Chapter 175

At breakfast the next morning, Lucianne was giving her full attention to little Lily on her lap. Xandar took

the opportunity to discreetly look through precious stones on his phone. He already got the jewellery

designer’s contact number from Christian a few days ago, and Xandar already picked out a design. All

that was left to do was to pick the jewels to put into that design. The designer advised Xandar to pick out

something that ‘symbolises you and your mate’.

He was scrolling through the catalog when he felt a warmth on his thigh. Xandar looked up and traced

the small hand there to Jasper, who was trying to take a peek at his phone. At that very moment,

Lucianne was dragged away by a few other kids to see their seashell collection framed up on the walls.

Xandar offered little Jasper a warm smile, and placed the boy on his lap before he asked, “Jasper, can

you keep a secret?” 1

Jasper nodded dotingly with his large, brown eyes.

Xandar went on, “I’m picking something for Aunt Lucy. Do you want to help?”

At the mention of Lucy, the boy’s eyes lit up and he was about to yell Lucianne’s name before Xandar

hastily covered his mouth and smiled apologetically at his mate when she looked his way in confusion.

Thankfully for Xandar, the kids around her demanded her attention, so she didn’t even mind-link him to

ask what he was doing with Jasper.

Xandar lowered his hand from the boy’s mouth before he explained slowly, “Jasper, it’s a secret, okay?

We want to give Aunt Lucy a surprise.”

The little boy whispered, “A surprise?”

Xandar nodded, and said, “Pick two, Jasper.” He then swiped across his screen to show Jasper the five

stones he had narrowed down for the engagement ring he would give Lucianne when he eventually

proposed. It may be a little early but he didn’t see anything wrong with being prepared. It wasn’t like he

was going to fall for anyone else besides his mate.

The boy’s chubby fingers swiped across the screen a few times as Xandar looked over to Lucianne, just

in case she came back too soon. After two minutes, Xandar was beginning to wonder whether Jasper

was really choosing something or was simply swiping for fun.

Before he could ask, Jasper turned around to face him and whispered, “This one. Because it looks like

Aunt Lucy’s eyes.” He swiped again and continued, “And this one. Because it’s Aunt Lucy’s favorite

color.”

“Wait, is it?” Xandar asked a little too loudly, and a frantic Jasper pressed both his small hands over the

King’s mouth.

“Shh…it’s a secret, Uncle Xandar. A surprise.” Jasper reminded him with wide, worried eyes.

Xandar couldn’t help but chuckle, and ruffled Jasper’s hair as he thanked him. He then sent the ones

Jasper picked to the designer, who told him that he would get to work immediately, and it will be ready by

the following morning for collection. Xandar’s eyebrows raised at the efficiency, and the jeweller said that

he was happy to pause all orders and get to Xandar’s first, saying it was ‘an honor’ to make him and the

Queen happy.

“Perks of the job.” Xandar muttered to himself.

When Lucianne had finished looking at every child’s seashell collection, she came over to ask what went

on, and Jasper was surprisingly good at changing the subject by telling her that he was telling Xandar

about his Lego. When his mother came to get him because it was time to leave for school, Jasper even

gave Xandar a high-five before he went over to give Lucianne a hug.

###

At ten o’clock, apart from Hale and Annie, those who came to infiltrate the rogue headquarters formed

temporary mind-links : between themselves and got into the five submarines engineered, built and

owned by Faint Moon. These were normally used to take tourists to explore the underwater world around

the pack’s waters, and to take school kids on annual field trips. It generated a significant income for the

pack since the coral reefs and fish in those waters were rare.

Today, however, it was used to get to the island off the coast of Faint Moon as discreetly as possible. The

police have shifted into their animals because Toby and Lucianne were worried about their untrained

speed. The rest remained unshifted as they looked blankly at the colorful corals and fish around them,

their minds occupied by what was about to happen. The medical team was especially daunted since they

had little to no skills in combat, so they were told to remain in the submarine until they received word to

come out.

As discussed, they surfaced at five sides of the island, surrounding the small place. Everyone witnessed

the rogues running in a particular direction, and they didn’t need to think twice before following them.

As Lucianne ran alongside the others, she tried to simultaneously hack into Jake’s link. It was insane!

Everyone was trying to get to Jake at the same time!

‘BOSS! SOMEONE FOUND US!

“THEY BROUGHT A F*CKING CAVALRY!! WHAT THE F*CK! HOW ARE THEY SO FAST?!’

‘BOSS! WE NEED TO EVACUATE! WE’RE OUTNUMBERED!’

Jake sounded annoyed when he linked in response, ‘Just return to base, you cowards. They’re not going

to kill us. We have what we need to survive.’

‘ARE YOU EVEN SEEING THIS, BOSS?! THE POISON AIN’T ENOUGH!’

JAKE! THAT B*TCH YOU’RE OBSESSED ABOUT IS WITH THEM!’ Lucianne recognised this voice to

be Feyworth’s, a manipulator who was cast out with Jake and Iris.

Jake took a moment before he scoffed darkly and linked, ‘Well, that changes things. Let them come to

us. Everyone knows the plan.’

“THAT PLAN WAS WITH THE SHELL AND OLEANDER! HOW THE F*CK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO

SURVIVE TODAY?”

‘Well, we have to, won’t we? Just stick to what we’ve discussed’ Jake ended the link and blocked

everyone out. 1

Lucianne told the rest what she learned as they dodged branches and roots. They came to a clearing in

the middle of the small island, and were faced with a grey, squarish building with only one floor. The

cavalry surrounded the rogue headquarters and waited to strike.

Lucianne, Xandar, Christian, the alliance and most of the Lycan warriors stood at the entrance. After a

long moment of nothing, Lucianne suggested that they break down the door. But the danger of that was

the fact that they didn’t know what traps Jake may have in store for them inside, not being the least

familiar with the layout within..

Toby got people to secure all exits. Five minutes later, Phelton gave the warriors the okay to break down

the entrance door. After a’ lot of arguing through the mind-links, everyone reluctantly let Lucianne enter

first since she was the only one immuned to Oleander, and the only one who could smell it. Xandar was

not happy about sending his mate first, and followed her at her heels to b e ready to pull her out at the

first sign of danger.

When Lucianne stepped through the entrance of the dim room, Jake’s own cavalry was presented before

them, and the rogue . Alpha threw a smirk in her way. Lucianne tumed on her acting switch and smirked

in return as she asked, “Did you miss us, Jake?”