Chapter 35 035

Chapter 35 035
Chapter Thirty-Five

Sera

Maya found us a property by noon the next day. It was a converted farmhouse on the outskirts of Council territory, owned by a wolf named Thomas who'd retired from active service years ago. He lived in the main house but had a separate cottage on the property that he rented to Council members needing temporary housing.

"He's discreet, loyal to no particular faction, and he owes me a favor," Maya explained as we drove toward the property. "Plus the cottage has its own entrance and you won't have to interact with him unless you want to."

The farmhouse appeared through the trees, weathered but well-maintained. The cottage was a hundred yards away, small but charming with a stone exterior and actual windows instead of the safe house's fortified slits.

Thomas met us outside—an older wolf with gray hair and kind eyes who reminded me of Elder Thomas before he died. He shook Dante's hand firmly and nodded respectfully to me.

"Council Member Blackwood. Welcome. Maya explained you need privacy and security. I can provide both." He gestured to the cottage. "No cameras, no monitoring, no questions asked. I mind my business, you mind yours."

"We appreciate the discretion," Dante said.

"Not discretion. Just common sense. I've been around long enough to know when wolves need space." Thomas handed Dante a key. "The cottage is yours as long as you need it. I've stocked the kitchen with basics. Anything else you need, just ask."

After Thomas left, we explored the cottage. It was simple but comfortable—one bedroom, a small nursery already set up with a crib and changing table, a living area with a fireplace, and a kitchen that actually had counter space.

"This is better," I said, setting Elena down in the crib. She looked around with curious eyes, seeming to sense the difference from the oppressive safe house.

"Much better." Dante was already checking windows and doors, assessing security out of habit. "We're vulnerable here—more access points, no fortified perimeter. But at least we can breathe."

"That was the point, remember? Making ourselves accessible." I joined him at the window overlooking the forest. "When do we start the plan?"

"Tonight. I'll attend my first official Council session, make our presence known. Let Tobias and whoever else is watching see that we're here, settled, predictable." Dante's jaw tightened. "And then we wait for them to make their move."

"You mean wait for Vaughn to make his move."

"Yes."

"And if he doesn't take the bait?"

"Then we adjust. Apply more pressure, create more opportunities, make ourselves more tempting targets until he has to act." Dante turned from the window to face me. "The key is making him think he has the advantage. That we're complacent, unprepared, easy prey."

"While we're actually ready for him."

"Exactly."

That evening, Dante dressed in formal Council attire—dark suit, the official medallion marking him as a member. He looked every inch the powerful Alpha turned politician, commanding and assured.

"You're staring," he said with a slight smile.

"You clean up well." I adjusted his collar unnecessarily. "Be careful tonight. If Tobias is compromised, he might make a move at the session itself."

"Unlikely. Too public, too many witnesses. But I'll stay alert." He kissed me gently. "Keep the doors locked. Don't answer for anyone except Maya or Thomas. If anything feels wrong—"

"I know. Trust my instincts, protect Elena, use the emergency beacon." I'd heard the safety protocols three times already. "We'll be fine. It's you walking into a room with potential traitors that I'm worried about."

"I've survived worse." But through the bond, I felt his own apprehension.

After he left, the cottage felt too quiet. I fed Elena, changed her, tried to settle her for the night. But she was restless, fussy, picking up on my anxiety through our bond.

"Sorry, baby," I whispered, rocking her. "Mommy's worried and you can feel it, can't you?"

Elena's eyes were so alert for a week-old infant, watching me with what seemed like understanding. The true mate bond made her different—more aware, more connected, developing faster than normal babies. It was a gift and a burden all at once.

A knock at the door made my heart jump. I checked the peephole and saw Thomas holding a basket.

"Evening. Brought some things from the garden—tomatoes, herbs, fresh eggs. Thought you might appreciate home-grown food." His voice was muffled through the door.

I hesitated, remembering Dante's warning. But Thomas had been nothing but helpful, and turning away kindness felt wrong.

I opened the door with the chain still engaged. "That's very thoughtful. Thank you."

"How's the little one settling in?" Thomas peered through the gap, his expression genuinely interested.

"She's good. A bit fussy tonight, but healthy." I took the basket through the narrow opening. "We really appreciate you letting us stay here on such short notice."

"Happy to help. Maya's done a lot for me over the years. This is the least I can do." Thomas started to leave, then paused. "Council Member Blackwood seems like a good man. Intense, but good. You chose well."

