Chapter 20: Red Moon Pack

TOMMY'S POV

RED MOON PACK

Red Moon Pack was asleep.

The only light came from the war room in the back of the Alpha’s cabin. Maps were spread across the table, marked with charcoal. The air smelled like wolf, old paper, and my desperation.

I stood at the head of the table, fists planted on the wood, staring at the red X I’d drawn over Kael’s territory.

Eleven days.

Eleven days since that bastard Enforcer walked into our land, flashed his title seal, and took Annabeth without a fight. Eleven days since I watched her disappear into his black SUV, eyes wide, calling my name.

Eleven days I’d been planning. Plotting.

“Tommy, this is insane,” Jace hissed beside me. The beta's Son, my best friend apart from Annabeth, since we were pups. “You want to hit the Enforcer’s Territory? With six wolves?”

“Six wolves who owe Annabeth their lives,” I corrected him, not looking up. “Mira. Trent. Ellis. Kade. Lana and You.”

“Alpha Dorian will have all our heads if he finds out about this,” Ellis muttered from the corner. He was sharpening a silver blade, the sound setting my teeth on edge. “He signed the peace treaty. He practically handed her over to the Enforcer.”

“Uncle Dorian can rot,” I snarled. The sound was low, dangerous. Heads turned. “He traded my friend for peace. For ‘favor’ with the Council. He didn’t even ask if she was willing. He was a coward.”

The room went quiet. They all knew I was the only one who could challenge him this way since I was in line to be Alpha of the Pack.

I jabbed a finger at the map. “Kael’s estate is here. Forty-foot walls. Motion sensors. Armed guards, fellow wolves. But,” I tapped a thin line on the east side, “there’s a river. Runs right under the east wall to the northern walls. Old drainage tunnel. Big enough for a wolf pass through.”

Kade leaned forward. His eyes gleamed. “You’ve been there?”

“I scouted it three nights ago,” I admitted. “While you all were sleeping.”

Jace cursed. “Alone? Are you trying to get killed before we even start?”

“I’m trying to get her back, Okay?” I shot back. “She’s been held prisoner there for eleven days. Eleven days with him. Goddess knows what he’s done to her.”

The thought made bile rise in my throat. Kael. The Lycan Enforcer. The Council’s butcher. The King's right hand. He took her right in front of me, while she cried, pleaded and fought back.

Annabeth was meant to be mine. We grew up together. We even planned a future together, I was going to make her my Luna when I was finally appointed Alpha one day, and not a prisoner in some wrenched Lycan’s bed.

“Tommy,” Lana said softly. She was the youngest, barely eighteen, but was strong. “What if we're too late already? What if she's already dea...”

“Don’t,” I cut her off. The idea was poison. “Don't complete that statement. We will get her back no matter what. Alive and well.”

But doubt gnawed at me. What if eleven days was enough? What if he’d touched her already? Hurt her? Or worse...

I shook the thought away.

“We move in two nights,” I told them. My voice left no room for argument. “New moon gathering night. No light. We go in through the river. Kade, you and Ellis take out the cameras. Lana, you’ll stand by our escape route, making sure it's still safe. Jace, Mira, Trent, you’ll stay with me. We'll find where she's being kept, we get her out, we don’t stop until we’re across the snow border.”

“And if Kael finds us?” Jace asked. His face was grim.

I met his eyes. Mine were wolf gold already. “Then I kill him.”

It was a suicide mission. We all knew it. The Lycan Enforcer had killed packs for less than trespassing. But I’d rather die than live one more day knowing Annabeth was in his mansion, scared, alone, tortured, and thinking I’d abandoned her.

I rolled up the map. “Not a word of our plans to uncle Dorian. Not to anyone here. If he finds out, he will try to stop us from succeeding, and probably warn Kael to save his own ass. We do this quiet and We do it fast.”

The six of them nodded looking Scared, Determined, but Loyal.

I looked out the small window. The moon was a sliver. Two nights from now.

Hold on, Annabeth. I’m coming for you.

I just prayed I wasn't too late now.

~~

ANNABETH'S POV

KAEL'S MANSION

Sunlight filtered through the windows, pale and cold.

I didn’t sleep much last night.

Not really.

I tossed and turned for hours after I left Kael in the library. The things he said to me kept circling in my head.

