CHAPTER 30: LUNA'S SECRET STRATEGY

The last few days have been quiet, aside from training Summers, who improves daily. He’s gotten much better at identifying sounds, so we’ve moved on to blind sparring. He still takes plenty of hits, but fewer each time. I might even ask Zane if I can personally train him as a spy.

For some reason, I keep fixating on a plan to take down Urk, which isn’t like me—I usually just wing things. But the Alphas would never let me go alone if I told them that.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with Luke and Dean lately since Zane and Jason have been busy training two teams in breaching techniques. I’ve watched them a few times, offering pointers here and there, but we haven’t interacted much outside of training.

This morning, I woke up long before my mates. After showering, I chuckled when my stomach growled loudly.

Cece, what’s the gestation period for dragons, wolves, and tigers? I asked, wondering if it matched humans.

“Let’s see… Humans and dragons take nine months; wolves, three; and tigers, four. So, you could be pregnant for anywhere between three to nine months,” Cece explained.

That’s not helpful at all. Wait—am I going to lay an egg? I asked in horror. Cece burst into laughter.

“No, you’ll give birth normally, just like humans, for all three shifter types,” she managed between giggles.

It wasn’t that funny, I grumbled.

“Yes, it was,” she shot back. Ignoring her, I headed to the kitchen for food.

Despite Cece’s disapproval, I still haven’t told my mates about the pregnancy. I’ll wait until after the mission—I don’t need them worrying or trying to bench me.

“Good morning, ladies,” I greeted the Omegas as I walked in. They responded in unison, “Good morning, Luna.”

Eyeing the breakfast spread, I asked, “Could I have some eggs, bacon, sausage, and three pancakes, please?”

“Of course,” said Charolette, one of the Omegas. “Would you like plates prepared for the Alphas as well?”

“No, they’re still asleep. But could you keep some warm for when they wake up?” She nodded, and I thanked her before taking my loaded plate to my office.

Between bites, I did some research—I hadn’t forgotten about avenging Michelle and Cammy. The Blood Moon Pack reportedly has 90 non-warriors, 75 pups, and 180 warriors. From what I’ve heard, their males start training at fifteen. We only have 170 warriors. Even if theirs aren’t top-tier, those numbers aren’t great. I decided to ask Zane if we should consider asking Alpha Deek for backup, but I wouldn’t make that call alone.

I called Deek to discuss something else, and he picked up immediately.

“Good morning, Luna Max. How are you?” he asked, clearly surprised.

“I’m great, Alpha Deek,” I replied.

“What did I tell you? Just Deek, my friend,” he said playfully.

“Well, I figured we were back to not being friends anymore since you called me ‘Luna,’” I teased, laughing.

“Fair point, Max. What can I do for you?” he asked, shifting to business.

I filled him in on what we’d learned from the bodies, Anastasia, and Ortiz. His growls were constant as I spoke.

“Deek, we had a mole right under our noses. It explains why we never caught them—they had the potion and were someone the pups trusted. Hate to say it, but you might want to check for a mole too,” I said carefully.

“Don’t worry, I’m not offended. My pack’s pups were taken the same way, and I’ve suspected this before. But I wouldn’t even know where to start looking,” he admitted with a sigh.

“I get it—my Alphas felt the same.” Then an idea struck me. “Your pack doesn’t know me. If you’re okay with it, I could pose as a new member and investigate.”

“Great idea, but I have someone else in mind,” he replied cheerfully.

Before hanging up, I briefed him on our plan to raid the facility.

“Sounds solid. Let me know if you need backup—I’ve got warriors to spare. Oh, and my pack’s tech team is the best around. Want them to dig into this ‘Valentine’s’ person?” he offered.

“Actually, could they look into Urk Mensolv instead? He’s the Don of the Kixovl Mafia—human and sex trafficking. I think that’s why the pups were taken. Just be careful—he’s dangerous. Make sure they cover their tracks so nothing traces back to you.”