"I didn't choose him exactly. The true mate bond chose for both of us."

"Ah, one of those. Rare thing, true mates. My wife and I were true mates. Lost her five years ago and I've felt incomplete ever since." Thomas's expression grew distant. "Treasure what you have. It's more precious than most wolves ever experience."

After he left, I locked the door properly and set the basket on the kitchen counter. Fresh food was a luxury after days of pre-packaged supplies. Maybe I'd make something nice for Dante when he returned.

Elena finally fell asleep around eight. I was preparing vegetables when my phone buzzed with a message from Dante.

Session running long. Don't wait up. Door locked?

I confirmed and he sent back a thumbs up emoji, which was so unlike his usual formal communication that it made me smile.

I was washing dishes when I heard it—a sound outside that didn't belong. Not wind, not animals. Footsteps, careful and deliberate.

I turned off the water and listened. Silence. Maybe I'd imagined it.

Then the doorknob rattled.

Someone was trying to get in.

I grabbed my phone to call Dante, but it was dead. The battery had been full five minutes ago. Someone had jammed the signal.

The rattling stopped. Whoever was out there knew I'd heard them and was changing tactics.

I moved quietly to the nursery, scooping up Elena. She woke but didn't cry, sensing danger through our bond. I grabbed the emergency beacon Dante had given me and pressed it three times—the signal for immediate threat.

The back window shattered.

I ran for the bedroom, the only room with a door that locked from inside. Got Elena and myself in just as I heard footsteps in the cottage.

"Sera." The voice was calm, professional. Vaughn. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to talk."

I didn't respond, holding Elena close and looking for weapons. The bedroom had a fireplace poker, a lamp, nothing substantial.

"Your daughter is very valuable, you know. The buyers I work with are offering seven figures for a true mate child. That's life-changing money." Vaughn's voice was getting closer. "I could give you a cut. Twenty percent. Enough to disappear, start over somewhere new."

"Never," I said, my voice shaking with rage and fear.

"I thought you'd say that. Which is why I brought insurance."

The bedroom door shook as something heavy hit it. Once, twice. The wood began to splinter.

I activated Elena's panic signal—a small device sewn into her clothing that would alert Dante specifically. He'd feel it through the bond too, but the device gave GPS coordinates.

The door burst open.

Vaughn stood there, not alone. Behind him was a figure I recognized from Council sessions—not Tobias like we'd suspected, but Elder Cordelia. The old wolf who'd testified about Elena's bond signature.

"I'm sorry," Cordelia said, and she actually looked regretful. "But I have grandchildren who need medical care I can't afford. Vaughn's employers are very generous."

"You examined my daughter. You testified she was ours." I backed toward the window, calculating if I could break through with Elena and survive the drop.

"She is yours. I didn't lie about that. But that doesn't mean she belongs with you." Cordelia moved aside, letting Vaughn enter the room. "Some children are meant for greater purposes than being raised by loving parents. Elena could be extraordinary with proper training."

"She'll be extraordinary anyway. With her real family." I held Elena tighter. "Dante will find you. He'll destroy you both for this."

"Dante is currently detained in the Council Hall with a fabricated emergency. By the time he realizes it's fake and gets here, we'll be long gone." Vaughn pulled out a syringe. "This won't hurt. Just sedative to keep the baby calm during transport."

"Touch her and I'll kill you myself."

Vaughn smiled. "You're welcome to try."

He moved forward and I grabbed the fireplace poker, swinging it hard. Vaughn dodged easily, his training obvious. He caught my wrist, twisting until I dropped the weapon.

"Enough. Give me the child or I take her over your unconscious body. Your choice."

Through the bond with Dante, I felt his sudden panic as he received Elena's signal. He was running, fighting through whatever obstacles they'd put in his way, racing to reach us.

But he was too far away. I could feel the distance through the bond—fifteen miles at least. Even at his fastest, it would take twenty minutes.

We didn't have twenty minutes.

I looked at Elena, at her perfect face and trusting eyes. Looked at Vaughn and his cold professionalism. Looked at Cordelia with her guilty expression and selfish motivations.

And I made a choice.

"Fine," I said, my voice defeated. "Just don't hurt her. Please."

I held Elena out toward Vaughn, my hands shaking. He reached for her, confident he'd won.

That's when I shifted.

My wolf form erupted with desperate fury, claws extended, teeth bared. I'd never been a strong fighter, never trained properly. But I was a mother protecting her child, and that made me deadly.

I went for Vaughn's throat.