bChapter /bb199 /b

bConrad /bbPOV /b

bAs /bbsoon /bas Agent Carter leavesb, /bbthe /bother guardians arrive. More long meetings, discussing ns band /bbstrategies/b. At the moment, there bis /bonly one thing we can agree on. We need to get bthe /bwolves bout /bfirst. If we kill Malik and they escape, we’re fucked. If we attack and he orders them to fightb, /bbwe’re /bball /b

bdead/b. bWe /bdeal with that first.

From the condition described by the rogue, they are in a canyon somewhere northeast. Makes sense,

as if they kept the brainwashed wolves at the bottom, it turns into a natural prison.

The Faes are sending out fairies to try and narrow down the location, and the Sirens are sending

sprites, as the rogue also mentioned a river nearby for water. They all returned home aware of phase

one before Lewana and I take over for phase two.

We start construction on essentially a makeshift refugee camp, as once we free them, they won’t

know where to go, and follow Lewana, so we figure we have to bring them back here somehow.

I have been working in my study on all the finer details and any more ns when there is a knock at my doorb. /b

b“/bCome in“.

Arthures in quickly, shuts the door behind him, and starts talking before he has even made it to my desk.

“Hey, have you spoken to Lewana yet about waiting until after the birth before we attack and deal

with Malik?“.

I bwas /bwaiting for this conversation toe up. “No. And I’m not going to“.

bHe /bstands therepletely stunned and just stares nkly at me until he fully processes the

answer.

bHe /bthen starts growling at meb, /band he angrily whispers. “Are you fucking insane? You know how dangerous this is. Let alone how dangerous it is for the pups in her condition“. He runs a hand bover /bhis face before bsnapping /bat me again. “Fine. If you are too cowardly to do it, then I’ll talk to her“.

bHe /bbspins /bon his heel and turns to leave when I call out after him.

b1/3 /b

b10:35 /bbSun/bb, /bbSep 21 /b

…

b75 /b

“I’m not going to talk to her because you are doing exactly what I used to do. You know how much bof /ba fighter she is. You know how much of a survivor she is. You know how smart she is. I get that you’re scared, but we both need to start epting her choices and trusting her judgment as Luna Queen. We both need to realise she doesn’t need the amount of protection we want to give her“.

He pauses, and I can see the wheels turning in his head as he tries to think of another argument. Hees back with a new, determined look on his face.

“If Malik does get your daughter, we know she will be cared for a few years as he needs her healthy.

That gives us time. Lewana won’t be as vulnerable then, and we have an even greater chance of defeating him“.

I decided to use what he had been teaching metely to try to talk this through. “And what does she do with our son? Leave him here and breastfeed him while she is tracking our daughter“.

“He should stay here. Mary and I can look after him“.

“So you want Lewana to leave her pup behind, right after her other one was taken? You really think

she will do that?“.

Arthur sighs and thinks again. “Well, she can stay here with us, and you go find your daughter“.

I chuckle. “So you think I’m more skilled than Lewana, and the whole blessed wolf and Lycan thing won’t help her get her back more quickly“.

I can see him getting frustrated, but also the defeat in his features starting to creep in. “Will you stop using my methods on me? It’s really irritating“.

I just smile and reply sarcastically. “So it’s not just you I find annoying“.

He rolls his eyes at me, but there is a knock on the door before he can reply. I can scent it is Lewana before she lets herself in. As she enters, she looks at us suspiciously.

“And exactly what are you two doing?“.

Arthur can’t even make beye /bcontact with her, so I step in.

“The usual Moonlight. Building you a fortress and keeping you locked in luxury andfort so battle doesn’t sound as appealing as it does. Maybe you could take up knitting with Mary“.

Arthur balks. “Don’t encourage that. Mary has already finished about a hundred socks. She’s also

b10:35 /bSunb, /bSep 21

finished about thirty hats and put wolves‘ ears on them all. She’s on her fifth nket currently“.

Lewana just smiles and goes over to Arthur to hug him. She knows he’s deflecting. I can see the moment he acknowledges they he is not going to get his way as he hugs her tighter.

He walks out silently and leaves us alone. As soon as the door closes, Lewana turns to me.

“So what exactly was that about?“.

“The usual stuff when ites to you. Keeping you safe and changing your mind“.

She huffs and looks at the ground. “And you agree with him“.

75

I smile and pull her into myp. “The keeping you safe bit always. The changing your mind part, I know, is pointless. I know you’re going to fight him no matter what we say, so it is easier to just go along with it“.

Her face instantly lights up, and she starts kissing me incredibly passionately. We are breathless when we break apart.

She looks at me with her deep blues and smiles. “You stood up for me and choices“.

“I know, right? Took me long enough to ept it. But if you kiss me like that every time I do it, I

would have done it sooner“.

She yfully ps me on the chest, and I just hold her close as she purrs in myp. I continue to work for a while and hold her close and take in her scent, just trusting in her that we are making the right choice.