Page 47 of Coveted By the Alpha Pack

“Shift,” I encourage Lorcan, offering him the opportunity to contribute to our mission. Griffin, standing nearby, looks as though he’s about to protest, but I silence him with a shake of my head. Lorcan needs to feel valued, to know that he has a place within our family. Hopefully, this gesture will reassure him of his worth.

Griffin’s embrace envelops me, his presence offering a fleeting comfort amidst the turmoil. “If there’re any clues, Ethan will find them.” His words, laden with reassurance, brush against my skin like a gentle breeze, but they cannot quell the storm raging within me.

“We don’t need clues, Griffin,” I murmur, my voice tinged with a raw determination that burns deep within my chest. I turn to meet his gaze, my eyes locking onto his with an intensity born of desperation. “What’s done is done. We need to find their lair and hit them hard.”

Griffin’s touch guides me to face him fully, and his eyes, searching mine, find only the fierce resolve simmering beneath the surface. His lips brush against my forehead, his breath mingling with mine, a silent acknowledgment of the weight we both carry.

“We can’t save everyone, Grace,” he murmurs softly, his words a somber reminder of our limitations. Yet, even as he speaks, I refuse to surrender to despair.

“No, we can’t,” I concede, my voice firm, echoing with a stubborn defiance. “But we can damn well try harder to prevent the next slaughter.”

Turning my attention back to the betas, I seek answers amidst the chaos of our thoughts. Their gazes shift uneasily, a silent acknowledgment of the grim reality we face. “Where was the first body found? Do we know who died first?”

“Aaron was the first to die,” one of them speaks up, his voice heavy with sorrow. “He was found three hundred yards that way.” He gestures toward the distant mine, a haunting reminder of the bloodshed that stains our land.

As the pieces of a plan begin to coalesce in my mind, I feel a surge of purpose coursing through my veins. It’s time to shed the mantle of a mother and embrace the role of a strategist in this grim game of survival.

“Guys, we need to head home. I have a theory,” I declare, my voice cutting through the silence with a newfound clarity. With a determined stride, I break free from Griffin’s embrace and make my way toward the waiting car, leaving no room for hesitation or doubt.

-Two hours later-

Sometimes, being the Lunar Wolf has its perks. I can reach out directly to Ambrose and the former alphas overseeing their territories. With everything that’s unfolding, I need all the support I can muster. Even the freshly appointed Alpha of the Wolverton pack is en route.

Pacing the pack house’s interior helps to steady my nerves, bit by bit. The familiar creak of the wooden floorboards beneath my feet brings a semblance of comfort. Over at the main table, I observe Nicolai and Griffin meticulously arranging the two maps I requested. The first depicts the rugged terrain, its contours and elevations etched in fine detail, while the second is adorned with markers representing all the mines and structures in our domain. From my bag, I retrieve my notepad. With the information within its pages, the map is soon adorned with colorful pins as I mark key locations, each pin a beacon of strategy and hope.

Conrad’s voice breaks through my concentration as he enters with 3D-printed miniatures in hand. “Need any help?” he offers, his tone warm and reassuring.

I pause, considering, before replying, “No, this is perfect.” His presence is a balm to my frayed nerves. Sensing the arrival of some of our guests, I close my eyes momentarily, extending my senses to perceive what else is unfolding beyond the physical realm. The subtle energies weave a tapestry of intent and emotion, each thread a whisper of what’s to come.

“Can you show everyone in?” I request, my eyes fluttering open. “It’s Ambrose, Cruz, and the new alpha, so far.” As I await their entry, I take a moment to attune myself to the subtle energies swirling around us, seeking any additional insights they might offer.

Ambrose leads the procession into the pack house, the shuffle of feet echoing against the polished wooden floors. Guests follow suit, their murmurs blending into a soft hum as they settle into their seats. Conrad, ever the gracious host, guides them to their designated places, while I navigate toward the head of the table, my heart pulsing with a mix of anticipation and nerves.

Ruby, Agnes, and Nicolai’s father, Uri, complete the assembly, their presence lending an air of solemnity to the gathering. As I stand before them, a wave of apprehension washes over me, tinged with determination.

“I’ve never called a meeting of this magnitude before, so please bear with me.” I address the room, my voice steady despite the flutter in my chest. With a confident stride, I reach for the pointer stick, its smooth surface cool against my fingertips, and gesture toward the map adorned with miniature models.

“If you would be so kind as to direct your attention over here,” I request, tapping the map to draw their focus to a specific point. The room falls silent, anticipation palpable in the air.

As I trace the red pins on the map, each representing the recent attacks, I feel a weight settle upon my shoulders. These markers, like crimson stains against the parchment, serve as a stark reminder of the challenges we face.

“And now, the blue pins,” I continue, moving to indicate the locations of the caverns with a sense of purpose. The cool hue of the pins contrasts sharply with the warmth of the room, their significance not lost on any of us.

I pause, allowing the information to sink in, the gravity of our situation hanging heavy in the air. This moment, this gathering, marks the beginning of a journey fraught with uncertainty. My heart races, but resolve steels my voice. We are ready to face whatever comes.

Chapter 29

Griffin

-Alkaline- Sleep Token-

Witnessing Grace meticulously unravel the tangled web of months-long attacks leaves me breathless. Each revelation she presents is insane, her eyes alight with a fierce intensity. We gather around the maps, our minds reeling with the implications of her discoveries, rendered speechless by the magnitude of what she’s uncovered. The room feels charged, the air thick with tension and anticipation.

Ambrose’s voice cuts through the stunned silence, drawing our attention as he leans over the maps, his tone a gentle inquiry tinged with curiosity. “So let me understand this,” he begins, his gaze shifting between Grace’s diagrams and the sprawling network of tunnels on the map. “The old mines... they’re being used as a superhighway for the rogues. And you believe their base is nestled within?”

“I was looking at the attacks in relation to where the mines are,” Grace says, her movements precise as she traces her finger along the lines of her meticulously crafted wire rings. Each one placed strategically around the cavern on the map, marking the sites of the attacks. Her hands, steady despite the weight of her revelations, pull the evidence from the depths of her hoodie pouch.

“This is what got me thinking,” she explains, her voice carrying a note of quiet determination. With a fluid motion, she positions the rings, aligning them with the cluster of attacks within the confines of the cavern’s circle. “Several incidents occurred just beyond the circle, but always between two mine entrances. It’s what solidified the hidden superhighway theory for me.”

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