we’ll be ready.”

“Exactly,” I nod, locking eyes with each member of the pack. “We can’t afford to slip up.”

Gunnar leans against the wall, his arms folded across his chest as he studies the Oasis skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The morning light casts sharp angles across his face, highlighting the determination etched into his features.

“Sometimes, the enemy of my enemy really is my friend,” he muses, his voice a low rumble that reverberates through the tension-filled room.

Aisling steps closer to him, her presence a soothing balm in the midst of our strategizing storm. She places a hand on his arm, her touch gentle yet grounding.

“Love can make people do crazy things,” she says quietly to Gunnar, and there’s a flicker of something vulnerable in her gaze—a shared understanding of the lengths one would go to protect their own.

“True,” Gunnar replies, his voice softening as he looks down at her. “That’s a card we can play, but we can’t forget what she’s done. Lianna is still an enemy, no matter how much empathy we might feel for her cause.”

“Empathy doesn’t mean we forget,” Aisling asserts, her eyes meeting mine with unyielding resolve. “It means we understand—and that understanding gives us an edge. We’ll use it to bring them all down.”

“Then it’s settled,” Nero states, stepping forward to join the rest of us. “We reach out to my sister-in-law with an offer she can’t refuse. We do this not just for the safety of her son, but for the future of Pacific City.”

We all nod in silent agreement, knowing the risks and the stakes. This isn’t just another move in our game of survival—it’s a gambit that could shift the balance of power and change everything.

And with that thought, a new chapter in our struggle begins. We’re going back to Pacific City…and we’re about to shake up the playing field.

Epilogue

Vance

I’ve been kept in the dark for too fucking long.

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