Chapter Twenty-two

I awoke to the sound of Stefan snoring and knew that I wouldn't be falling back to sleep anytime soon. Sometimes you wake up and can fall back asleep, while others you know that there is no rest for the weary. I thought about just lying in bed with Stefan for a while but after my mind was fully awake, I knew there was no option but to get up and attempt to do something productive. It was a feat in and of itself to get out of the web that was Stefan's arms and legs. I should quit lifting and just try lifting his dead weight extremities. Somehow I had managed to extract myself and made my way to the kitchen. If I was going to be up at this ungodly hour, I was going to have coffee.

The coffee pot said it was one in the morning and I had been in one time zone too long to blame it on jet lag. I took the coffee to the ops room; gazing at the table where everyone had left their things. Tommy's gear took up half the space on the table. You'd think being the tech guy would mean he had less crap to lug around seeing as it's supposed to make life easier, and he still hated the fact that I made him print everything off instead of using the tablet he got me for Christmas a few years back. He just didn't understand that I needed something tangible, in my hands that I could put up next to others to see them all at once.

Dean, for all his comments and derision he was very meticulous when it came to his weapons. Everything was put up in cases and out of the way. I treated my own arsenal with the same type of care, except I didn't get mine out every day. The board was a mess of investigative web layout that worked for when I was trying to figure out what the hell I was dealing with. Now, I needed a strike board.

I was in such deep concentration that I didn't notice I wasn't alone until my coffee mug was being refilled.

"I figured you would be up," Jason said.

"Can't seem to sleep when there is so much left to sift through," I commented.

"Well let's start with the obvious," Jason prompted, pinning the picture of the Ulfric on the board. "Vasile Rezzori, Ulfric of the Shifter Court," he labeled the photo with red sharpie, writing Target over his head.

"Now what is his biggest weakness?" I asked.

"What's any parent's weakness? Their children," He answered.

"The rightful heir to his throne is my mother, but as a female she can't take it," I offer.

"Yes, so that leaves her husband, Eugen as the next heir," Jason says. "According to Stefan, no one in court has much respect for him at all. He's a lecherous bastard that is unfaithful."

"No one would want him to take the throne so the Ulfric offers his first born illegitimate son, Niko, as his pick if the Council approves it based on Eugen's actions." I say. "So we exploit these weaknesses so there is no option but to give the throne to Stefan and I, once I publicly challenge the Ulfric," I say.

"You're doing what?" he asks.

"It's the only way to take him out, in front of the court, if I expect the people to follow us in the aftermath." I defend.

"What if you fail?" Jason asks, concern exaggerating the slight wrinkles around his mouth.

"I won't, Jason," I promise as I pull him into a hug to reassure him.

Jason just nods at me to continue.

"Now, I'm thinking we use Cece to take out Eugen," I say.

"Yeah, that's right up that grifter's alley," he comments with distaste.

"Why don't you like Cece?" I ask.

"I don't like women I can't trust, and she lies to get what she needs done," Jason explains.

I just nod. I wasn't going to defend her, because I didn't trust her explicitly, unless I was paying her. In this case, she owed me a favor and she could nab whatever she could on the job.

"Now Niko, is young, he likes to have a drink every Friday night at a bar outside the palace. I say we send some of our rogue friends in there for a night out and maybe they get a bit rowdy," I grin at the mental picture. "As the people's champion he will step in and I think the rabble will keep him busy with that for just long enough to sweep the floor with dear old dad." I supply placing the photos of each man on the board.

"How are you going to keep the guards from taking you into custody?" Jason asked.

"I'm going to use the Arm? de apreciere and the hunters as a united front to draw out the guards for an alleged assault while we sneak in through the tunnels," I answer.

"That just might work," Jason marveled, "If you can get the hunters on board."

"That's your play in this, as soon as we get word from the Brignoff's you will take Macie to them and tell them what is going on. If they are true to their creed, they will offer assistance," I finish as I look at the strike board. It had just enough misdirect and sabotage to be classified as elegantly planned.

"You've come a long way from climbing rooftops and saving little girls from second rate hired guns," Jason commented, placing an arm around me.

"I wouldn't have made it without you," I said resting my head on his chest.

An alert went off in the ops room alerting me that there was movement at the entrance. One of the many screens Tommy had on the table lit up alerting me that our guests were arriving.

"Time to go let the dogs in," Jason joked and walked with me to the garage.

The first one in the door was Alex and his mate Red. Alex was an incredible hitter while Red was well known for being unknown in certain circles. The two were independently successful before they met running ops on the same target. Their story was an exciting tale of espionage, crime spree, and adventure.

