I waited until Mason left for his morning patrol before I slipped into his office.
The key turned smoothly in the lock. Inside, everything was exactly as I'd left it three days ago. Mahogany desk. Leather chair. My father's sword above the fireplace.
I pulled the falsified documents from my bag. Patrol routes for the southern border. Territory maps showing weak points in Silvercrest's defenses. Guard rotation schedules.
Every single one was a lie.
Roland and I had spent two nights creating them. The routes led directly into ambush points where my most loyal warriors would be waiting. The weak points were actually our strongest defensive positions. The guard rotations were completely fabricated.
Anyone relying on this intelligence would walk straight into a trap.
I opened Mason's desk drawer—the one I'd picked the lock on before—and slid the documents underneath a stack of legitimate files. Not hidden. Just buried enough that he'd have to look for them. And Mason was looking now. I'd made sure of that.
Two nights ago, I'd whispered in his ear that I wondered if the Moon Goddess made a mistake. I'd watched terror flood his face. Watched him lie awake beside me, heart hammering.
He was paranoid now. Desperate. And desperate men made mistakes.
I locked the drawer. Put everything back exactly as it should be. Left the office like a ghost.
Downstairs, Lily was arranging fresh flowers in the entrance hall. She straightened when she saw me. Bowed deep.
"Luna. Good morning."
"Good morning, Lily." I paused. Touched one of the flowers—a white rose, just beginning to open. "These are beautiful."
Her face lit up. "Thank you, Luna. I thought they'd brighten the space."
"They do." I met her eyes. Held them. "You have a gift for making this house feel like home."
She bowed again. Deeper this time.
I moved through the corridors. Smiled at the wolves I passed. Remembered names. Built loyalty one small act at a time.
Because tomorrow was the Pack Assembly. And I needed every wolf in this house to remember who their true Luna was.
That afternoon, I sat in my private study with my laptop open. The screen showed a list of pack alliances—relationships my father had spent decades building. Relationships Mason had let rot.
I started with the closest ones. Packs within a day's travel. Alphas who'd attended my father's funeral and promised to support his daughter.
I composed the messages carefully. Formal but warm. Respectful of their time but clear about my intent.
*Alpha Brennan, I hope this message finds you and the Riverbend Pack well. I'm writing to re-establish the alliance my father valued so deeply. Silvercrest has faced internal challenges recently, but I'm committed to restoring the strength and integrity he built. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss mutual interests at your convenience.*
I sent it. Moved to the next name.
Alpha Kara of the Northridge Pack. Alpha Elias of the Pinewood Pack. Alpha Sienna of the Clearwater Pack.
One by one, I rebuilt the network Mason had destroyed through negligence and arrogance.
By evening, I had responses from three of them. All positive. All expressing relief that "the Russell daughter" was finally taking her rightful place.
Each alliance closed another escape route around Mason. Each one made his Blackthorn conspiracy more isolated. More desperate.
More doomed.
I saved the most important message for last.
Cain Aldric. The Lycan King's Beta.
I'd never met him personally, but my father had. They'd worked together on inter-pack disputes. Territory negotiations. My father had spoken of him with respect.
I chose my words carefully. This wasn't a plea for help. Not yet. Just a formal notification. A paper trail.
*Beta Aldric, I am writing to formally notify the Lycan King's court of irregularities within Silvercrest Pack's internal governance. As Luna and heir of the Russell bloodline, I have discovered evidence of financial mismanagement and unauthorized inter-pack negotiations that may constitute violations of pack law. I am addressing these matters through proper channels, but I believe the court should be aware. I will provide a full report following our Pack Assembly. Respectfully, Macy Russell, Luna of Silvercrest Pack.*
I read it three times. Then I hit send.
The Lycan court now had eyes on Silvercrest. Whatever happened at the Assembly tomorrow, Mason couldn't hide it. Couldn't spin it. Couldn't make it disappear.
I closed the laptop. Leaned back in my chair.
Silver hummed. Steady. Strong.
We were ready.
That night, I went to the nursery alone.
Boden was sleeping in his crib, one tiny fist curled against his cheek. I lifted him carefully. Held him against my chest. Felt his heartbeat—steady and perfect and completely trusting.
Tomorrow, I would stand before the entire pack and destroy his father. I would speak words that would shatter the mate bond the Moon Goddess herself had forged. I would strip Mason of everything he'd stolen and watch him collapse under the weight of what he'd lost.
And Boden would grow up knowing his mother chose truth over comfort. Justice over the easy lie.
I pressed my lips to his forehead. Breathed in his scent—milk and warmth and innocence.
"I'm doing this for you," I whispered. "So you inherit a pack worth leading. So you never have to wonder if power is something you steal or something you earn."
He stirred. Made a small sound. Settled back into sleep.
I held him until my arms ached. Until Silver's presence in my chest shifted from humming to something quieter. Deeper.
Certainty.
Then I laid him back in his crib. Kissed his forehead one more time. Turned off the light.
Walked to my bedroom. Mason wasn't home yet. I didn't know where he was. Didn't care.
I sat on the edge of the bed. Stared at the wall.
Tomorrow, everything would change. The mate bond would snap. The pain would be worse than anything I'd ever felt. My wolf might weaken. My body might break.
But I would still be standing.
And Mason would not.
I didn't sleep that night. I didn't need to.
I just sat there in the darkness. Feeling Silver beside me. Feeling the weight of what was coming.
Ready.
