Chapter 81

Chapter 81

“I want three squads surrounding the council chambers yesterday. Get out there, now!” I barked, sweating as I stalked into the castle.

Bennett was nowhere to be found, but I pulled the next highest-ranking shifter I had at my disposal and began giving orders. My thoughts were all over the place, with my daughter missing and my mate going off with that traitorous witch, but it came second. nature to me to take command as

a warrior leader.

“Yes, Alpha!” Liam said, giving me a salute and going to gather the groups.

“Make sure they know we mean business,” I called after him. “I will join you shortly, just

as soon as ”

Bennett appeared then, running and sweating himself. “Alpha,” he said, holding his knees as he tried to catch his breath. “Alpha, Ashbluff soldiers are gathering at the northern border of Moonrose packlands.”

“F**k, what

w?” I snarled, and Bennett took a step back. I hadn’t meant to attack him. but anger was boiling over inside of me.

Bennett was no fool. “Where are Luna Moonrose and Princess Margot?” he asked.

“Margot’s been taken by the council, I’m sure of it.” I grumbled, beginning to pace. “Isla went after her. I told her we needed reinforcements, but she just ran off without me. I swear… sometimes…”

My gut churned, however. I should not have spoken to Isla the way I had. If I hadn’t, perhaps I might have convinced her to come back with me to formulate a workable plan and to gather our forces behind us.

Now, all I could see in my mind was her head on the chopping block, with Uncle Stefan laughing over her.

oing to tear that ba stard’s heart out and feed it to him. I should have done it the last

I was time he tried to kill my mate.

“You think the council took Margot?” Bennett echoed, anger clouding his features. Everyone in the castle loved the princess and couldn’t think of anything happening to her.

“I’m sure of it. I’m sure they took my daughter. Goddess only knows why.” I punched my fist into the stone wall. There was an ominous cr ack, then a lance of pain, but I didn’t care.

“Yes, you’d think they’d have taken Luna Moonrose,” Bennett murmured. “She’s the one they wanted to kill, after all.”

There was that. “Perhaps they want to lure me into a trap. Or perhaps they don’t want Margot to see when they kill us. That would leave her the next ruler and Luma, after all. The Lycan Queen. They’ll want her loyalty, and they’ll hardly get it by killing her parents in front of her.”

“I wonder what sort of story they will spin,” Bennett spat. “Do you suppose they’ve forgiven the Ashbluff Pack in exchange for attacking us?”

“I would imagine that is the case,” I said.

Bennett raked a hand over his hair. “This is all speculation at this point.”

“No. No, it’s not. I know they have her. I know it. And I am going to MAKE them pay,” I

snarled.

Bennett was quiet a moment. “Alpha… Your Majesty… Jamie…” His jaw worked, trying to formulate his words. “We’re going to need all our forces to turn away Ashbluff’s attack without incurring massive casualties.”

Frustration bubbled inside me. “What are you saying?” I asked.

But I knew what he was saying even before he told me.

“Alpha… we can either send forces to the council or to the border, but it would be…. imprudent… to do both,” Bennett said.

I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. “The forces are that strong?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. And more are coming.” Bennett replied. He took my shoulders and looked me right in the eyes. “Jamie… there is a right thing to do and a wrong thing to do here.”

I shook my head. “No”

“You know what it is,” Bennett continued without letting up.

“No. No,” I said, trying to shake him off.

Bennett wouldn’t let me go. “Jamie.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart tearing in two.

“Go ahead and recall the three teams from going to the council meeting place.”

“… Forces here, here, and here…” Bennett was saying, desk.

-Liam was nodding. “We should send scouts ahead here…”

gat a map laid out on my

I was barely paying attention, which wasn’t good, considering I was the one who was supposed to be coming up with and approving these battle plans.

When they were met with my brooding silence, Bennett had seamlessly stepped in and

taken over.

Liam wasn’t even asking for my approval anymore; his head and Bennett’s bent over the map while I stared into space.

My daughter was gone. My mate was gone.

It was like waking up from that accident all over again. Except, then I’d at least had Margol

“D”mn it to hell,” I muttered under my breath,

Bennett and Liam looked at each other, then went back to planning.

I stood, my chair hitting the wall behind me and splintering. “I need some air.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Bennett and Liam said together. They seemed to be relieved.

I was leaving.

I’m sure the tension in the room normalized once I was no longer present. I went out to the hall and leaned outside the door, closing my eyes.

“Jamic…”

I could hear Isla in my mind, calling for help. I could feel Margot in my heart, doing the

same.

And here I was, unable to do anything to help either of them.

“D*mn it all to hell,” I repeated. I felt dead. Inside and out.

I just wanted Isla’s soft b*dy pressed into mine while we watched our daughter chase butterflies in a field, happy and able to see again. A carefree family, not without hardship, but normal hardships like who forgot to make the bed. Not this.

Was I asking too much of the Moon Goddess to give me just that in exchange for loyal service to her, keeping the packs in line?

“Ah… Isla…” I murmured.

I should never have said what I had to her. Of course, she’d have had nothing to do with kidnapping our daughter. Of course not.

But that Freya had twisted her mind against me. She might have led Isla into a trap by now. In fact, I was almost sure of it

The council probably had them both.

And here I was, watching Bennett and Liam draw little red Xs and lines on

a map.

I smacked my head back against the stone, feeling absolutely useless. Powerless.

H

After a while, Bennett came out. “Your Majesty?”

“I coughed and rubbed my eyes. “Yes?”

“We need your approval on these battle plans,” Bennett said slowly, kindly.

We were going to war. People were going to die. And here I was, sitting out in the hall while plans were made without me.

“Of course,” I replied, squaring my shoulders. I was Alpha of the Moonrose Pack. I was the Lycan King. I couldn’t just hang out in hallways feeling sorry for myself.

Bennett put a hand on my shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing, Jamie,” he said in a low

tone.

“Yes. The right thing,” I agreed, stepping back into my office.

The right thing.