Plan

LAKE

The ballroom is filled with members of the pack, all wearing extravagant dresses and tuxedos. Most come to greet me with Lucas around me like a vine.

“Alpha.” A warrior by the name of Xavier and his mate approach us with smiles as they bow. “What a lovely luna you’ve picked to rule by your side.”

“Isn’t she?” Lucas pulls me closer to him. I plaster on a fake smile. Xavier’s mate eyes my shoulder.

“Ella,” Xavier growls into her ear. Ella snaps away her gaze and smiles brightly at me. I can see the pleading hidden behind her brown almond-shaped eyes.

Her matching brown hair frames her face, and I notice her flowing white gown. ~Oh no.~

~

“I see you two are to mate tonight as well.” Lucas beams with joy. “We’re both lucky men.”

Whenever a female wears white to any kind of formal event such as tonight’s, it’s the equivalent of a human’s wedding dress.

Riley was an exception when she wore her white dress to the Full Moon Ceremony.

“That we are, Alpha.” Xavier takes his leave with Ella. I notice his hand tightly wrapped around Ella’s arm.

“They’re not true mates, Lucas,” I state. “You’re allowing that male to take her by force. The Moon Goddess will never let this go.”

“You’ll be surprised what the Moon Goddess will let go.” I glance at Lucas, who is smiling arrogantly.

A violinist begins to play slowly. Lucas takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” a voice comes over the speaker. “Please put your hands together for your alpha and luna as they begin the first dance.”

I try to retain my composure as the violin is joined by a harp and cello. Lucas takes my hand and holds it in the air, and we begin to spin.

This dance is only for the alpha and luna to perform in order to solidify their ruling over the pack. Next will be the ritual Lucas has been going on about.

“Smile, love. Everyone is watching.”

This is really starting to piss me off. Pack members all around us slowly begin to dance with us. Lynne is unsettled as we both begin to feel a link with Dark Shadow building.

The music stops abruptly as the warriors around us storm from the room. Lucas growls as a familiar scent fills my lungs.

DERRICK

“What’s the plan?” Jake asks me. We’re both kneeling behind a patch of bushes outside the big glass dome he called the ballroom.

I can clearly see Lake through the glass panes laced in gold. Her body language is stiff as Lucas has his devilish arm around her back.

“We get Lake at any cost,” I growl.

“Okaaay…” Jake nods his head. “I have a better plan. One where all of us get out of here alive.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Listen, kid, I got this.”

“Oh really?” Jake points to the door and surrounding areas.

“There are at least twenty guards at each point of entry, not counting the ones inside that room. Your ‘at any cost’ bullshit will get us both killed before Lake even knows we’re here.”

I let out a rough breath in frustration. Jake is at least two years younger than I am, just like Lake, but for an unmated male, he does have a good head on his shoulders.

“Fine,” I say. “What are you thinking?”

Jake’s eyes fill with something I can’t quite explain. His smile seems like that of a child about to pull a practical joke on his sibling.

“You’re going to act as bait,” he says excitedly.

“Me? Bait?” I ask. I’d laugh in different circumstances.

“Think about it. You’re a broad rogue male,” Jake says simply. “You’re easily twice my size. I’d get one, maybe two after me. You’d get the entire fleet.”

I weigh my options. My earlier plan seems stupid compared to Jake’s more well-thought-out one. I sigh and give in.

“You better get her out safe, you hear me?”

Jake assures me as Drax makes an appearance.