Chapter 56: What We've Become

“Ash? Is that really you?” I ask.

“The one and only. You didn’t really think that jerk fiancé of yours could get rid of me, did you?”

“Ex-fiancé,” I correct with a laugh. Across the bed, Will is smiling broadly at me, realizing who’s just called us.

There’s a soft cough on the other line like someone is clearing their throat.

“Okay, okay, fine. I had a little help,” Ash says. “The detective sends his regards.”

Marcus!

“He was able to find you? Thank the Goddess! Where are you? What happened?”

Will is already out of bed, rummaging around the room. He opens one of the drawers and digs around for a bit before tossing me some clothes and getting dressed.

“What happened is I got my ass handed to me by Kade. Let me tell you, that guy is not afraid to play dirty. If Mr. M hadn’t shown up when he did, I’d be a goner. Thankfully he arrived in time, and we were both able to get away and sneak down to the bunker. We’re hiding out down here with Elder Hilda and Lady Margo.”

I slip into the white satin blouse with little gold buttons that Will tossed at me. It’s elegant and expensive-looking enough that I suspect my great-aunt must have picked it out.

“My aunt… how is she?”

“She’s got one hell of a healer. Elder Hilda managed to get her stable. She’s still unconscious, but she’s going to be okay.”

Those last five words are nearly enough to shatter me with relief. Ash is alive. The detective is with her. My aunt…

She’s going to be okay.

For the first time since I found Aunt Margo with her throat slit, I let myself believe that everything is going to be okay. All of us.

Kade is still out there. He has his pack of mercenaries poised to strike at the Alphas of Wynter City, and my friends are still trapped at Silver Manor. But someone once said that when you’re going through hell, the only thing to do is keep going. This is no place to stop.

So we won’t.

We’ll keep going until my friends and family are safe, and the man who killed my parents and caused all this heartache is defeated once and for all.

Now I just need to figure out precisely how we’re going to do that.

“Kade hasn’t found the underground medical facility, but he’s got half a dozen men searching the premises. This bunker is well hidden and well stocked, but sooner or later, he’ll find it.”

“You’re right. Who knows how long you’ll be safe down there? We need to get you guys out.” I tell her, holding the phone between my ear and my shoulder as I slip into the black dress pants Will handed me. The outfit is far too fancy and formal. I smile at the notion that even my aunt’s safehouse in the mountains is equipped with her taste for fashion and luxury.

“Great, so what’s the plan?” Ash asks.

Silence.

I look at Will with a hint of panic, and for a moment, everything is completely quiet.

“Um... Jane?” Ash says over the phone. “Please tell me you have a plan.”

Suddenly, I hear Will’s voice through the mating bond.

‘You tell me, princess. What’s next?’

‘I have no idea. I’m terrible at plans, you know that!’

I feel a hint of amusement from him, but before I can glare at him, the feeling turns to something else, something far stronger and stranger. I realize with a start that it’s faith.

Now that we’re mates, I can feel him through the mating bond; I feel his faith in me. I detect every fear and sense all the trust and devotion. But, above all else, I feel his love like a ray of warm sunlight on a cold day, deeply entwined with a sort of unwavering certainty that together, we will set things right. His belief in me gives me strength, and I return my attention to the phone.

“Honestly, we’re making things up as we go, Ash. Let’s just say the plan is a work in progress, and I’m open to suggestions. Right now, Kade is too powerful for us to strike at him directly. His mercenaries are well-armed, and he’s got the Alphas hostage. The packs are scattered and weakened.”

“Despite the political turmoil, most of the wolves of Wynter City are still loyal to the Argent Pack’s leadership,” Will says slowly. “But if anything happens to their Alphas, chaos will break out, and we’ll lose their support. They’re only following Kade because they have no choice.”

“So let’s give them their choice back,” I say, and he arches a brow, his bright blue eyes glimmering with intrigue. “If we rescue the Alphas, the packs will rally against Kade. He may have the weapons, but we have the numbers. Even his mercenaries won’t stand a chance against the united wrath of the wolves of Wynter City.”

“Mr. M and I may be stuck in Silver Manor, but we can still help. We’re your spies on the inside,” Ash says, and I hear detective Marcus speaking up as well, his voice slightly muffled over the phone.

“From what I gathered before I found Ash and we went into the bunker, Kade is keeping the Alphas hostage at Ossory,” he says. “Kade is staying here in the manor with a few of his mercenaries as a show of power, but most of his forces are stationed at the university.”

I consider this carefully. We have roughly two dozen wolves and warriors at the ready here in the safe house. If his forces are divided, we might actually stand a chance.

Kade is violent and impulsive; he’ll be expecting us to try and strike him directly. But if we redirect our efforts against his soldiers at Ossory, we can save the Alphas and free the city from his control.

“You might have to stay in that bunker a little while longer, Ash,” I tell her. “We can only reclaim Silver Manor after we’ve secured the Alpha hostages.”

“Of course. We can hold out a while longer down here while you kick some mercenary ass. Just give me a call if you- what? What is it? Hold on... Jane, hold on a second. Mr. M wants to talk to you,” Ash says, and then there’s a shuffling sound on the other end as she hands the detective the phone.

“Detective Marcus, thank you for everything. Will and I would never have made it out of there without you,” I say as he picks up the phone from Ash.

“It was my honor, Jane,” he says. “I guess I’m going to have to stop calling you kiddo.”

“What do you mean?” I ask with a frown.

“Margo was a regent. Kade is a usurper. Now that you’re openly challenging him and leading the Argent Pack, I think it’s about time you embrace your true title… Luna Jane.”

My eyes widen, and Will walks around the bed to stand by my side, taking my hand in his.

‘He’s right, princess. You were born to lead. The title is yours by right.’

“But I can’t be Luna yet,” I say, shaking my head. “The Argent Pack is scattered, and there’s no Alpha.”

But even as I say it, I know it’s not true. Suddenly it all clicks into place.

‘I’m not the only one who was meant to lead,’ I tell Will.

My parents made a promise to the Blackthorns to unite our families. They were wrong to trust Kade and make that decision for me, but maybe there’s a way to honor their mistakes and do better. I’m the Silver heir, and Will is the true Blackthorn heir, and of last night, we are mated under the Moon Goddess.

This is how we save our city and lead our pack. This is how we change the world; not by duty or oath but by choice and love. Will and I chose each other, united not just as fated mates by true love.

“Send out a scout to spread the word around the city,” Marcus advises. “Let the wolves know that Jane Silver and William Blackthorn are the true Alpha King and Luna Queen of the Argent Pack, and they are coming to save the city and claim what is rightfully theirs.”

And that’s precisely what we’re going to do… whether any of us are ready for it or not.