118 Sudden Escalation 2
Lucian
Mara drove like hell. We made it to General Mills in eighteen minutes flat.
When we pulled over, we got out and leaned against the car. No words. No arguments. Just silence-and the clock ticking louder in my head.
Then I grabbed her and kissed her hard, like I needed her breath to live. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and we kissed until air became a problem. I pressed my forehead against hers, our breaths uneven, faces flushed.
“Don’t worry, Mara. I’ll be back soon. It’s just a fight-I’m not planning on dying anytime soon. We’ve got a life to build,” I
said softly.
She nodded, but I could feel her trembling.
“Don’t be a hero, Lucian. Just come back home.”
It was the most selfish thing a soldier’s loved one could say. And I loved her for it.
I held her tight. If anything happened to me, she’d take the biggest blow. That truth sat heavy in my chest. But I couldn’t
stay-not now..
We stood together, her body against mine, wrapped in each other like we were trying to pause time. She rested her head on my chest, arms snug around my waist. I leaned against the car, letting her warmth anchor me.
Then Darian’s car pulled up.
I let her go.
Mara’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she stayed strong. She gave my father a respectful nod and waved to Darian as he stepped out of the vehicle.
Darian walked over and pulled her into a quick hug. There was no tension between them. Not right now. Not with war at our backs.
“Make sure you survive, Darian,” she said firmly.
He chuckled, but she didn’t smile.
“It’s not funny,” she snapped gently. “I’m not accepting goodbyes, and I won’t forgive you if you die. I won’t be there to watch your back like always, so watch your blindside.”
He nodded, a rare softness in his expression. For a moment, they looked like they did before everything got complicated- when friendship had no scars.
Funny how war made everything clear. Love. Loyalty. Loss. It stripped everything else away.
And we were about to walk straight into it. She pulled him into another hug. I could understand their bond and the
moment.
They broke the hug, and Darian climbed into the back seat without another word. I slid behind the wheel. My father settled in beside me, calm and unreadable, as always.
Before we pulled off, he turned to Mara.
“Keep my house-and Mooncrest-in order, Mara. Everyone knows you’re in charge now. Rowan will assist you.”
That surprised me. Placing Mara above his own mate? The Alaric Moongrove lie must’ve planted deeper doubts than he
1/3
118 Sudden Escalation 2
let on.
+15 Points >
Mara nodded, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and stepped into her car. I waited until she turned off onto the opposite road before I drove, watching her fade in the rearview mirror.
“I’m sorry I hugged your wife,” Darian said from the back, his voice low.
“It’s okay,” I replied. “She’s your best friend.”
He exhaled, relieved.
“There’s a chopper waiting for us at Steel Corp,” my father said. “Fastest way in. The troops were deployed the same way.”
Good. That would get us to Driftwake in twenty minutes.
“Where do you think these bastards came from?” he asked.
I gripped the wheel tighter.
“Mooncrest’s a big island, Father. They could’ve come from anywhere-or they’ve been here all along, waiting for the right moment. We rule this island, but we’re not the only pack. And Driftwake is still part of our territory. The real question is,
why wasn’t it protected?”
He cleared his throat-guilty.
“Beta Grey told me to deploy troops there eight months ago. I didn’t act fast enough. I didn’t think it would get this bad.”
I pushed the accelerator harder, biting back what I wanted to say. We didn’t have time for blame. Not now.
“Who’s leading this?” Darian asked from behind.
“Lucian,” my father answered without hesitation. “Overall command is his. But we’ll split into three assault teams. Each of
us leads one.”
I nodded. It made sense. All three of us were Alphas-no one else could lead these wolves.
“Do you think the press is already there?” I asked.
My father’s mouth tightened. “Yes. They’ve got a chopper covering it. Luckily, the attackers don’t have missiles-yet. First wave was gunfire. They only shifted when they ran out of bullets. Resistance caught them off guard.”
My stomach turned. That meant this wasn’t random. It was planned.
“We need to make sure no reinforcements are coming for them,” I said.
“Grey’s already on it,” he replied.
Silence fell over us. The kind before the storm.
I turned toward Steel Corp, tires humming as we approached the gates. We pulled in fast and rushed inside. The elevator
to the roof couldn’t move fast enough. Every second felt heavier than the last.
The helicopter was already powered up when we reached the top. Wind whipped at our clothes as we climbed in.
My father closed his eyes.
“May the goddess show us mercy,” he murmured.
The rotor thundered, and the chopper lifted off.
I didn’t look back.
I had one thought, steady and burning in my chest:
213
enfes alation 2
Whatever waits in Driftwake, I will survive it. I have to. I promised her I would come home.
115 Taking ComĦOT
425 Pts