“Max, how do you know a Don?” Deek asked cautiously.

I took a breath before answering. “Now that my mates and pack have accepted me, I can tell you the truth. I hope this doesn’t change things between us—but if it does, I understand.” I hesitated before continuing. “I’m an assassin, and Urk is my target. The facility where we rescued the pups? That was one of his new operations. At the time, I had no idea they’d taken any of our pups. I only followed a woman kidnapping two of them—and it led me to the same place I was already investigating. Then we linked the attack just before your visit to Urk a couple of days later. The bodies had a tattoo I recognized—his men. After that, everything started falling into place. We just need to find out where he is and who his buyers are. My team will handle the facility while I deal with Urk. But… there’s another issue we might need your help with. I haven’t discussed it with my mates yet, but I may call you later… assuming I haven’t scared you off.” My voice carried a quiet sorrow at the thought of losing his friendship.

The silence stretched before Deek finally spoke. “Damn, you really caught me off guard.” He exhaled. “But don’t worry—our friendship isn’t going anywhere. I’m glad they found you, especially for Zane. He never talked about his past, but I know it was dark. You two will heal each other more than you realize. We’ll dig into Urk and his associates, then get back to you. And if you need us before then, just call. We’ll come.”

We talked a while longer. Deek asked about how I became an assassin, so I told him my story from the beginning. Eventually, he shared some news—“My mate’s three months pregnant.”

“Deek, that’s amazing! Congratulations!” I said, genuinely happy for him.

“Thanks, but… I’m terrified,” he admitted. “I didn’t have a good father, so I don’t know how to be a good one.”

His honesty surprised me. “You’re going to be great. And I’m not just saying that—if I thought otherwise, I’d tell you. The fact that you’re worried proves you’ll be better than your father. I’ve seen you with the pups—they adore you. If you were faking it, they wouldn’t react to you like that. You’ve got patience, kindness, and a whole pack to support you. Plus, your Luna’s incredible.”

He let out a relieved sigh. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”

“Have you talked to your mate about this?” I asked.

“No… but you’re right. She should be the first to know. Thanks, Max.” We chatted a bit more about what to expect before ending the call.

Just then, I heard movement in the hallway. The office door opened, and Zane walked in with a plate of food.

“Who were you talking to? Hope I didn’t interrupt,” he said, setting the plate on his desk before coming over to me.

“Not at all,” I said as he kissed me. I filled him in on the conversation—leaving out Deek’s fears about fatherhood. Alphas rarely wanted their vulnerabilities known.

“That’s great news. They’ve been trying for years,” Zane said.

“Yeah. Speaking of… I was reviewing the Blood Moon Pack’s numbers. Even though they train young, I’m not sure how skilled they are. But based on their size, we’re evenly matched. Maybe we should ask Deek for backup when we move against them.”

Zane growled before saying, “Deek would jump at the chance to take them down, especially after hearing what they do to women and children. He has no tolerance for that—just like us.” He sat at his desk, and I settled onto his lap, his arms wrapping around me. We stayed like that, silent, just holding each other. Deek was right—we would heal together.

“I’m going to sit outside for a bit before training with Summers. Call if you need me,” I said, starting to stand.

Zane tightened his grip. “I’ll always need you, mi alma.”

After a lingering kiss, I walked out, leaving the door open at his request. “Oh—ask Luke about my expansion idea. He knows the details.”

Outside, I’d been relaxing for about half an hour when Dean stepped out.

“What are you up to?” he asked, leaning down to kiss me.

“Just playing a game before training,” I said, glancing up from my phone. It was a new one—pretty fun, actually. The concept was simple: a picture of random objects combined to form a word.

“What’re you playing? Can I jump in?” Dean asked.

“Sure. You just guess the word based on the image and tap the letters to spell it. Like this—see? Two milk jars shaking hands. That’s a milkshake,” I said, tapping out the letters.