"Jezebel," Alex greeted with a smile. "What kind of trouble have you stirred up to call in so many favors?" he asked. His intrigue was expected. Alex got off on combat like it was an aphrodisiac, while Red got off on getting away undetected. She was an infamous femme fatale until she found Alex and started avoiding the jobs that involved her seducing other men.

"All in due time, old friend," I nodded. "Red, you are looking well, glowing in fact," I commented pulling her in for a hug.

"Well, after this job I'm going to hang up my hat for a while," she smiled taking Alex's hand. "We found out after you called," she announced rubbing her still flat abdomen.

"Congratulations," I smiled at the couple. Alex had that look of pride in his eye all new fathers do, while Red was full of hope. "Are you sure you want to do this job? I mean I can almost guarantee this is going to be more dangerous than anything you've ever done."

"We're sure, we owe you guys," Alex reassures and takes their bags in as Luc entered the garage.

"How are you my dear?" Luc greeted kissing the air by my cheeks.

"I'm okay," I smiled back.

"Sacrebleu, is that a smile?" Luc teased. "When I saw you last you couldn't be bothered with a chuckle and now you greet me with such brightness, it warms my blood." Luc patted my cheek and moved into the house.

"I can't believe you slept with that corpse," Dean commented as he approached.

"It was a long time ago," I said lamely.

"Yeah, well tell that to your mate when he finds out you fucked a vamp," Dean griped.

"And that is the last I want to hear about it from you," I growled my warning.

"Dean, darling, I was hoping to see you greet me at the door," Cece called as she exited her car.

He groaned upon hearing her voice.

"Hi, Cece," Dean smiled politely. Only Jason and I could tell that there was distrust in his eyes.

Cece commanded attention when she entered a room, especially from men. She knew just how to walk while looking available, but elegant. You couldn't help but be drawn to Cece and she sure as hell took her time to do anything. It was always all about the grift with Cece. She didn't know it, but I knew her tells, and while they were slight, I could pick up on her little twitches here or there that alerted me to her lies. Cece wasn't a wolf though. She was a Shifter, and I got the feeling none of the team trusted her was because she was a Tiger. Dogs and cats and all that.

"Cece, thanks for coming," I greeted and pulled her in for a hug.

"Well, what are favors for if not to call them in when it suits you," she commented. The words could be a snide remark, but the tone made you think she was kind. It was classic Cece, and I knew she was pissed she wasn't getting paid for the job.

"Trust me, it will all make better sense when I explain everything all at once." I reassure.

"Of course it will Jezebel," Cece nodded and I knew she didn't believe me, but she would hear me out before making a swift getaway.

I had to win over her and the group of Dean's buddies that were coming in the door.

"DEAN!" they shouted and for a moment Dean disappeared in their huddle as they all embraced him and howled like animals. They looked like little boys parading around on the school yard.

"And we have rooms for everyone?" I asked Jason.

"Yes I arranged it with Ian," he reassured. "Everyone else that isn't privy to the specifics is spread out and on standby, waiting for the call to arms." Jason supplied.

"What count do we have?" I asked.

"Your pack fully supports us, and the Irish, the minor American packs, the Eastern German pack, the Rogue coalition, all the witches we've dealt with including the Romani witch Sye." Jason rattled off. "Still haven't heard back from the Brignoff's, but we have the Arm? de apreciere, and we have you." Jason smiled at me.

"I'm going to go check on Stefan, let me know if you need me." I hugged him quickly before taking off for our bedroom.

When I entered our room, Stefan was still asleep and it seemed that he was having a very good dream. I had to swallow my laughter as I opened my senses and peeked in on his mind. He had me tied to down to a bed with blue silk sheets, and not just any blue, the same color as my eyes when my wolf is present.

I pulled away from the dream before I let myself get sucked into the fantasy and locked the bedroom door. If Stefan wanted to dominate me in the bed, I was going to let him. I stripped out of my clothes so I was bare to his eyes and quiet as I could be I gently began kissing his chest, cheeks, and mouth to rouse him from his sleep. His eyes fluttered open as he kissed me back and moaned when he found my skin bare to his touch.

"Oh Jez, I was just dreaming about you in a similar state of dress," Stefan teased against my skin, "This has got to be my favorite way to wake up," he commented.

"I haven't even started to make your day yet," I smiled mischievously.

"Really?" He hummed against my mark eliciting a gasp from me and my core to tighten.

I pressed my cheek to his so my lips were by his ear. "I am yours," I began and he growled his approval at my words. "But not just how you think I mean that, I mean I am yours to do with as you please for the next hour and a half, you are in charge, you call the shots, I'll do whatever you command," I promise him.

Stefan's lips spread into a grin at my words; I could feel the stubble of his five o'clock shadow scrape against my skin as the skin of his cheek constricted. In one smooth move Stefan had himself buried in between my legs with nothing but the sheets of the bed between us as he pressed me into the mattress.

