Page 69 of Moon Cursed

“The forum? Paxton, it’s canceled. You know it is. The projection equipment isdelayed in shipping.”

He winked. “It’s not canceled.”

“Uhh... but it is,” I said slowly. “I called the alphas on my way back to my room this morning and called it off.”

“Yes, you did.” He sidestepped me, heading for the door. “And then I called them and told them it was back on.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

Paxton was still grinning like a kid on Christmas. He was so pleased with himself, you almost didn’t notice the dark bags under his eyes or the sallow sheen to his skin. “Because I told you I’d figure this out for you, and I did.” Stepping up next to the door, he bowed deeply. “I will accept payment in the form of sexual favors.”

I rolled my eyes. “May I know what I’m paying for first?”

“I told you”—Paxton swept out the door, beckoning someone in—“the forum is back on.”

I blinked to see that someone was actuallysomeones.

Tracy, Corinne, Davis, and Melisent walked in, waving at me. All four of them were dressed in their best sheath dresses, button-up shirts, mid-heels, and makeup. In their hands, they all carried notepads.

“I’m going to need more information, Paxton.”

He laughed. “So, listen, as amazing as I thought last week was, we obviously can’t have a repeat.” Paxton blew past me, got behind the chaise, and pushed it across the carpet. He set it in front of my desk, gestured for Melisent and Tracy to sit, then moved over two armchairs for Corinne and Davis. “I did check the secret store for projection equipment, but that was above their paygrade.”

I really need to find out about this secret store.

“There’s no way we can hold another video chat with the clan leaders and the whole school. I didn’t know what to do until I remembered what you said, Daze, about huddling around your computer.” Paxton picked up my desktop and flipped it around, facing Corinne and the others. “So that’s what we’re going to do.”

“We are?”

“That’s right.”

“Last week was too big and loud, so this time we’re small and quiet. Last week was a free-for-all, everyone speaking over each other. So this time, we’re only doing groups of four—one alpha, one epsilon, one beta, and one omega.”

Corrine and Davis waved again. Corrine the alpha, and Davis the beta.

“Every week, we’ll have another group of four, so everyone gets their chance, and no one can say we’re favoring certain wolves over the others. I also had them write down the laws they want proposed or changed, and back it up with evidence,” Paxton continued. He fished the tripod out from the office closet, and got to work setting up his phone. “If we want the leaders to take us seriously, we have to take it seriously.”

I gaped at him. “How were you doing all of this without me knowing?”

“I kept it quiet so that pretty much no one other than us in this room, and the clan leaders, would know.” Paxton gave me a lopsided grin over his phone. “I know Orion sabotaged the last forum. Last thing I was going to do was give him a heads-up so that he can sabotage this one too.

“Him and Badr don’t get that this is bigger than their beef with you. This is bigger than everyone in Corvin. We’re doing this for the good of Wolf Nation, and I said I’d make this right for you, so I did.”

I could only stare at him, jaw working. Paxton’s plan was so simple, so organized, and so much better than even Ash’s original plan for the forums.

“Th-thank you,” I stuttered, the phrase feeling forum on my tongue.

I had accepted a long time ago that I was in this fight alone. Yes, Nia was on my side, but there was so much I couldn’t tell her. Then there was Edric, but he only got on board with the full plan recently. Couldn’t forget Nyx wanted to help, but he wasn’t even here.

I made my peace with my two and a half allies, and the hope they’d carry on the fight if the broken bond killed me too soon, but... here was my third.

“Thank you, Paxton,” I repeated clearly. “This is perfect.”

He plopped down on an armchair. “Take it away, Headmistress.”

“Right, okay.” Clearing my throat, I crossed to my computer and began the video call.

All the clan alphas appeared in their boxes—bright, neat, and disapproving. You could say a lot about them, but no one could disparage their punctuality.

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