47. Chapter 47

Chapter 47

-Reese-

N ight had practically fallen when my father contacted me, desiring one final discussion about the plan. Leaving Naomi asleep in bed, I joined him to finalize everything before seeking out Rosa. Hopefully, this would unfold smoothly, though it was hard to predict the outcome. Thanks to the witch’s assistance, I had been provided with another potion intended for Rosa’s family, which I concealed.

As we journeyed toward Rosa’s territory, she maintained her sinister smirk, her grip on my hand tightening. The atmosphere felt unsettling, and I breathed a sigh of relief when we finally arrived. Her parents greeted us, ushering us inside for discussions. Food and drinks were offered, but I declined, wary of what Rosa had done to me.

Placing my hand subtly in my pocket, I carefully unscrewed the cap of the potion. It had been meticulously crafted to target those blood-related to Rosa, using a strand of her hair that I had obtained.

“So, how’s everything going?” the elder Alpha inquired.

“Perfect!” Rosa exclaimed. “We’re preparing for the ceremony, and I’m eager for our packs to be united in one place. Aren’t you, Reese?”

“Absolutely,” I chimed in.

“Rosa mentioned a third member joining your little alliance,” her father remarked, a dark glint in his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before. Beside him, his mate shot me a glare, her disdain barely concealed. Had I still been under the potion’s effects, I wouldn’t have noticed.

“We’re still sorting that out, but I know who my mate is,” I replied, reaching for Rosa’s hand again. She beamed up at me.

“Are you certain?” her father prodded.

“Father,” Rosa interjected, scolding him.

“I’m simply ensuring you won’t have your heart broken,” he teased, though I sensed there was more to his words than mere jest.

“I’m absolutely certain,” I stated with conviction, and it seemed to appease them as they delved into the meal. However, the elder Luna observed my behavior keenly.

“Not hungry, Reese?” she inquired.

“No, I had a big breakfast,” I answered.

“How about some coffee then?”

I began to sense the weight of their gazes on me as I waited for the potion to take effect. Aware that I couldn’t afford to appear suspicious, I casually reached for a cup, offering it to be filled with coffee. Settling back on the couch, I held the mug in my hands, but the scrutiny from everyone around me persisted, their eyes fixed on me, waiting for me to take a sip.

“Am I the official coffee critic now?” I quipped, breaking the tension, and their overt stares suddenly became apparent to them.

“We just wanted to make sure you liked it. If not, we could have brewed you another cup,” the elder Luna explained, attempting to smooth over the awkwardness.

“I understand. No need. It smells delightful.”

“But does it taste as good as it smells?” Rosa pressed, their eagerness for me to drink the coffee clear.

I hesitated, pondering whether I needed to expose myself to another round of poison in order to prove my loyalty. Slowly, I raised the mug, cautiously inspecting it for any signs of tampering, but nothing seemed amiss. Steeling myself, I prepared to take a sip, relying on Naomi’s mark to protect me once again. However, before the coffee could touch my lips, the Alpha suddenly dropped his own mug, the glass shattering against the floor.

“Dad?” Rosa called out in alarm, but the older Alpha shook his head, signaling that he was all right, though his actions said otherwise.

Then, without warning, he collapsed forward, crashing into the coffee table and sending it tumbling, mugs and plates clattering to the ground.

“Dad!” Rosa cried out, before succumbing to the same fate, her body slumping onto the couch.

“What’s happening?” the elder Luna whispered, her distress evident as she turned her gaze toward me. “You...”

I raised the mug in a gesture of acknowledgment and then tipped it, spilling the contents. “I know about the potion,” I confessed, and she growled in frustration, her eyes flashing with anger. She seemed poised to lunge at me across the table, but instead, her strength failed her, and she collapsed onto the couch beside her mate.

I carefully set the mug down before I texted my father. Then I rose to my feet with a composed demeanor as I surveyed the three wolves, their bodies now under my control. Waiting for the inevitable chaos to erupt, I listened intently until the sound of commotion filled the air. Seizing the opportunity, I strode purposefully to the closed door and flung it open, revealing the chaos unfolding among the pack members. They raced about, screaming of an intrusion into their territory and the incapacitation of their Alpha. A small smile tugged at my lips as a warrior approached.

Without hesitation, I swiftly grabbed him, pinning him against the doorframe before relieving him of his weapon and awareness, knocking him into a peaceful state.

Leaving the doors ajar, I positioned myself over the Alpha, the gun held firmly against his temple. It didn’t take long for his fellow fighters to find us, their own firearms trained on me.

“I wouldn’t advise that course of action,” I warned coolly. “My pack, aided by a witch, is advancing steadily. Your Alpha is at my mercy. Fire, and he dies.”

They exchanged nervous glances, weighing the risks. A tense standoff ensued, with neither side willing to make a decisive move. As we stood locked in this deadlock, the silence stretched agonizingly, until suddenly, the doors deeper within the house burst open, and a voice cried out, “They’ve breached the border! They’re coming!”

The fighter in the front cursed under his breath, then glanced down at his immobilized Alpha.

“You can put an end to this now,” I urged him. “My pack seeks no bloodshed. Surrender, and we can establish peace.”

“Peace?” he scoffed.

“Yes, I understand it may be unfamiliar to you, but it’s possible,” I assured him.

He appeared to consider my proposition, and I leaned in closer to the Alpha, making my threat unmistakably clear.

“The choice is yours. You still hold some power. Use it wisely now, or I’ll kill your entire pack.”

With a low, menacing growl, he reluctantly relented, knowing I wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate the Alpha, especially after the deception I had endured.

“Drop your weapons. Order all fighters to stand down,” he commanded.

They complied, discarding their weapons and kneeling before me, baring their necks in submission—they had surrendered. With a satisfied smile, I leaned down to the old Alpha, seizing him by the hair.

“Your plan was cunning, but you can’t overpower the bond of true mates,” I sneered, before slamming his face into the ground, ensuring he remained unconscious for the time being.