Blessed By The Moon

Chapter 23

Alpha Axe's POV:

I lifted my head and scanned the circle of faces around the table. Nick sat across from me, calm as ever, his gaze steady and ancient one moment, mischievous the next. 

Beside him, Kaiden leaned forward, broad shoulders tense, he looked tired, I hoped this took his mind off Gem a little. Mick slouched in his chair, arms crossed, his scowl carved into stone. And Uriah, always observant.. and always annoying.

We were here to finish discussing the attack.

I presided "Even though the Luna should technically be here, this meeting is about her, which only makes matters more complicated, at the risk of the planning being taken subjectively, I decided to do things without her."

"So it's confirmed that the attack was about her?" Mick asked

"They didn't come for blood alone," Kaiden said, voice low, clipped. "This wasn't about territory, our fights have always been with rogues or hunters, another pack hitting directly soon after the Luna came was suspicious enough, our guests just confirmed, she's the missing daughter. We need to figure out why."

A silence fell, heavy and suffocating. 

Nick broke the silence first, leaning back, fingers tapping idly against the armrest. "Our spies confirmed that Caleb sneaks out when he thinks no one is looking" His eyes slid toward me, "A member of our pack. Or rather, a traitor who still wears our scent."

Mick's scowl deepened. "I never trusted that bastard."

"Daniel's his mate, I understand where he's coming from" Uriah said quietly. "But betrayal is unforgivable. It's a price to pay."

Kaiden retorted "Or maybe he's negotiating peace."

Nick laughed "They attacked first there's no room for peace, they came to take her, and they failed, and we need to make sure they don't."

My wolf snarled inside me, restless. Caleb. His imminent betrayal was one thing, but the implication behind Nick's words was clear, another attack might happen again, they won't stop until they take her. 

Kaiden leaned forward. "If they want her that badly, we can't just sit and wait. We need to know why." 

Nick's mouth curved, not quite a smile, not quite neutral. "Or perhaps it isn't about her but about what she's done, she doesn't remember how she escaped, Alpha Chris died around the time she said she lost her memories, put two and two together and you've got the whole story. This is clearly about revenge. And seeing how easily they came, this estate is not the best place for her." 

I clenched my jaw, holding back the growl rising in my throat. He was baiting me. Not directly, not obviously, but in that way of his. 

Mick slammed his hand on the table. "Enough theorizing. Do we retaliate or do we dig deeper first?"

Uriah's steady gaze turned to me. "If we strike without answers, we risk walking into a trap. But if we wait too long, we'll look weak. The balance is delicate."

Kaiden nodded. "We need information. Our spies are close, but not close enough. I'll double the shadows on Caleb's movements. He'll slip, and when he does, we'll be ready."

Nick's eyes found mine again, unwavering. "And when he slips, we'll know not only why they came for her...at least she has me, I mean, us, to protect her, we need to tighten our watch around her." His voice was silk over steel, deliberate. "Because make no mistake, Axe. They will come again."

And though I agreed with him, I couldn't ignore the suspicion gnawing at me, Nick wanted Skye.

But bond or no bond, she was mine, and to prove that to her, I'm taking my biggest step yet, I'm letting the servants go.