The Lycan Enforcer Afraid? Of me? For me?

Stupid. Stupid to feel my chest ache at that.

I wrapped Kael’s oversized cardigan tighter around me and slipped out of my room before dawn. The halls were silent. The mansion was always silent, even the guards Kael stationed everywhere were so discreet and quiet, you wouldn't know they were there.

My feet carried me to the kitchen before I realized it.

Mrs. Halloway was already there, humming softly, stirring something in a copper pot that smelled like cinnamon and oats.

She looked up when I entered and smiled, warm and genuine.

“Good morning, dear.” She set the spoon down and wiped her hands on her apron. “You look like you didn’t sleep a wink.”

“I Couldn’t,” I admitted, sitting on the tall stool at the counter. My bare feet didn’t quite touch the floor. “Too much noise in my head.”

Mrs. Halloway nodded like she understood. She probably did.

“I made oatmeal,” she said, sliding a steaming bowl toward me. “With cinnamon and honey. It helps.”

I picked up the spoon but didn’t eat. My eyes kept drifting to the garden door. The sun was rising over the snow now. It was a beautiful sight.

The kitchen door opened with a soft creak.

I tensed instantly. Every muscle in my body locked. Old habit. Red Moon trained you to never drop your guard.

Mrs. Halloway turned with a smile. “Ah, Riven. You’re here, and what do I owe this visit.”

A young boy walked in. Probably a werewolf too.

He could be around my age. Maybe nineteen. He was Tall, lean, with messy dark hair that fell over one eye and eyes that were a pale hazel green.

He stopped dead when he saw me.

His eyes widened. Then narrowed. Then widened again like he couldn’t decide what he was looking at.

He stared.

And stared.

And stared.

I stared back, spoon halfway to my mouth. The oatmeal went cold.

Mrs. Halloway chuckled softly. “Riven, don’t gawk. It’s rude.”

Riven blinked like he’d been snapped out of a trance. Color rushed up his neck. “S-sorry.” His voice was rough, and surprisingly deep. “I’ve just... never seen a real human girl before.”

The words hung in the air.

A real human girl. Like I was some kind of exhibit in Kael’s private zoo.

I set the spoon down with a soft clink. “Right. Because we’re so rare and fascinating.” My tone was dry. Defensive.

Riven’s face went redder. “No! I didn’t mean it like that.” He shifted from foot to foot, suddenly awkward. Like a nervous pup. “It’s just... Enforcer Kael has never let humans in. And you... you don't even look scared.”

That got me to look at him properly.

He didn't look hostile. He wasn’t leering. He looked... curious. Honest even. There was no malice in his gaze, just open confusion and a hint of wonder.

I relaxed a fraction. Just a fraction.

Mrs. Halloway stepped between us, smoothing the tension like she’d done it a hundred times before. “Riven is one of Kael’s pack scouts,” she explained. “He’s been training since he was sixteen. He’s young, but he’s good. And he’s been curious about you since you arrived.”

“Curious,” I echoed, crossing my arms. The cardigan sleeves swallowing my hands. “Why? Because I’m human? Because I don’t shift like you do? Because I’m the girl your Enforcer had kidnapped?”

Riven winced. “No... Because you're not acting like I thought you would be.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And how did you think I’d be acting?”

“I thought you’d be... I don’t know. Screaming. Crying. Pleading for your life. Like the stories say humans do when Lycans or werewolves take them.” He said it quickly, like he was embarrassed he’d said it at all. “But you’re not. You’re just... sitting here. Eating oatmeal. Like it’s normal for you.”

I couldn’t help it. A small, humorless laugh escaped me. “Nothing about this is normal. But I did grow up in a pack filled with wolves, so..”

Riven smiled. It was crooked. Boyish. It made him look less like a wolf and more like a kid who got caught sneaking cookies.

“Yeah. That explains it. Fair enough.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m Riven, by the way.”

“Annabeth,” I said. I didn’t offer my hand. He didn’t either. We both knew better.

Mrs. Halloway poured him a cup of tea and slid it toward him. “Sit. Eat something before Kael finds you skulking in my kitchen.”

Riven sat across from me, careful not to take up too much space. He kept glancing at me out of the corner of his eye like I might vanish.

“So...” he started, then stopped. Tried again. “Is it true? That you’re his mate?”

~