Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 269

Ryder's POV

The silence in Logan's office was suffocating. Ama sat hunched in her chair, tears streaming down her face as her hands trembled against her belly. The sight of her breaking down like this made my chest tighten with guilt and rage.

"He's going to die, Ama sobbed, her voice cracking. "William's going to die and I'll never see him again. Our baby will never know their father.

Penelope immediately moved to Ama's side, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. "Hey, don't think like that. We're going to get them both back

But even as Penelope spoke those comforting words, I could see the fear in her eyes. We all knew how dangerous this was, how slim our chances were against Alpha Wiley's technology and weapons.

'I found them, Galen's voice cut through the tension like a blade. He was hunched over his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. Alpha Wiley's got them in an abandoned factory about a hundred kilometers north of here. It's isolated, surrounded by industrial wasteland."

Logan immediately moved to stand behind Galen, studying the satellite images on the screen. "Show me everything you've got."

"There's the main complex here," Galen pointed to a cluster of buildings on the screen. "Multiple warehouses, but this seven-story building in the center is where the thermal signatures are concentrated. That's got to be where they're holding them."

My wolf was clawing at my consciousness, demanding action. Every second we spent planning was another second Xena was in that monster's hands. "We need to go now," I said, my voice rough with barely controlled fury.

'Not so fast, Logan held up a hand. "We need a strategy. Going in guns blazing will get everyone killed."

"She's my Luna! I roared, slamming my fist on the desk. "Every minute we waste here is another minute she's being tortured!"

will guarantee her death!" Logan shot back, his Alpha authority filling the room. "Do you think I don't care about getting my

stepped forward, his face grim. "Logan's right.

wanted to tear out of here and race to that factory, but the rational part of my brain knew they were right. Taking a shaky breath, I forced

"Eight vehicles, forty warriors total.

barely a whisper. "They could be dead in

slight tremor in his voice. "Wiley needs them

twenty warriors. That's where you come in, Ryder. You're going to make a lot of noise, draw their

the one to

argument. "You're too emotionally compromised. You'll

"I can handle it-

into mine. "Because from where I'm standing, you look like

need for violence, to tear apart anyone who had hurt Xena. "She's everything to me, Logan. I can't lose

her back." Logan's voice softened slightly. "I need you to be the distraction. Make Wiley think you've come for revenge, that

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Chapter 269

and rage. Make him focus all his attention on the front while

my hair, fighting against every instinct that screamed at me to charge in there myself. 'What

the plan," Leonard said quietly. "Trust

the main building and the front perimeter. If Ryder can draw them out, Logan's team should

to center myself. Xena needed me to be smart, not emotional. She