Chapter 0107

Alexander

“No.”

“This isn’t up for debate!” I snap at my brother. I would never send my mate straight into a death trap.

“Alexander, you brought me back for my strategic mind!”

“There has to be another option.”

I was relieved that Isabella had persuaded Athena to take a walk with her. She didn’t need to hear Julian and me fighting. Knowing her, she’d likely agree to his reckless plan.

“They’ll know, Julian. They aren’t foolish enough to believe I’d abandon her. They’ll wait. They’ll expect some of us to stay behind. They know I would never leave her unguarded.”

“That’s exactly why it will work.”

If he weren’t lying injured in that bed, my fist would have met his face.

‘You insisted on bringing him back!’ Titan grumbled.

“Sometimes the simplest plans are the most effective.” Julian sighed, still avoiding my gaze.

“We’ll find another damn way!”

I collapsed into the chair beside his bed. I expected more from my own brother. He should understand I won’t gamble with Athena’s life.

“Just hear me out, will you?” he shot back.

I gestured for him to continue, though my answer would still be no.

“You can mind-link her, correct?” he asked.

“Obviously.”

“Then she won’t be alone. We send her into the forest as bait while the pack picks off the Lycans one by one.”

“No. I am not sending her out there alone!” We were going in circles. My patience was fraying. Why couldn’t he grasp this was not an option?

“Then I’m out of ideas, Alexander. You rejected the first plan too. These bastards won’t go down easy. We don’t know what tricks they have. We have no clue how many they’ve turned. For all we know, thousands could be marching toward us right now.” He rubbed his temples. “Some might be as young as that kid at Sebastian’s house. They can shift at thirteen, right?”

He winced as he adjusted himself in the bed.

“You’re right,” I muttered. “We don’t know their numbers. Look at you. One big Lycan took you out.”

He bared his teeth at me. “I was protecting your mate.”

“Clearly!” I snorted. “She was the one who killed it.”

The color drained from his face. “Isabella said it was you and Theodore.”

I shook my head. “Athena has fully embraced her Alpha nature. She completed her shift. Killed it the same way she killed the other one. All I did was burn the corpse.”

“She went for the heart again, didn’t she?”

“There’s no coming back from a pierced heart,” I mused. Twice now, her first and only target was the heart. Most Wolves aim for the throat. It was almost instinctual, deeply ingrained in her.

I stood up. “If they capture her, she won’t survive.”

“Don’t they want her for an heir?”

“It’s different now. She is exactly what she was meant to be. If they find a way to bind her power again, she will die. Every path leads to her death. Titan and I refuse to let that happen.”

He looked me dead in the eye. “So put a fucking pup in her!”

“We’ve had this conversation,” I said, exhausted. It was like talking to a wall.

I’ve told you repeatedly. Your brother is an idiot.’ Titan shook his head.

“No.” Julian pushed himself up higher, grimacing in pain. “You’re not listening. They just need to believe she is carrying your heir. So does everyone else.”

“You want to win this war with a lie?”

“I’m saying all is fair in war. It’s not the worst thing we’ve ever done.” His dark eyes scanned the room for eavesdroppers. “Play them at their own game. Isn’t that what they’ve always done? They made her believe she was one of us. We can call in every single pack bound by loyalty to you. Because the Lycans won’t just be coming for her. They’ll be coming for your pup.” He emphasized the last word. “She doesn’t need to be near the fight. They just need to believe it.”