The next image flashed up—a bodybuilder hoisting a giant fork.

“Forklift,” I answered immediately, already entering the word.

“Damn, that was fast. I barely even saw the picture,” Dean muttered.

“Then keep up,” I teased, grinning. “And maybe try looking at the screen instead of me.”

The next puzzle was trickier: a lion standing next to a toilet inside a bathroom stall. I mumbled possibilities under my breath. “Lion-toilet… toilet-lion… bathroom lion…” We both fell quiet, staring at the screen.

Then it hit me. “Stallion!” I blurted, making Dean flinch. I laughed as he shot me a bewildered look.

“How the hell is that a stallion?” he asked, frowning.

“Bathroom stall plus lion—stallion,” I explained.

Dean squinted at me like I’d lost my mind. “Yeah, no. You’re just inventing rules now. I’m done,” he grumbled, though there was no real heat in it. I barked out a laugh.

Before leaving, he pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and headed down the steps to meet with a couple about home renovations. I watched him for a moment—easy smile, relaxed stance—before turning back to my game.

After a few more rounds, I tucked my phone away and made my way to the training yard. Final day of drills, and tomorrow… well, I had plans. Big ones.

“Sparring today,” I told Summers as we started our warm-up jog.

“Should you be running?” Summers matched my pace, his brow furrowed.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I frowned, not breaking stride.

“Because you’re pregnant,” he said bluntly, genuine concern darkening his features.

My feet skidded to a halt. “Wait—how the hell do you know that?”

“You smell different.” He rubbed his neck. “Noticed it days ago. When Jacob mentioned it last night, I knew for sure.”

Hmm. Does that mean my mates know? I asked Cece silently.

“Unclear,” she replied. “Some wolves have keener noses than others—even Alphas.”

“Summers, women have worked right up until they poop out their babies since the dawn of time.” His flinch almost made me laugh. “Trust me to know my limits. This isn’t my first rodeo.”

He still looked doubtful but relented. “Fine. Though if Alpha Zane knew—”

“They don’t,” I cut in. “There’s something important coming up, and I won’t have them bench me. Before you lecture me—yes, I should tell them. But it’s my call. So butt out.” To his credit, he just nodded and kept pace beside me.

The hour-long run bled seamlessly into sparring. No matter how many times I demanded full force, Summers’ punches still carried that infuriating restraint. Fine. If he wouldn’t fight me, he’d fight the training post instead.

I dragged over the padded wooden column, its leather wrappings scarred from countless sessions. “Show me your knife-hand strike,” I ordered, stepping back as he squared off against the unyielding target. His first blow sent vibrations up the post. “Again. Harder.” Sawdust drifted through the afternoon light with each successive impact.

When sweat darkened his shirt collar, I changed the game.

I pulled a folded list from my back pocket and slapped it against Summers’ chest. “New drill. You’ll be testing your sneaky skills today.”

His fingers trembled slightly as he unfolded the paper. I watched his eyes dart across the items: Gamma Jackson’s favorite dagger from the weapons rack, Beta Marcus’ coffee mug (still full), a paperweight from Alpha Zane’s desk.

“Rules are simple,” I said, leaning in close enough to smell his nervous sweat. “Acquire each item without being detected. Deliver it to me. Then return it undetected. Get caught?” My grin turned sharp. “You’ll face their punishment first… then mine.”

A visible lump traveled down Summers’ throat. “And if I succeed?”

I patted his cheek. “Then you might actually become a decent spy. Questions?”

He shook his head, the motion jerky like a rusted hinge.

“Good.” I plucked the list back and tucked it into his collar. “I’ll be watching from the shadows. Try not to disappoint me.”

As he crept toward his first target, I melted into the training yard’s blind spots. This was going to be entertaining. The way his shoulders tensed with each creaking floorboard, how he held his breath passing senior warriors - priceless.

