Chapter 11: Michael's Strategic Planning

The cool nighttime air did little to soothe Michael's frayed nerves as he paced the forest clearing. His eager senses were on excessive alert, scanning for any signal of danger. But the real risk wasn't out here in the wilderness – it became inside that forsaken mansion wherein Jessica was being held captive.

Michael forced himself to take a deep breath, pushing down the primal urge to feel in blindly. As James's beta and the percent's strategist, he had to keep a clean head now extra than ever. The photograph of Jessica in the cult chief's hold close, a knife at her throat, turned into seared into his thoughts. It had shaken James to his core, and Michael knew their alpha was teetering on the edge of losing manipulation.

"We want a new plan," he muttered, extra to himself than to the others amassed around him. David and Andrew stood nearby, their postures anxious and equipped for movement. Daniel stored a watch at the edge of the clearing, whilst Matthew and Christopher scouted the fringe.

Michael's mind raced via viable scenarios, each one extra desperate than the final. They could not risk a frontal attack – no longer with Jessica's life placed inside the balance. But time became jogging out, and each second they hesitated put her in more danger.

A twig snapped, and Michael whirled around, claws extending instinctively. But it changed into the most effective James, rising from the shadows with a haunted look in his eyes.

"Any phrase?" the alpha asked, his voice difficult with slightly contained emotion.

Michael shook his head. "Nothing yet. But we will find a manner, James. We have to."

As he spoke the words, Michael felt the load of them choose his shoulders. It wasn't just about rescuing their Luna anymore – it was about retaining their, their family, from falling apart. He'd seen the manner in Jessica's presence had changed them all, softening their difficult edges and bringing out aspects of themselves they'd long forgotten existed.

For Michael, it had been a sluggish awakening. At first, he'd viewed Jessica's role in the percent with cold calculation, seeing her as a vital thing in the prophecy. But her braveness in the face of overwhelming odds, her compassion even for individuals who didn't deserve it – it had slowly chipped away at his defenses. Now, the idea of dropping her sent a spike of pain through his chest that he could not quite explain.

"We can't wait any longer," James growled, pulling Michael from his thoughts. "Every 2nd we waste–"

"I know," Michael reduces him off, his tone gentle but cooperative. "But we can not manage to pay to make errors. Jessica needs us questioning absolutely."

James's eyes flashed dangerously, however after a moment, he nodded. It was a testament to the belief between them that the alpha was willing to defer to his judgment, even now.

Michael grew to become the others. "David, what are you able to inform me about the mansion's format? Any vulnerable factors we might have ignored?"

The mild large in their progressed, his brow furrowed in awareness. "The east wing seemed much less fortified," he stated slowly. "And there is an antique servants' entrance that could still be available."

"Good," Michael nodded. "Andrew, what number of cultists did you rely on for the duration of your last sweep?"

"At least two dozen," the enforcer growled. "But they're now not opponents. We should take them without difficulty if–"

"If we didn't have Jessica's protection to worry about," Michael completed for him. "We want a manner to separate her from the leader."

As they discussed options, Christopher and Matthew lowered back from their scouting task. The youngest alpha's eyes have been extensive with exhilaration.

"We found something," Christopher stated breathlessly. "A tunnel, leading from the antique groundskeeper's cottage right into the mansion's cellar."

Michael's mind raced with the opportunities. "That can be our manner in," he mused. "But we'd need a distraction to draw their attention away from Jessica."

"I could reason a commotion at the front gate," Matthew supplied, a reckless grin spreading throughout his face. "You know how proper I am at worrying."

Despite the gravity of the state of affairs, Michael felt a grin tugging at his lips. "That you are," he agreed. "But it's too dangerous so I will move by myself."

"I'll go along with him," Andrew volunteered. "Between the two of us, we can hold them busy long enough for you to get inside."

The plan started to take shape in Michael's thoughts. It became risky, however, it turned into their exceptional shot at getting Jessica out alive. He came to James, looking for the alpha's approval.

James nodded, his eyes blazing with renewed determination. "Do it," he commanded. "Whatever it takes to carry her home."

As the others moved to put together, Michael felt a hand on his arm. He grew to discover David looking at him with concern.

"You're planning to go through the tunnel yourself, aren't you?" the healer requested softly.

Michael nodded. "James wishes to lead the main assault, and I'm exceptionally suitable for stealth. I can get to Jessica whilst the others create a diversion."

David's grip tightened barely. "Be careful," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "We can not lose you both."

The surprising display of affection caught Michael off guard. He'd usually stored himself truly aside from the others, viewing his function as an extra of duty rather than a calling. But in that moment, he realized how a good deal they had all come to mean to him – not just as packmates, but as a circle of relatives.

"I will," he promised, clasping David's shoulder. "We're all coming home from this. Together."

As the night deepened, Michael made his very last arrangements. He strapped on lightweight frame armor, checked his guns, and took a moment to center himself. The bond he shared with Jessica pulsed faintly inside the lower back of his thoughts – a reminder of what turned into at stake.

His concept lowered back to the primary time he'd honestly seen her for who she was, now not simply because he prophesied Luna, but as a girl of tremendous strength and compassion. It has been for the duration of an education session, when she'd driven herself to the threshold of exhaustion, refusing to give up even when her body was screaming for relaxation. In that moment, something had shifted inner him, a grudging respect blossoming into something deeper.

Now, as he organized to change the whole lot to keep her, Michael finally admitted to himself what he'd been seeking to deny for so long. He cherished her. Not just as his luna, not simply as James's mate, but as Jessica – the lady who had stormed into their lives and turned the entirety the wrong way up.

The attention must have complex matters, however instead, it stuffed Michael with a sense of readability and purpose. He could bring her back, not just for the pack ., not just for the prophecy, but for himself. Because a global without Jessica in it became not a global he desired to ponder.

As he made his manner to the hidden tunnel entrance, Michael felt a peaceful settle over him. The strategist in him had planned for each contingency, but it changed into the man – the wolf – who cherished Jessica and might see this through.

"Hold on, Jessica," he whispered into the nighttime. "We're coming for you. I'm coming for you."

With one final study of his packmates, Michael descended into the darkness, prepared to stand something demanding situations lay ahead. The rescue venture had begun, and failure became now not a choice.