Goodbye Cheater Hello CEO’s Wife by Payne Walter

71 Lucas: Preparation

LUCAS

“You’re positive?”

My still–smoldering cigarette is crushed into oblivion within the crystal ash tray, along with twenty of its kin. Smoke is an intrusive guest within the cramped room, swirling around the heads of both deltas standing before me.

Cheap motel rooms aren’t meant to house three large wolf shifter males, but it is what it is.

“Positive,” Ryder reports, cool as a fucking cucumber despite how much is riding on tonight.

The decision to invade Blackwood wasn’t made lightly. Most of the pack fought against the decision, until two more scouts were found dead at the border.

And, most importantly, a witness.

That one was alive, though.

“Council won’t move until we bring the official

petition,” Ryder continues, flipping through the notes

in front of him. “Even so, Silvermoon forces near the

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71 Lucas Preparation

border are confirmed and ready if we call for aid.”

The chair creaks beneath my weight as I lean back, but surprisingly manages to stay together. “With this act of war, Council will have lost its authority, anyway.”

My deltas say nothing. There isn’t much to say–the fact that an alpha is willing to say as much is far beyond their pay grade. Silvermoon has allied with Westwood, and Aspen as well, though Clayton seems to be busy hunting down his own missing mate. It’s an epidemic, and I’m positive it’s all been orchestrated by the Blackwoods to weaken the packs. @

Swaying the chair from side to side, I glance at the ceiling, thinking in between rhythmic creaks. “Ryder, head to Silvermoon. I’ll contact you if we need the reinforcements. Vester, stay with us. You’ll head off any runners from the south. Our goal is to cut off Blackwood’s head today. I don’t want this war going on for years.”

“Understood.”

Lighting another cigarette, I inhale deeply, letting the harsh smoke fill my lungs before exhaling a plume into the stale air. My deltas are on edge, too, but they wait

for my dismissal.

at her family home, under guard at all times. Further, that idiot alpha brought

into his

one of our own could be that level of stupid. We know better

set forth in order to live

humans.

a dumbass. He has

Consorting with an Unregistered is nothing to someone who

their lands.

taboo and the witness saved

finally have evidence.

a reason for war. Reasons

rebuilt in the aftermath,

declare it

don’t have time for that shit. I can’t risk them hiding

71 Lucas: Preparation

her from me.

his pack lands. They have no presence in the human cities, and no humans here are loyal to

with them.

have been dominated with ease. No alpha worth their rank would have allowed so many to settle in these human towns, and

Sheer arrogance.

his

easy to infiltrate. their lands, but I’m grateful

tremor of anticipation courses through me, fueled by the thought of her being so tantalizingly

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71 Lucas: Preparation

stupid. I can’t force it. If I have

it’s safe and woo her there.

back in the creaky chair, letting it groan beneath my weight again, pondering our next move. The invasion plans are sound, our scouts are in position, and allies await the call to arms. But a part of me bristles at the

fingers drum against the armrest, a steady rhythm matching the thump of my heart. Renard Blackwood is a sly old bastard, that much is certain. He wouldn’t keep Ava close without

more about her

wolf snaps at the air

wants his mate safe.

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71 Lucas: Preparation

plans need to

I growl, stubbing out my cigarette with more force than necessary. My newest delta straightens his shoulders. “Prepare a small team–no more than five. We’re going

a short fuse when it comes to my mate. “You want to go in alone? With all due respect, alpha, that’s a hell of a

has to be clean, precise. In and out before Blackwood even knows we’re there. We don’t know what

can proceed to wipe them

this world.”

agreement. They know the lengths I’ll go

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71 Lucas: Preparation

name