274 The Mistwood Gambit
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274 The Mistwood Gambit
Mara
“You can’t convince me to withdraw my support, little girl,” he sneered. “In fact, you’re dumber than I
expected.”
He laughed.
I didn’t.
“I’ve shown you nothing but respect, Alpha,” I replied coolly. “So watch your language. I didn’t call to beg. I
called to inform you, about your weapons shipment. The one that mysteriously vanished on the high seas.”
The laughter stopped like a blade falling.
Silence.
Dead, heavy silence.
Then he hissed through clenched teeth, “You b***h. If I, ”
“I’d stop right there if I were you,” I cut in coldly. “I never said we touched it. But I know who did. And I have
proof.”
More silence. This one was different. Tense. Calculating.
“You’re bluffing.”
“No. I’m giving you an opportunity. Help us take Alaric down, and I’ll give you everything, documents,
footage, confessions. I know you’re already on our island. You’ve placed men here. This is your chance to
shift the tide before Alaric stabs you in the back the way he did everyone else.”
He didn’t speak.
Good. That meant he was listening.
“I’m sending you files now. If you think the footage is doctored, run your own investigation. Every
document is verifiable. Every person named is alive. You’ll see for yourself.”
“Tell me what’s in the files. Then send them,” he demanded, trying to sound in control.
“Alaric approached you for weapons. You declined. He knew your shipment was coming in by sea. So he intercepted it. As a pirate. Stripped it clean and moved it onto a vessel now docked at Goldenpeak.”
His breath caught. I heard it. Even over the phone.
“You’re lying,” he spat, but there was no power in it now just anger. And fear.
Added to the library
“I’m not asking you to believe me. I’m asking you to took. The mes are en route. So are the coordinates. Two days from now, Alaric will be exposed and vulnerable. If you want to repay his betrayal, you’ll know exactly where to find him.”
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274 The Mistwood Gambit
I didn’t wait for a response.
Thit send, hung up, and leaned back in Lucian’s chair.
Martha stared at me like I’d just set fire to a kingdom.
“You’ve got guts, Mara,” she said, half in awe, half in disbelief.
I smiled. “And now we’ve got options.”
She glanced at her phone. “The women are on their way. What’s the next move?”
I stood. “We’re going to Neev.”
Her eyes widened. “But Lucian said,”
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“Forget what Lucian said,” I cut in. “I love that man, but I’m not a puppet. I don’t take orders, I give them. I don’t trust Alaric to fight fair. And three hundred men might not be enough to stop what’s coming.”
Martha frowned, “What about Mooncrest? If they attack while we’re gone, the women we assigned to protect the city and the military personnel here won’t hold them off.”
I laughed softly, dry, sharp, knowing.
“You actually believed Lucian’s plan to ‘protect the city’ was real?”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
I leaned closer, eyes locked on hers.
“Mooncrest isn’t the target. We are.”
“Look at me, Martha.” I leaned across the desk, steady and sure. “Do you honestly think Lucian would ask me to protect the city if he actually believed it would be attacked?”
Her eyes widened as the realization hit. She didn’t answer, she didn’t have to.
“No,” I said. “He wouldn’t. That man would never put me or this baby at risk if he believed the danger was
here.”
Martha nodded slowly, eyes narrowing. “So he is playing it safe, keeping you away from the battlefield without actually saying it.”
“Exactly,” I said, rising from the chair. “But I’m not staying behind. I may not be shifting, but I’ll be in full
gear. Armed, Armored. Present. I didn’t come this far just to wait at home and hope the man I love survives. I’m not planning to die, and I’m damn sure not planning to become a widow.”
A slow smile spread across her face. “I already called the women. They’re on their way. They’ll be thrilled
to hear we’re headed to Neey.”
I returned the smile, but there was still work to do.
I called for Michael, the only ranking officer still in Mooncrest, a capable Kappa who’d proven himself
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(274 The Mistwood Gambit
more than once. He entered the office swiftly, sensing the urgency.
* Pairft
“Michael,” I said, standing. “You’re in charge of holding the city while we’re gone. I want a vetted list of armed citizens, those who signed up for defense. Check their records. Make sure they can handle themselves in a fight. No weapons unless they’re fully cleared. But give them protective gear. Helmets. Vests. Shields. If anything happens, I don’t want any surprises.”
He nodded firmly.
“And while you’re at it, I need transport. Quiet, low-profile. Enough vehicles to move three hundred and eleven women to Neev, without raising alarms. This isn’t a parade, Michael. It’s a quiet storm.”
“Yes, Luna,” he said, already making notes, and turned to leave.
Once he was gone, Martha leaned against the desk, arms crossed. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t
you?”
I looked her straight in the eye. “Dead serious. I don’t know about you, but I’m not missing the fight.”
She chuckled. “Lucian’s going to lose it, you know. He’s got his father’s temper.”
I smirked. “He does. But he’s never turned it on me. He knows better.”
Martha grinned. “Then let’s make sure he never has a reason to.”
Her smile faded a little as she sat down again, quieter now. “You know… I’m not the strongest fighter. Not
like the rest of you. But I’ve seen things. I’ve been places.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Like where?”
She hesitated, then let out a breath. “I used to sneak into Olivia’s underground fight club. I wasn’t great at
it, but I learned a few things. It felt good, to be strong, to be dangerous.”
A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
“Then one day, Vander accused me of cheating. I’d been sneaking out, and he… thought the worst. It
turned ugly. Explosive. He kicked me out. I left and went back to Goldenpeak. I was done. But my mother
forced me to return. Told me to apologise. So I did. I quit fighting, quit everything. Just stayed home.
Silent.”
I stared at her for a moment, the air heavier between us.
“You didn’t deserve that,” I said. “None of it.”
She gave a small shrug, but there was steel behind it. “It’s in the past. I’m not going to be silent anymore.”
I reached over and placed a hand on hers.
“Good,” I said. “Because we’ll need that fire.”
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