Page 56 of His Claim
“Maybe,” she said. “Maybe that could work.”
The rifle dipped, just a fraction. Her grin returned, crooked this time. “But don’t get cozy. I still don’t like wolves. Not even you, Commander.”
Mariah exhaled shakily, her hand brushing mine again. I caught it this time, holding her steady.
Elsie flipped through my journal again, licking her thumb as she turned a page. She didn’t even look at me when she said, “You’ve been keeping score, Commander. Patrol shifts, guard rotations, even when your Council scum take their tea breaks. Impressive.”
I didn’t bother replying. She’d read enough to know the answer.
Mariah crossed her arms, her chin tilted stubbornly. “So what do we do with it? You said ‘planning.’ Then let’s plan.”
Elsie finally looked up, a sly smile curving her lips. “Straight to business. I like her.” She tapped the open book. “This is a start. But a start isn’t enough. If we’re going to storm the gates, we need more than just a couple scattered humans with knives and grudges.”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I’ve seen the Resistance. They’ve grown in number, and they’ve got a number of humans with them too. Men with power, territory, and wolves at their backs.”
Mariah’s head snapped toward me, her eyes wide. “Maybe Kendra and Lia too?”
Her voice cracked, hopeful.
“Yes,” I said simply.
Relief softened her shoulders, and for a moment, she looked like she might cry, but she pulled herself together, blinking fast. “Then we have to reach them.”
Elsie’s brow arched. “Mountain wolves coordinating with humans? Huh. Didn’t think you furry mutts could play nice.”
I gave her a cold smile. “Don’t underestimate them. They’ve bled for their freedom too.”
“Fair,” she admitted. She turned another page of my notes, frowning. “But timing’s everything. This book could prove useful. You’ve got patrols mapped down to the minute. Guard schedules. Hell, you even noted which ones sneak off to screw in the mess hall closet.” She smirked. “How romantic.”
Mariah side-eyed me. I ignored her.
Elsie’s finger jabbed at the page. “This gate here, in the northwestern sector. It’s got the lightest guard rotation, two squads at most. If the Resistance can hit it while you keep the bulk of the wolves busy, we could get our people through the tunnels beneath the city.”
Mariah leaned over her shoulder, studying the scrawled notes. “But once we’re inside, the Council will lock the place down.”
“Not if we take the control rooms first,” I said. “Power grid, gates, communications. If we hit them fast, they can’t organize. They’ll be blind.”
Elsie tapped her rifle against the crate, thoughtful. “So you want me to get word to the Watch. Rally the humans. Meanwhile, you call in your hairy friends in the mountains.”
“Yes.”
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “And you think they’ll listen? Wolves don’t exactly take orders from humans.”
Mariah’s voice cut through the silence. “They’ll listen if they want to live.”
Silence stretched among the three of us, heavy and taut with tension. Elsie studied Mariah, an unreadable glint in her gaze, before she finally barked out a laugh. “You’ve got guts, girl. I like it.”
She snapped the book shut and tossed it onto the crate. “Fine. I’ll bite. I’ll get word to the Watch. But don’t expect them to line up and play soldier. They’re pissed. They’re angry. And they don’t trust anyone with fur.”
“Then I’ll give them reason to start,” I retort flatly.
Elsie smirked. “Big words, Commander, but if you really blow those gates wide open like you promised, maybe they’ll actually follow you. Maybe.”
Mariah stepped closer, her green eyes blazing. “No maybe. We make them listen. Wolves and humans together. We take the city back.”
Elsie leaned back, her grin wicked. “Well then. Guess I’ll be needing more bullets.”
I stood, squaring my shoulders despite the ache in my leg. “You’ll have them. But for now, we rest. Tomorrow, you run to the Watch. I’ll get to the Resistance. When the time comes, we open those gates. Together.”