When Gamma Jackson’s roar of “THAT’S MY MATCHING SET!” echoed across the compound twenty minutes later, I couldn’t contain my laughter. Summers’ resulting punishment (twenty laps carrying Jackson’s complaining ass piggyback) made for spectacular entertainment.

After each failure, I’d appear beside him, whispering corrections: “You’re stepping like a newborn fawn,” or “Your shadow gave you away against that wall.” His improvement came slowly, but by the third attempt, he actually managed to return Zane’s paperweight without him noticing.

A small victory, but enough to wipe that terrified look off his face. For now.

It was a really fun game… for me. The most entertainment I have seen in a long while.

Eventually, I decided we’d had enough, and we made our way back to the pack house, chatting and learning more about each other along the way.

Later, during dinner, I mentioned to my mates that I wanted to stop and speak with a few people briefly. While the Alphas continued toward our table, I paused and took a seat beside Marcus, Captain Carlos, and General Grayson—three of the highest-ranking warriors and most skilled fighters aside from the Gamma, Delta, Beta, and Alphas themselves. If Jackson ever stepped down, Grayson would take his place as Gamma, and Carlos would assume the role of General.

“I’ve got a quick question for you,” I said, and all three focused their attention on me.

Marcus responded, “Of course, Luna. What’s on your mind?”

“Aside from you three, who’s the best fighter among the officers? And, as a bonus—who do you think could use a little… humbling?” I asked. Their simultaneous smiles were almost unsettling.

General Grayson tilted his head. “Why do you ask, Luna?”

“I need a challenging sparring partner… and it wouldn’t hurt if he walked away a bit less arrogant tomorrow,” I admitted. There’s always one in each army.

In unison, they answered, “Lieutenant Aaron.”

Curious, I pressed, “Why him?” I didn’t want to unfairly target a good soldier.

Marcus explained, “He’s a strong warrior—proved himself fast—but his ego’s gotten the better of him.”

Captain Carlos hesitated before speaking up. “Luna, if I may…”

“Absolutely, Captain. I respect your judgment,” I assured him.

He nodded gratefully. “Aaron’s young—his confidence is natural, but he hasn’t outgrown his cockiness yet. He’s earned his rank, no doubt, but a little humility wouldn’t hurt.”

I gave a thoughtful nod. “Understood. I’ll make sure it’s a fair challenge.”

They exchanged satisfied looks before I thanked them and returned to my mates. When they asked what we’d discussed, I simply told them I was choosing a sparring partner for tomorrow.

Dinner continued with light conversation until it was time to leave for training with Summers.

Our session focused on stealth, turning into a playful game of hide-and-seek—with a twist. If I managed to sneak up on him undetected, I got to land a punch, kick, bite, whatever I fancied.

The first time, he moved so loudly it sounded like a stampede. I dropped behind him, tapped his shoulder, and dodged his reflexive punch before countering with my own.

“Your footsteps are too heavy—I could hear you from a mile away,” I teased. “Almost felt bad taking that free shot… almost.”

I walked him through the basics of silent movement.

“First, adjust your posture. Stay low, knees bent, keeping your weight balanced. Engage your muscles—this distributes your steps more lightly.”

After demonstrating, I watched as he mirrored my stance.

“Next, your stride. Move your right arm with your right foot, left with left—it feels unnatural, but it keeps you ready to strike instantly.”

We practiced for five minutes before moving to foot placement.

“Step on the outer edge of your foot first, then roll inward. The blade of your foot is the thinnest part—less noise on twigs or leaves.”

I demonstrated the difference—flat-footed steps versus controlled rolls—before we drilled it for another ten minutes.

When we resumed the game, Summers had improved, though I still got in a few solid hits. He’s come a long way since we started, and I can’t wait for everyone to see his progress tomorrow.

Exhausted, we ended early.

“I’ll keep working on this, even after we stop training,” Summers admitted, sounding almost nostalgic. “Gonna miss these sessions.”

“Same here,” I agreed. “But at least we’ll still see each other at morning drills.”