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!"

Alpha authority filling the room. "Do

stepped forward, his face grim. "Logan's right. We need to be

factory, but the rational part of my brain knew they

vehicles, forty warriors total. The drive should take about

voice was barely a whisper. "They could be dead in two

I caught the slight tremor in his

entrance with twenty warriors. That's where you come in, Ryder.

be the one to rescue her,'

no argument. "You're too emotionally

"I can handle it-

Logan stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine. "Because from where I'm standing,

true. My hands were shaking with the need for violence, to tear apart anyone who had hurt Xena. "She's everything to me, Logan.

her back." Logan's voice softened slightly. "I need you to be the distraction. Make Wiley think

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Chapter 269

attention on the front

hands through my hair, fighting against every instinct that screamed at me to charge in there myself. 'What if something goes wrong: What

have to trust the plan," Leonard said quietly. "Trust

thermal imaging shows most of their forces are concentrated in the main building and the front perimeter. If Ryder can draw them out, Logan's team should have

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