Bait and Trap
Cleopatra's POV
The city’s lights glimmered through the hotel window, casting fractured reflections on the polished interior of the D' Elena hotel. The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of exhaustion, determination, and the knowledge that failure was not an option.
Renee stood at the far end of the room, arms crossed and eyes scanning the streets below. Jack leaned against the table, his expression hardened, while the former Beta of the Silverfang Pack—Thomas—sat across from him, his gaze unreadable but weighed down by the secrets he carried.
I paced, every step, an attempt to calm the storm within me. This was bigger than revenge; it was survival. Our survival.
“Let’s get this straight,” Thomas began, breaking the silence, his voice low but commanding. “Kane isn’t just after control. He wants absolute power, and he’s using alliances with rogue packs and exiled clans to get it.”
Williams, standing beside me, tensed. “How many allies are we talking about here?”
“A total of five clans,” Beta Jack said grimly. “He’s promised them land, wealth, even reinstatement to packs they’ve been banished from. The coronation ruse might draw them out, but we need to be ready for a bloodbath.”
I met Williams’ eyes, and at that moment, words weren’t needed. We both knew what we were risking.
“The fake coronation date,” Renee interjected, her voice as sharp as a blade. “How do we ensure word of it reaches Kane without tipping him off that it’s a trap?”
Jack stepped forward, eyes blazing. “That's easy. We plant the leak through one of his spies—we'll make them believe there will be a coronation. I know one that is within the palace grounds. He’ll spread the ‘secret’ faster than wildfire.”
Thomas nodded. “And what about the setup itself? Kane isn’t stupid. He’ll send scouts ahead.”
“We’ll deal with them,” I said, my voice steady. “The palace grounds will be fortified. Warriors at every entrance, hidden patrols ready to intercept anyone who slips through.”
I scanned the faces of the people present before I continued. “We would evacuate the supposed coronation ground and make sure pack members are locked safely.”
Renee arched a brow at me. “This isn’t just about brute force. We need strategy.”
“Which is why we’re meeting here, isn’t it?” Jack shot back, forcing calm into his voice. “We make them think they have the upper hand. That this coronation is a desperate bid to consolidate our power.”
I saw the way his jaw clenched during the meeting. I knew this meant so much to him. He wanted to save the pack from Alpha Kane's clutches. I could sense his unease as he paced around in circles.
Williams’ hand found mine, squeezing gently. “They need to believe it’s a last-ditch effort. We’ll stage it to look like we’re fractured, weakened by infighting. Although that won't be necessary.”
A silence fell over the room as the weight of the plan settled on us all. Jack leaned forward, his gaze intense. “There’s one more thing. Kane has a new ally—Anya. She'll be coming with her father's army.”
Williams cursed under his breath. “Anya? Fantastic. Just what we need. I should have taken care of her when I had the chance.”
“What if I pay Kane a little visit before all this?” I suggested, and the room grew tense.
Williams’ eyes darkened. “No. You’re not—”
“I’m the bait,” I interrupted, meeting his glare head-on. “Kane wants me. He’ll come for me. If we use that to our advantage, we might have the upper hand against them and make them fight on our own terms.”
“No.” His voice was sharp, a command. “Not while you’re carrying our child. My child.”
The room went silent. All eyes were on us. I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a whisper meant only for him. “This is bigger than us, Williams. We need every edge we can get.”
He exhaled slowly, his hand brushing my cheek. “We do. Which is why we are gathered here today. I won’t lose you, Cleopatra.”
“You won’t,” I promised, even if I wasn’t sure it was a promise I could keep.
Thomas cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “Then it’s settled. We lure Kane and his allies into the trap, weaken their forces, and take them out for good. The fake coronation date will be the bait.”
“Any last suggestions?” Jack asked, his voice tight with tension.
“Yes,” I said, my eyes hardening. “Make sure there’s no escape for any of them. We have to make sure we end it all, once and for all. No more chances.”
“Will they be joining us?” Jack asked, sparing me a glance.
I looked up at him. I didn't want to drag my family into this. I wanted them to be safe from this looming war. What would I do if history repeated itself again? What if the Night Wolf Alpha goes after them or even finds his way to the land before the war?
I couldn't bear it. But we do need all the help we can get, and I'm pretty sure they would want to fight alongside me. After all, I'm still their Alpha.
Williams and I have talked about merging my pack with the palace so they can be closer to me and I can protect them. We'll still need to discuss that with Lucien and Rob.
“I will talk to Lucien,” I replied sharply.
The planning continued late into the night, details hashed out, traps designed, and fallback plans created. When we finally finished, I knew there would be no turning back.
The battle to end Kane’s reign of terror had begun. And we would fight with everything we had—because losing was not an option.
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