273 Mooncrest Will Not Wait
Mara
We stood there in silence, watching the helicopter disappear into the clouds. Tiffany wiped at her eyes, trying to hide her tears, but I didn’t flinch. I refused to let even a single tear fall.
They were coming back.
I would make damn sure of it.
The moment the aircraft vanished into the horizon, I turned and walked back into the building. The others
followed close behind, footsteps echoing in the quiet.
“So… what now?” Martha asked, glancing at me.
I met her gaze but didn’t answer right away. Not in front of Keisha. It wasn’t about trust. It was about
pressure. I didn’t want to risk saying something that would scare her, not when she still needed to believe
we were untouchable.
“We’ll protect the city,” I said flatly, “just as instructed.”
Then I linked to Martha privately.
“Send Tiffany and Keisha home. Once they’re out, we’ll talk. Have the women gather at the second base
arsenal. There are weapons stocked there, we’ll need every last one. I’ve got a plan.”
Martha gave a slight nod and turned to Tiffany and Keisha.
“You two should head out,” she said. “We’ll be at headquarters. Once you get home, go straight to the
bunker. Austin and Jason already know the drill. Nannies too. The estate must be empty. Understood?”
Tiffany hesitated, looking at me. “I don’t think you should be leading the city defense in your condition,
Mara.”
I smiled, soft but steady. “I appreciate the concern, Tiff. I promise to be careful.”
She gave a reluctant nod, then left with Keisha. Once the doors closed behind them, Martha and I headed
straight to Lucian’s office. It was quiet, almost too quiet, the calm before something inevitable.
Once inside, she rounded on me.
“Alright. What’s the real plan?”
I closed the door, walked to the window, and looked out over the city we were about to protect with our lives. Then I turned to her, eyes steady.
“We aren’t just going to sit back and wait,” I said. “We’re going to fortify Mooncrest like it’s under siege. Because if Alaric is as twisted as we know he is, then he’s going to hit us where he thinks we’re weakest,
here.”
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273 Mooncrest Will Not Wait
Martha nodded slowly, already on the same page.
Points
“We arm every woman. We set traps at every possible entry point. Snipers on rooftops. Patrol rotations. Bunker evac drills. Communications locked tight.”
I moved to Lucian’s desk, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved the city schematics.
“We turn Mooncrest into a fortress,” I said. “And if Alaric sends anyone here, they’ll be walking into hell.”
Martha’s lips curled into a fierce smile. “That’s more like it.”
I looked at her, my hand instinctively resting on my bump.
“Once Mooncrest is secure, we move to the real plan,” I said, and Martha was attentive.
“So, what exactly are we doing? I mean the real plan. The one that involves us actually doing something,
Mara,” Martha asked, already leaning forward like she knew the answer would be good.
I smiled and sank into Lucian’s chair, turning on the computer. The hum of the machine filled the silence
while she settled into the seat across from me.
“I’m going to strip Alaric of even more support,” I said, pulling up the files. “Starting with the Alpha of
Mistwood. I have information about what happened to his sea vessel, and he’s going to want to hear it.”
Martha’s eyes lit up with delighted surprise. “You’re going to burn his bridges before he even gets to cross
them.”
“Exactly. Now go ahead and rally the women. Tell them to meet at the second base. We’ll start gearing up.”
She stood, grinning like a kid about to watch her favorite villain get destroyed. “I should’ve known better
than to ever challenge you, Mara. You’re ruthless,” she said, practically gleaming.
“And I love it.”
A soldier entered the office with a stack of files. He helped scan them into the system while I stayed focused. I took the number I needed from one of the documents and nodded my thanks.
Martha was already texting, probably reaching out to Raya, Gene, Tabitha, and Olivia. Good. Those four
were firepower in human form.
I picked up the phone and dialed the number.
One ring. Two. Then a deep voice answered.
“Hello.”
“Am I speaking with the Alpha of Mistwood?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.
He paused, measuring me, I was sure, then finally answered. “Yes. Who is this?”
“My name is Mara Thornridge Nighthorn. Luna of Mooncrest,” I said clearly, before he had a chance to hang up. “I come in peace.”
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273 Mooncrest Will Not Wait
A long, tense silence.
“How may I help you?” he finally asked, his voice clipped, formal.
Pouty
I inhaled slowly, choosing my words like weapons. “I’m calling to let you know that you’re backing the wrong man. We’re aware of the support you’ve given to Alaric Moongrove, also known as Chase Nighthorn. I’m not here to accuse you. We understand you may have been misinformed. I’m giving you the opportunity to correct course.”
There was a pause, and then he laughed. A low, dismissive sound.
“Little girl, don’t threaten me.”
I didn’t flinch. “I’m not threatening you, sir. I’m helping you. Because once he’s done with us, and if by some
miracle he wins, he’ll come for you next.”
The laughter stopped. Silence stretched long and cold.
He knew I wasn’t wrong.
I pressed on.
“You think you’re an ally. But Alaric doesn’t keep allies. He uses them until they’re no longer convenient. Then he disposes of them. Ask yourself, do you think you’ll be the exception?”
No answer.
Just breath on the line.
Still listening.
Perfect.
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