Page 51 of Unbelievable Faith
“This was what I saw.” Nova gave a proud smirk and glanced at Darius, “That day when you saved us from Maddox I told you that you were early. Then, for weeks, all you two have done is fight. I was starting to wonder if my vision had been wrong but it wasn’t. This was what I saw. I saw you finally giving in to what fate already knew. You two are stronger when you fight on the sameside.”
Darius harrumphed but ran a possessive hand up Leo’s back, “There’s no fightingfate.”
“But you certainly tried.” Leo leaned back and nuzzled their lips together again. “We’re going to talk about that later, and about this whole I’m not your Alpha thing. But for now, we need a plan to get my sister back. One that doesn’t involve my mate getting himselfkilled.”
Darius gave a sheepishnod.
“Good.” Leo kissed him one more time before stepping to his side and facing Michael, “I’m not sending him out there to his death. We’ll have to find anotherway.”
Michael smiled at the two of them standing side by side, arms still around each other, “I wasn’t going to send him out there even when he offered. I know what he means to you and what you mean to him. Luna wouldn’t want him in danger to save her even for a moment if it risked your happiness. I have anotherplan.”
The door to the office opened and Maya stepped in, her intelligent gaze sweeping the room and her eyebrows rising dramatically on her pretty face when she saw her brother in the arms of the big Enforcer, “A girl goes to the bathroom and misses a lot around here.” She dropped to the couch next to her sister and pulled a ten dollar bill from her pocket, “You win. They didn’t last until the full moon tonight.” Leo grumbled something under his breath and Maya smirked at her brother, “Never bet against a Seer. I know. Iknow.”
They’d had to tell Maya about Luna once night fell the day before and her sister didn’t return to the lodge. She’d been angry at them all for keeping her in the dark but when she’d tried to stomp off into the woods to look for her sister Leo had ordered her back and then threatened to confine her to her room if she didn’t behave. After much argument and debate, the scarred teenager had finally relented and taken to sulkinginstead.
Michael was glad to see that mood had passed and happy the girl could smile at all after what she’d been putthrough.
He shook his head, exchanging another look with his own brother. Rafe was watching the DeLuca siblings with a small, sad smile on his face and Michael knew that his brother was missing his twin. It was times like these, when the easy camaraderie between the siblings was on full display that he and Rafe both wished that Gabe had survived that attack most. He’d been the one that wanted to be Pack Alpha and would have inherited the position saving Michael years of responsibility and Rafe years of guilt. But it was more than that. He’d always been quick to smile and laugh, a practical jokester. They would both miss himforever.
“So what’s this plan?” Darius cleared his throat, clearly trying to steer the conversation away from him and Leo and back to the task athand.
Michael gifted his friend with a small smile and nodded, allowing the change because he needed to focus on getting Luna back home, to all of them. She deserved to be in the middle of this. Their whole family and the pack that had begun to embrace her. He wanted her here, standing at his side, her belly rounded with his pups as they all talked about the future. To get that, to get the future that Nova had seen for them all, he had to get Luna backfirst.
“We’re going in before the full moon rises.” He spoke up as he looked around the room, “She gave us a meeting spot and you can bet she’ll be there before the moon is high waiting on Darius to show. We need to get there first and scout the area. If she wants to meet there, the place she’s keeping Luna has to beclose.”
Rafe frowned, “She said if she scented any other wolves, she’d killLuna.”
“That’s why we’re not going in as wolves.” He met his brother’s gaze. “We’re going in human form. All but Darius. That way his scent will overpower ours and hopefully keep us blanketed until we can find Luna and get her out ofthere.”
“That sounds really dangerous.” Maya was frowning nowtoo.
“It is. But it’s our only chance to get Luna and put this crazed wolf down once and for all.” Michael tilted his chin up, “It’s also why you’re notgoing.”
Maya’s eyes flashed gold, “Excuseme?”
“You’re not going. Neither is Nova. I can’t be worried about keeping you two safe and finding my mate at the sametime.”
“I can take care of myself.” Mayahissed.
Leo stepped in quickly, “You’ll stay behind and take care of Nova. If anything happens to Luna or to me, you’re next in line for Crescent Alpha and you’ll have to protect her.Understand?”
Maya opened her mouth like she was going to argue again but she shut it with a harrumph and crossed her arms over her chest. Michael gave Leo a nod of appreciation for backing him up. Neither of them would want to explain to Luna what had happened to her sisters if something went wrong in getting herback.
In all honesty, he didn’t want Leo going either but he knew that wasn’t up for debate. Darius was going out in those woods. There wasn’t a chance in hell Leo was letting him goalone.
Rafe cleared his throat, “Speaking of running packs, maybe you should stay behind as well Michael. We can’t have the Moirae Pack Alpha in any unnecessarydanger.”
Michael glared at his brother even though he understood what he was saying. Rafe didn’t feel like he was in any position to lead even if his wolf was finally recovering from the trauma of seeing his twin and parents murdered. If something happened to Michael, their pack, their father’s pack, would be the one in turmoil. But Rafe couldn’t honestly expect him to sit on the sidelines while he sent the rest of his family and his friends, his best Enforcers, out there on what could very well be a suicidemission.
“If it was Zoey out there in the woods, scared and hurt, being kept hostage by a psychotic wolf on a full moon, would you stay behind?” He raised a knowing eyebrow at hisbrother.
Rafe dropped his head and sighed, “I’d have already gone off solo to search that bitch down and tear her limb from limb but I’m practically feral and you’ve always been the smartone.”
“We’ll play it smart. We won’t take any unnecessary risks. But I’m not coming home without Luna. She’s my heart and my soul not just my mate. I love her and I won’t live withouther.”
Rafe frowned but eventually nodded hisunderstanding.
“Okay then, let’s gear up and get going. It’s not long untilsundown.”