His chest glistened in the lowlight seeping in from the bathroom as he towered over me. For once, I was vulnerable, and I wasn't afraid. I completely trusted Stefan. He lowered his head and captured my lips for a moment before traveling down to my neck kissing my mark and eliciting a soft moan from my lips. He didn't linger there either but I felt his hands raising my arms over my head and the cool metal of the old bed frame touched my wrists.

"Hold still," he growled as he wrapped a leather belt around my wrists. I jumped when the strap slapped together securing me to the bed frame. I had a momentary panic but as soon as I looked into Stefan's eyes, I knew that I could be okay with this.

"I love you," he reassured me and kissed me passionately.

I was awash with sensation as he teased every inch of my body before burying himself in my core. Stefan didn't build up a rhythm, no he slammed into me so hard and fast that the impact would leave bruising. The high I was riding only intensified the rush. My heart was ready to beat out of my chest, and when I came, I went hard. He didn't stop or slow down for me to recover so my orgasm was multiple waves I kept diving off of until he howled his own release before burying his teeth into my shoulder again.

When I was finally able to move Stefan and I showered together before joining the rest of our guests. The ops room and kitchen were abuzz with life. I smiled at the amount of people that were here to support us, it reminded me of Stefan's pack. The room settled down as we entered and Cece broke the silence.

"So this is the stud making you scream loud enough for the entire house to hear," she teased eyeing Stefan like he was a piece of meat.

"Keep your eyes to yourself Cece," I warned. "This is my mate, Stefan," I announced to everyone in the room.

Words of congratulations jumbled together from everyone.

"Is this part of the reason why we are here?" Red asked.

"I think it is best if I tell you this story from the beginning." I answer and move to the ops room. It was big enough that everyone fit inside with ease and we had those folding chairs you see in assembly halls set up.

"I was raised human, in the American foster system." I began and told the room everything that I knew. From the moment I discovered I was a Shifter, and when I fell into the clutches of Madigan. It was freeing owning up to my own past. There was no reason to hide it now as it couldn't hurt me, but help me.

"So that brings me to our target, Vasile Rezzori Ulfric of the Shifter Court," I announced finally.

"You want to steal the throne?" Cece asks.

"Yes, and then I'm giving it back to the people," I reply.

"It's impossible," Alex commented.

"It's actually not," I counter and preceded to walk everyone through my plan.

As I finished I sat down and took a drink of my coffee. Everyone seemed to be astonished.

"I don't think you can beat the Ulfric one on one," Alex said gently.

Like flexing a muscle I let my power flood the room.

"I am more powerful than the Ulfric," I said rising from the chair. And my voice weighed down on the wolves in the room. "He will bow to the true Wolf and her mate," I commanded the room and as the waves of power receded into Stefan who absorbed like it was nothing at all, the room was speechless.

"I always knew that you were special, but to be the True Wolf, that is truly spectacular," Luc commented seemingly to himself.

"What do you mean Luc?" I asked getting a handle on the rest of the power trying to seep out of me.

"The legend of the True Wolf," he prompted as if I should know.

I looked around the room and they were as puzzled as I was.

"The True Wolf is supposed to be an unbeatable warrior that protects the weak and leads the wolves into a new age of prosperity, you were never taught this?" he asks.

"Luc, not all of us are as old as you," Red teased.

"Well, Red, your great great grandfather told me the story of the True Wolf, I wonder why it wasn't passed down."

"The story wasn't passed down because the full story tells that the True Wolf ends the monarchy, and the Ulfric wanted to bury that idea so hopefully no one would rise against him," Lucas supplied the room.

"And who is this?" Alex asked.

"This is my father," I introduced, "Lucas Daciana, commander of the Arm? de apreciere."

"You are declaring war on the Ulfric," Alex clarified.

"In a nut shell, yes that's what I'm doing, but I would prefer to call it a coup," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Fair enough," Red smiled at me. She was absolutely loving this, the little adrenaline junkie.

"Look, I'm not doing this because I want power, I am doing this because I want peace," I say to the room. "I want to give our people a real chance at peace where we don't have to fight vigilante hunters, or rogues be treated as criminals. I want to be able to return to Stefan's pack and live the normal life full of running in the woods as a wolf without the fear that I'll be shot down with silver birdshot laced with Wolfsbane. I want the chance to stay in bed all day without worrying about the sky falling around us, now are you going to help me do this or am I wasting my time bringing you all in?" I asked.

"We're in," Alex said confidently.

"Us too," Dean's group chimed in.

"I'd follow you anywhere," Luc replied flashing fang.

"Do I get to steal anything I want while I'm there?" Cece asked.

"Of course as long as you take Eugen out," I promise.

"Then I'm in," Cece smiled.