Chapter 34: Trying

THORNE

I didn't belong here, that was the first thought that hit me as I stepped through Kade's gates. Everywhere I looked, rogues watched me with suspicion or outright hostility, pack Alphas weren't welcome in rogues territory, we represented everything they'd run from.

And I was engaged to a Council Elder's daughter, that made me an enemy.

The compound was impressive though. Kade had built something real, a functioning community of outcasts, he'd turned them into an army.

No wonder Sera had stayed.

Inside the war room, maps covered every surface, Kade stood at the head of the table, Marcus beside him, Elena watched from the corner with sharp eyes.

And Sera stood by the window, staring at nothing.

My wolf stirred, even broken, the mate bond pulled, made me aware of her in ways I couldn't ignore.

She looked different, more confident but her shoulders were tensed, fear darkened her eyes.

It's her father, of course she was terrified.

Kade's eyes moved to me, gold flickering, a clear message.

I understood.

"The layouts?" Marcus asked.

I unrolled the document, "Current as of two weeks ago. Guard rotations, security protocols, weak points."

Kade studied it, skeptical, "And we're supposed to trust this isn't a trap?"

"You're not supposed to trust anything," I said evenly, "but it's real. The Council is using an innocent man as bait, that's not right, regardless of what's between us, I won't let that stand."

"How noble," Kade's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Where are prisoners held?" Sera's voice broke the tension, she moved to the table, finally looking at me directly.

Our eyes met for a moment, I saw a flash of the girl who'd loved me from the shadows for seven years, then it was gone, replaced by a cool distance.

"Here," I pointed to the map, "Three floors of cells, high value prisoners on the lowest level."

"That's where they'll have him," Marcus said.

"Most likely but getting there means passing multiple checkpoints, all heavily guarded."

"So we go in loud," one of the rogue suggested. "Sera uses her power, forces them to submit.."

"No," Kade said immediately.

"Why not?" the rogue challenged, "She's powerful enough to.."

"To level the entire building," Kade interrupted, his voice hard. "With her father inside, with innocent prisoners, servants, people who have nothing to do with the Council's decisions." He looked at Sera, Right?"

She swallowed hard, nodded, "I can't..if I lose control.."

"You won't lose control," I said quietly, everyone looked at me. Because we're not putting you in that position, we go in quietly, small team, then strike."

"Since when do you give orders here?" Kade's voice was dangerous.

"I'm not, I'm stating facts. Sera going in blazing will get her father killed before we reach him. They will execute him the moment they realize what's happening."

"Then we need stealth," Marcus said, "night insertion, minimal contact."

I traced the route on the map, "loading dock entrance, supply deliveries come through here, it's less guarded than the main entrances."

"Security during night hours?" Kade asked.

"Tighter than the day, guards rotate every four hours, shifts change at midnight and 4am, that's your window. Three to five minutes when coverage is thinnest."

Kade leaned over the map, studying. "This route leads to the prison levels, it goes through the main hall?"

"Yes."

"That's way too exposed, too many guards."

"It's the most direct route," I said. "The alternatives add thirty minutes minimum."

"Thirty minutes we might not have," Marcus muttered.

"Wait," Sera pointed to a thin line on the map, "What's this?"

I looked closer, "Service corridor for maintenance staff."

"Does it connect to the prison levels?"

I studied the layout more carefully, "I... I'm not sure, the map doesn't show the full underground network."

"Then we're gambling," Kade said, "If that corridor doesn't connect, we're trapped."

"The main route is still safer," I said.

"Safer but slower," Marcus countered, "If they raise alarm.."

"They will raise an alarm," I interrupted, "the moment you're spotted, the entire building locks down. You need speed over safety."

Kade's jaw clenched, he looked at Sera, "Your call."

She blinked, "What?"

"It's your father, your mission, which route do we take?"

I saw the weight of that decision crash over her, saw her hands tremble slightly before she steadied them.

"The service corridor," she said quietly, "We gamble on speed."

Kade nodded, "Then that's what we do."

The planning continued, team composition..Kade, Sera, Marcus, me, and two others.

I caught mistakes, pointed out risks Kade grudgingly acknowledged when I was right.

Through it all, I felt Sera's presence like a physical ache. She barely looked at me, barely spoke to me beyond necessary planning details.

I was a stranger to her now, useful, but nothing more.

Finally, the meeting ended, people dispersed, Sera left quickly, not meeting my eyes.

I started to leave, but Marcus blocked my way.

"Walk with me," he said, not a request.

We stepped outside into the evening air. The compound was busy with preparations, weapons being checked, supplies organized, fighters drilling.

"Why are you really here?" Marcus asked.

"To help.."

"I know what you told Kade, I want the truth." His voice wasn't aggressive, just direct, "What do you want from this?"

I was quiet for a moment, "I want Sera to know I'm not the person I used to be."

"Are you?"

"What?"

"That person," Marcus stopped walking and faced me. "Because from where I'm standing, you're still the Alpha who chose politics over his mate, coming on one rescue mission doesn't change that."

"I know."

"Then what's the point?"

"Because maybe.." I struggled with the words, "maybe I can't undo what I did but I can prove I'm trying to be better. That's all I have left."

Marcus studied my face, "You know she's with Kade now."

"I know."

"And you're okay with that?"

Was I? Watching them together, seeing how she responded to him…

"I have to be," I said.

Marcus was quiet, then nodded slowly, "fair enough," He started walking again. "One more thing, If this is a trap, if you betray her, I won't let Kade kill you."

"Because you believe me?"

"Because I'll kill you first, slower."

Despite everything, I almost smiled, "Understood."

"Good," Marcus patted my shoulder, "get some rest, we leave at dawn."

He walked away, leaving me alone.

I looked across the compound and saw Sera standing with Kade near the training grounds. He was speaking, she was listening, then he touched her face gently, said something that made her smile.

A real smile, soft and genuine.

She'd not smiled at me like that in a long while. My wolf whined, the broken bond ached.

But watching them, I realized something, she was happy here, more like herself than she'd ever been in Silvermoon Pack.

I'd rejected her thinking I was protecting my pack but maybe I'd actually freed her to become who she was meant to be.

Maybe that was worth the pain.

Tomorrow, we'll attempt the impossible, break into Council headquarters, rescue her father.

I'd probably die trying, but at least I'd die proving I could be better than the man who'd thrown her away.

At least I'd die meaning something, that was more than I deserved.