Page 20 of Wanted By the Cartel

The pieces were falling into place in my mind. Every vulnerability addressed, every potential threat anticipated. But it wasn't enough. It would never be enough until Lyrian and our children were absolutely safe.

"One more thing," I said, pulling up another screen. "Release the Shade Protocol to our allied packs."

This caused actual gasps. The Shade Protocol was our nuclear option—a complete sharing of intelligence and resources between allied supernatural groups. It had never been implemented before, but this situation was unique and it required solutions we thought we would never even consider.

"All of it?" Marcus asked.

"All of it. I want every pack, every coven, every supernatural entity in this city looking for Lunar Harvesters. Offer whatever bounties necessary. They are hunting my mate, so I'm going to hunt them in return."

I could feel the shift in the room as my officers realized just how far I was willing to go. The Nightshade Wolves were no longer just a cartel—we were becoming an army.

It meant more scrutiny from the local governments, but at the moment, I didn't care. It was hard to focus on that when something more important was at stake.

"Sir," Viktor approached me privately as the others began implementing my orders. "The level of resources we're committing..."

"Is necessary," I finished for him. "You saw what happened today. They got too close, Viktor. They almost took him."

"I understand. But this level of protection, it's unprecedented. Some might see it as weakness, as fear."

I turned to my oldest friend and most trusted lieutenant. "Let them. Anyone who mistakes my love for my mate as a weakness will learn exactly how wrong they are. I'm not protecting Lyrian because I'm afraid. I'm protecting him because everything I am belongs to him and our children. The cartel, my power, my life—it's all theirs. And I'll burn this city to the ground before I let anyone threaten that."

Viktor nodded, accepting the truth in my words. "What do you need from me?"

"Find Cooper. Find whoever he worked with. Find every single person who thought they could profit from threatening my family. I want to send a message that will echo through the world for generations."

"And the message is?"

I smiled, letting my wolf show in my eyes. "Touch what's mine, and death will be the kindest fate you can hope for."

???

"You're going to start a war," Romano growled from across the table. "The Crimson Fangs are already testing our eastern border, taking advantage of our diverted resources. We can't keep doing what you ask."

I didn't look up from the security reports in front of me. Romano had been increasingly vocal about his disapproval over the past few days, and I was getting tired of it. Let him complain. He wasn't going to change my mind.

"Let them test," I replied, my voice calm despite the turbulent situation. "They'll learn why that's a mistake."

"With what forces?" Elena, our finance director, interjected. "Half our men are tied up in protective details. Our legitimatebusinesses are bleeding money. Three of our major clients have already jumped ship to other cartels."

Now I did look up, letting my alpha power seep into the room. The temperature dropped several degrees. "Are you suggesting that our profits are more important than my mate's safety?"

If that was what she was thinking, she disappointed me. She should have known better.

Elena paled but held her ground. I had to admire her courage, even if it was misplaced. "I'm suggesting that there won't be a cartel left to protect anyone if we continue like this. The Nightshade Wolves—"

"The Nightshade Wolves," I cut in, "exist to serve my will. Or have you forgotten who built this organization from nothing? Who turned us from a street gang into the most powerful cartel in the city, despite the failures of our past leaders?"

"No one's forgetting that," Viktor said from his position by the door. He'd been quiet until now, observing. "But they have a point about how vulnerable we are becoming. The other cartels see us pulling back, consolidating. They think we're weak."

"Then they're idiots," I stated. "Tell me, Viktor, what happened to the Crimson Fangs' scouts who crossed our border last night?"

A small smile crossed Viktor's face. "They never made it back to report."

"Exactly." I stood, planting my hands on the table and leaning forward. Even though I was prioritizing my family, it didn't mean we were getting weaker. "I've reduced our territory by 15% percent, yes. But what remains is a fortress. Every inch is monitored, every approach covered. We're not weaker—we're concentrated. Lethal."

"But our influence—" Romano started.

"Our influence," I snarled, "means nothing if we can't protect what matters most. The Lunar Harvesters infiltrated us once. They won't get a second chance."

---