Chapter 43 Planning the Trap
Security swept the gardens for two hours. Found nothing.
No footprints. No cameras. No evidence anyone had been there besides us.
But I knew what I’d heard. The voice had mentioned the gardens specifically. The time of year. They’d been watching.
“Maybe they have access to the security feeds,” Cade suggested. Standing in Thaddeus’s office. “Could be monitoring remotely.”
“We’ll switch to a closed system,” Thaddeus said. Jaw tight. “No external access. And add more patrols. Double shifts.”
“That won’t stop them,” I said quietly. Everyone turned to look at me. “They’ve been one step ahead this whole time. More security just means they’ll adapt again.”
“So what do you suggest?” Thaddeus asked. “We can’t leave you unprotected.”
“I’m not saying that. I’m saying we stop reacting and start planning.” I took a breath. Steadied my voice. “The social trial is in three weeks. They said it’ll be my downfall. So let’s use that. Set a trap.”
Lycian’s hand found mine under the table. Squeezed. I felt his concern mixed with pride.
“What kind of trap?” Sienna asked. She’d arrived an hour ago. Been listening quietly.
“We make the gathering too tempting to resist. Invite everyone. Make it public. Create opportunities for them to make a move.” I looked around the room. “And we watch. Wait for them to reveal themselves.”
“That’s risky,” Thaddeus said. “You’d be exposed. Vulnerable.”
“I’m already vulnerable. At least this way, we control the environment. Choose when and where they strike.”
“She’s right,” Sienna said. Leaning forward. “Waiting for another message won’t get us anywhere. But forcing their hand might.”
Thaddeus was quiet. Thinking. Finally, he nodded. “We’ll plan carefully. Layer security without making it obvious. And you,” he looked at me, “will wear a wire. We record everything. Anyone who threatens you gets caught.”
“Agreed.”
We spent the next hour strategizing. Who to invite. How to arrange the space. Where to position undercover security.
By the time we finished, my head ached. But I felt better. More in control. We had a plan.
Lycian drove me home in silence. His hand on my thigh. Grip tight. The bond hummed with tension.
“I hate this,” he said finally. Pulling into the parking garage. “Using you as bait.”
“It was my idea.”
“I know. Which is why I hate it and respect it at the same time.” He turned off the car. Faced me. “Promise me something. If anything feels wrong during the gathering, you tell me immediately. Don’t try to handle it alone.”
“I promise.”
“And after this is done, after the trials are over, we’re taking that beach trip. A month minimum. No pack business. No threats. Just us.”
“A month?” I smiled despite everything. “Your father would never allow it.”
“He’ll deal with it. I’m claiming mate time. It’s tradition.” He kissed me softly. “You and me and an ocean. That’s all I want.”
We went upstairs. Aunt Clara was asleep. The apartment was quiet. Safe.
In bed, Lycian held me close. His heartbeat was steady against my back. The bond wrapped around us like armor.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said. Lips against my shoulder.
“That I’m tired of being scared. Of looking over my shoulder. Of wondering when the next threat will come.”
“Me too.”
“But also that I’m glad I stayed. That I didn’t quit when it got hard.” I turned in his arms. Met his eyes in the darkness. “Because this. Us. It’s worth fighting for.”
“Yeah. It is.” He kissed me. Deep and slow. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow we start planning in earnest.”
The next three weeks blurred together.
Days were spent planning sessions with Elena. Tasting menus. Choosing flowers. Arranging seating charts that balanced politics with diplomacy.
Nights were strategy meetings with Thaddeus and Sienna. Discussing security. Identifying potential threats. Preparing for worst-case scenarios.
And every spare moment was with Lycian. Stolen kisses in hallways. Quiet dinners. Long walks. A normal couple of things that felt precious because everything else was chaos.
The guest list grew. Valor Pack members. Allied packs from neighboring territories. Even a few neutral packs who’d expressed interest in attending.
One hundred and fifty wolves. All are coming to watch me succeed or fail.
“This is insane,” I said. Looking at the final count. “How am I supposed to manage this many people?”
