Chapter 110: The Calm Before War

Lottie’s POV

I wished with all my heart that things could simply go back to normal. No schemes, no betrayals, no secret bargains with goddesses or hidden agendas lurking in every corner. Yet there I was, standing in my makeshift bedroom—pregnant, exhausted, and surrounded by people who loved me but had continually acted without my input.

"Hypocrite much," Sage taunted, making me smile because she was right. I had done the same months ago, but it didn’t take the frustration away now.

I glanced around at the odd circle we formed: Kane, Knox, Adam, Chase, and Liam. Each of them had their own plan for how we should move forward—some more drastic than others. But for once, we were all talking together rather than at cross purposes.

“So, you’re really going to talk to Selene alone?” Knox asked, his brow furrowed as he shifted the conversation back to his concern for me. Concern radiated off him in waves, and I had to suppress a smile. There was a time he never would’ve cared how I felt. Now, he hovered protectively like a lover who couldn’t decide whether to step in or back off.

“Yes,” I said softly but firmly. “I need to get answers—straight from her.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Kane pressed, folding his arms. He still didn’t like the idea, and it showed in the tight set of his jaw. “If something goes wrong, we can’t exactly kick down the door of a goddess’s realm to rescue you.”

“If you think we wouldn’t try, you don’t know us very well.” Chase, who had been pacing beside the sofa, stopped and snorted.

“Fair enough. Still, we’ve all seen how unpredictable Selene can be.” Kane shot him a withering look but conceded with a small shrug. I took a breath and tried to push down my lingering anxiety.

“I appreciate the concern,” I replied. “But the simple truth is… I want to talk to her on my own. Every time more than one of us approaches, it turns into some secret arrangement made behind my back. I’m done feeling like a bystander in my own life.” A hush fell, and I noticed how Liam’s shoulders seemed to slump a little with guilt. But he didn’t argue. None of them did. It was a relief finally to have my voice heard.

“So be it,” Adam said, his tone clipped and business-like. “We’ll hold off any confrontations until you’re done speaking with Selene. In the meantime, we have two main issues to tackle: Connie and her treachery and Alpha Leigh and Sebastian.”

“Let’s start with Connie.” Chase tapped a finger against his chin, a spark of mischief lighting his eyes. “She’s planning that big Luna Ball, and we’re going to give her a show she’ll never forget.”

I drew in a steadying breath, reminding myself that this fragile unity had come at a cost. People had been hurt—and more would be if we followed through with what the group had decided. Yet the consistent refrain was that Connie had betrayed us, and she needed to face the consequences.

“It’s the only way,” Sage murmured in my mind, her voice a low, familiar rumble. My wolf had been growing stronger with each passing hour. She felt her voice needed to be heard, too, and with all the chaos that had surrounded us these past weeks, I couldn’t blame her.

“She would have destroyed you given enough time. You know this.”

I grimaced inwardly, because deep down, I did know. Everything in me resisted the idea of systematically planning someone’s downfall, but Connie had forced my hand more times than I cared to count. She had nearly torn my relationships apart and manipulated my closest friends… all while wearing the sweet smile of a devoted friend.

“She deserves it,” Sage reminded me gently. “This is justice, not cruelty.”

“What about making it quick? I’m not keen on dragging this out,” Kane stated, pulling me from my inner conversation. “If it were up to me, I’d handle her and my father together—end them both without the fanfare.” He scoffed.

“Always so dramatic,” Chase teased, wagging a finger at Kane. “But Lottie wants a more public downfall for Connie, and I, for one, am happy to put on a performance.”

I shifted uncomfortably. Did I?

The image of spilt blood I had never wanted on my hands threatened to rear up again, but I pushed it aside. I had never been the type of person to solve problems with violence, yet here I was.

“You’ve changed,” Sage noted softly, though without judgment. “You’re stronger than you were. Sometimes, that means making decisions you never wanted to make.”

A brief flicker of shame warmed and then cooled in my chest. The flicker of relief I felt whenever someone mentioned Connie’s downfall unsettled me. It reminded me of how easily I might slip into a darker version of myself, someone who sought vengeance instead of justice. I hated hurting anyone, but for her… I could make an exception.

“Don’t be ashamed,” Sage murmured. “She brought this on herself. You’re merely protecting what you love.”

I swallowed hard, wishing the world didn’t require such harsh measures to protect people.

“Sometimes it feels like there’s no other way,” I whispered beneath my breath, the words meant for Sage alone.

“Pardon?” Liam asked, his eyes trained on me like they constantly assessed my every move. He always watched me, predicting my next move, no doubt wondering what leader I would make. But it always made me feel safe, like he would stop me from making a bad decision. Was that what he was doing now?

“I don’t want to hurt anyone. But Connie…” I paused, remembering all the times she’d undermined or humiliated me. “She hasn’t exactly been kind. At the same time, we need the pack to see what she’s done. Humiliating her at her own Luna Ball ensures everyone is present and understands who she really is.”

“Revealing her betrayal to the pack will keep her from spinning it back on you. She’s always had a way of blaming you for everything.” Liam dipped his head in agreement. So he did agree with me after all.

“Exactly,” I approved. “If we play our cards right, she won’t have a chance to save face. We’ll publicly confront her so no one can twist the narrative.”

“I’m looking forward to that. I’ve been dying to wipe that smug look off her face.” Knox’s grin grew wider.

“All right, so we embarrass Connie at the ball. Fine.” Kane rolled his eyes. “Then what about Leigh and Sebastian? I say we deal with them swiftly—no speeches, no second chances.”

Silence settled over us. Our plan for Alpha Leigh and Sebastian was decidedly grimmer.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle push against my mind—a distinct, familiar sensation of the pack mind link. My heart skipped a beat as Knox’s and Kane’s voices echoed softly in my head.

“We can handle this, Lottie. You should rest.”

Their words were calm, almost soothing, yet the effect on me was anything but. I was so used to shutting them out—refusing to open myself to the bond that wove us together—that I’d forgotten I was still tied to them. My breath caught in my throat, the realisation hitting me like a jolt.

“They think I’m weak if they’re telling me to rest” rang through my mind, panic flaring at the thought. My frustration surfaced, and I instinctively slammed mental barriers into place, kicking them out of my thoughts.

A wave of shock reverberated through our bond; I sensed their surprise and concern before the link went quiet. My heart pounded. I knew they were only trying to help, but I couldn’t bear the idea of them seeing how deeply conflicted I felt about these executions, about everything.