Chapter Eight

Roshan

Ridwan was pacing again.

Nothing new. He did that when he was pissed, or when his wolf was close to the surface. Tonight, it was both.

His steps were sharp. Calculated. Like each one was a strike against the stone floor.

I leaned against the edge of the table, my arms crossed against my chest as I followed his every move

“Keep pacing like that and the floor’s gonna file for harassment.”

He didn’t stop. His jaw was tight. “You’re not funny.”

“I’m not trying to be,” I defended, still not taking my eyes off him. “But we’ve been going in circles, and I’m getting bored.”

“Then get up and do something.”

“I am.” I tapped the glowing map on the table. “I’m solving our Lynda problem.”

That got him to pause. Just for a second.

“She’s not a problem,” he muttered. “She’s a ghost.”

“She’s a threat,” I corrected. “One we haven’t been able to catch. And I don’t know about you, but I hate losing.”

His eyes flicked to the summit layout hovering between us. Pack boundaries. Security lines. Entrances. Seating charts.

He exhaled hard. “You really think she’ll show?”

I looked at him. “If she’s half as clever as I think she is, she’ll be there before we even open the gates.”

He frowned, stepping closer. “Why now?”

“Because desperation reeks like blood, and this summit will bleed with it.” I tapped the section labeled “Northern Affiliation Delegates.” “We’ve got every weak, power-hungry alpha gathering in one room. Half of them don’t trust the others. All of them pretending to smile while their wolves snarl under the table.”

“She loves chaos,” he murmured.

“She thrives in it,” I added, happy that we were getting on the same page with each other . “So we give her what she wants. An event loud enough to tempt her. Important enough to draw her out.”

He studied the map again. “How do we know it’ll be her and not someone else?”

“We don’t,” I said honestly. “But she’s arrogant. Strategic. She likes watching her prey choke. You think she’ll resist the urge to show up for the kill?”

Ridwan’s jaw tightened. “So what’s your play?”

“Make her feel safe. Invisible. Like she has the upper hand.”

“And when she does?”

I smiled, slow and sharp. “We take it from her.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like it.”

“You’re not supposed to,” I replied. “It’s a trap. Traps are uncomfortable.”

“Even for the ones setting them?”

I paused, then said quietly, “Especially for the ones setting them.”

Ridwan shifted. The kind of movement that said he was trying to ignore the part of him that wanted her to show. Not to kill. Not to capture. But to see her again. To understand.

But he wouldn’t admit that. Neither would I.

“Security?” he asked tightly.

“I’ve doubled it. No one gets in without full scent scan and tech screening. Drones on the perimeter. Taps on every communication frequency. Facial recognition on a five-second loop.”

“And the humans?”

I nodded. “They’ll see what we want them to see. Peace. Unity. Negotiation.”

He gave a humorless laugh. “While the rest of us are preparing for blood.”

I looked at him. “It’s always been blood, Ridwan. This just has better lighting.”

He stepped around the table slowly, thoughtful now. “And if she shows in disguise?”

“She won’t,” I said.

“How do you know?”

“Because this time,” I said, meeting his eyes, “she’ll want to watch us fall with her real face.”

His lips thinned. “She won’t get that far.”

“Not if we’re ready.”

“I’m always ready,” he said.

I tilted my head. “Are you?”

He glared. “Don’t.”

I held up my hands. “Fine. Let’s not talk about what you’re not saying.”

“Good.”

“But just so you know,” I added, voice lower, “when she walks into that summit, she’s not the only one being hunted.”

He turned slowly. “What the hell does that mean?”

I met his stare. “You’re already chasing her in ways that don’t have anything to do with revenge. And if you’re not careful, she’ll catch you first.”

“Then maybe I’ll rip her throat out when she does.”

I smirked. “Or maybe you’ll kneel.”

He stormed toward the door.

“Ridwan.”

He paused.

“If she shows up, don’t lose your head.”

He didn’t turn back. “I’ll lose hers first.”

Then he was gone.

And I stood alone with the glow of the summit map, watching all the red blinking dots.

Every single one a risk.

A distraction.

A shield for the real prize.

I whispered, “Come and find us, Lynda. Let’s see who burns first.”