“You’re not doing it alone,” Elena reminded me. “You have staff. Servers. Musicians. And me. I’ll handle logistics. You just need to be present. Welcoming. Luna-like.”
“Luna-like. Right. I’ll just channel my inner confident leader.”
“You already are one. You just don’t see it yet.”
Two days before the gathering, Tessa visited. I hadn’t seen her in weeks. School and pack life had pulled us in different directions.
“Look at you,” she said. Hugging me tight. “Hosting fancy pack dinners. Living with a literal Alpha heir. Who even are you?”
“Still me. Just more stressed.”
We sat on the balcony. Shared coffee and caught up. She told me about classes. Her new boyfriend. Normal college drama.
“I miss this,” I said. “Normal conversations about normal things.”
“You can still have normal. You just also have supernatural politics now.” She squeezed my hand. “But seriously, how are you? Really?”
I thought about lying. Saying I was fine. But this was Tessa. My best friend.
“I’m terrified. Someone’s threatening me. Trying to sabotage everything. And in two days, I have to host a huge dinner and pretend everything’s perfect.”
“That’s a lot.” She was quiet for a moment. “But you’re handling it. You’re still here. Still fighting. That counts for something.”
“Does it though? Sometimes I feel like I’m just surviving. Not actually winning.”
“Surviving is winning. Everything else is just bonus points.” She smiled. “And hey, you’re doing better than me. I can’t even handle group projects without crying.”
I laughed. Actually laughed. The tension is breaking.
We talked for another hour. About nothing important. Everything important. The kind of conversation that reminded me why friendship mattered.
After she left, I felt lighter. Grounded. Ready.
The day before the gathering, Elena and I did a final walkthrough. The main hall was transformed. Elegant tables. Soft lighting. Flowers everywhere. It looked like something from a magazine.
“You did this,” Elena said. Pride in her voice. “This is all you.”
“We did this. I couldn’t have pulled this off alone.”
“Maybe. But you’re the one who designed it. Choose every detail. Made it yours.” She touched my shoulder. “Tomorrow, you’re going to be amazing. I know it.”
That night, I couldn’t sleep. Anxiety twisted in my stomach. What-ifs spiraling through my mind.
What if I messed up the seating? What if someone got offended? What if the threat wasn’t empty? What if something went wrong and people got hurt?
Lycian felt my distress through the bond. Pulled me closer. “Stop thinking.”
“Can’t. Brain won’t shut off.”
“Then think about after. About the beach. About us.” His hand traced patterns on my back. Soothing. Hypnotic. “Think about how proud you’ll be when this is over. When you’ve passed all three trials.”
“Two and a half trials. The social one isn’t finished yet.”
“Details.” He kissed my temple. “You’ve got this. I believe in you completely.”
His certainty helped. Made the fear smaller. More manageable.
I finally fell asleep around three. Woke at six to my alarm. The day had arrived.
I showered. Dressed carefully. Navy dress Elena had picked out. Elegant but not trying too hard. Hair in a simple updo. Minimal jewelry.
I looked in the mirror. Saw someone who almost looked confident. Almost looked like a Luna.
Fake it till you make it.
Lycian appeared behind me. Already dressed in a dark suit. He looked devastating. All sharp lines and controlled power.
“Ready?” he asked.
“No. But I am going anyway.”
“That’s my girl.”
We drove to the estate together. The hall was already buzzing with activity. Servers setting tables. Musicians tuning instruments. Everything is coming together.
Elena found me immediately. “Guests start arriving in two hours. Final checks complete. Everything’s perfect.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Wait until tonight’s over.” She squeezed my hand. “Now go. Breathe. Center yourself. You’ve got this.”
I found a quiet corner. Closed my eyes. Focused on breathing. On the bond humming steadily between Lycian and me. On everything I’d survived to get here.
A text buzzed my phone.
Unknown number.
My stomach dropped.
I opened it anyway.
Enjoy your party. It’ll be your last as Luna-in-training. We’ll make sure of that.
And attached was a photo.
Of me. Taken minutes ago. In the quiet corner where I stand right now.
They weren’t just watching anymore.
They were here.