Chapter 150- A Cage of Strategy
Lexy
The moon was high when sleep finally gave up on finding me.
I stood on the balcony of my quarters, arms folded tightly across my chest, watching the dim outline of the mountains against the midnight sky. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, uneasy, much like I was. The celebrations had come to an end, and the alliance had officially been sealed, yet the most dangerous piece on this board still walked freely inside my walls—Adrian.
We had played the dance of civility for days. He smiled when needed, kept to himself when he could no longer hold the mask. But I saw the strain in his shoulders, the way his eyes darted—searching for Tarria. He could feel it: the ground slipping beneath him.
I knew the morning would bring a shift. Adrian’s people would expect him back. And though Tarria had returned—damaged but alive—I hadn’t yet confronted Adrian directly. Not because I feared him, but because I needed to act with precision. If I let him go now, I would never get another chance.
I couldn’t risk him escaping, not while we had leverage. Not while the truth still burned hot in Tarria’s veins.
A gust of wind tugged at the hem of my robe. I turned back into the room and walked quietly past CJ, sleeping with one hand draped over where I had been lying moments earlier. I didn’t wake him. He would understand. Some decisions didn’t wait for daylight or debate.
I slid into my boots, pulled on a cloak, and moved through the quiet halls like a shadow. At the southern wing, just outside the great chamber, two warriors stood guard. They didn’t ask questions—only nodded when I said, “Summon the elders. Now. In secret.”
Within the hour, every elder of the high council sat around the fire-lit stone table, their eyes weary but attentive. I didn’t waste time.
“I called you here tonight because the sun can’t rise on uncertainty. We’ve all seen Adrian unraveling. We’ve seen the lies he wrapped himself in. Tarria has returned and confirmed everything we suspected and more.” I paused, letting the weight of her name settle among them. “Adrian’s involvement in her capture, his manipulation of this alliance, his plans to turn her into a symbol for his power—he’s not just a threat to me, or Tarria. He’s a threat to us all.”
Helio leaned forward, his voice low. “He still walks freely, Lexy.”
“Not for long.” I looked each elder in the eye. “By morning, his people will come to retrieve him. We won’t let that happen.”
A ripple of silence passed through the room. Then murmurs. Some voices questioned the risk. Others, the dishonor. I raised a hand to quiet them.
“He is not a prisoner of war. Not yet. But we can ensure he never makes it out of this territory. If we move tonight, if we act with care, he will have no chance to flee.”
Elder Yara, always the cautious one, narrowed her eyes. “And if the other packs question his disappearance?”
“They won’t,” I said firmly. “He will not vanish. He’s man never make the pickup hour and will offer a meal. He will fall ill. He will be placed under observation. His warriors will be told he is being treated with respect but cannot be moved for his own safety. We will not harm him—unless he gives us reason. This isn’t a revenge mission. It’s a containment strategy.”
Helio nodded. “And if he does resist?”
“Then we treat him as an enemy combatant. But not before. We need to be careful. Strategic. If we do this right, we keep him here long enough to expose his entire operation. Every name. Every plan.”
A beat passed. Then the eldest among them, Marek, tapped his cane against the ground.
“You have our blessing, Queen Lexy. Do what must be done. But make it clean.”
I dipped my head in gratitude. “Then let’s begin.”
The rest of the night was a blur of hushed voices and silent movement. The palace staff was unaware—only a handful of guards were swapped out with warriors loyal to me, stationed discreetly outside Adrian’s guest quarters. The medics were awakened and briefed. A few drops of a safe, non-toxic sedative were added to Adrian’s lunch meal, just enough to slow him down, keep him tired, disoriented.
By the time I returned to my quarters, the sky was starting to shift from black to blue. I slipped back into bed, my heart still racing, and this time, CJ stirred.
“Where were you?” he asked groggily.
“Setting the future in motion,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to his shoulder.
He sat up slightly, brows furrowed, sensing my tension. “Lexy…”
“I couldn’t let him go, CJ. You know that. Not after what he did to Tarria. Not after everything we know.”
He was quiet for a moment. Then, “What’s the plan?”
I told him everything. He listened, jaw tight, but he didn’t argue.
When the sun rose fully, word spread quietly through the palace that Adrian’s men never showed up and he had requested to rest through the rest of the day. No one questioned it. His warriors, already growing anxious with his isolation, were told that their Alpha was experiencing “unexpected fatigue” from the ceremonial strain. That the healers had advised he remain under care for observation.
I arranged for Elder Marek to deliver the message himself—his calm demeanor and age carried weight that few would dare challenge.
CJ and I visited Adrian mid-afternoon. He sat in his chamber, still wearing the same clothes from this morning, eyes dull and frustration simmering just below the surface.
He knew.
He didn’t say it outright, but I saw it in the way he looked at me. Not with arrogance anymore—but calculation.
“You drugged me,” he muttered.
“No,” I replied calmly, “we protected you.”
His mouth curled slightly, mocking. “Protection. Is that what you call it?”
“Yes. You are feeling unwell.”
He stood slowly; hands curled into fists. “My people will come.”
“They already have,” CJ answered, stepping forward. “They were told you’re unwell. And await your recovery.”
Adrian’s jaw clenched. “This is a mistake, Lexy.”
“No,” I said, voice cool. “How can it be a mistake when you can barely stand. The best doctors are taking care of you and making sure you get better soon.”
He stared at me, his pride breaking in pieces behind his eyes. Then, softly, like he still believed he held a card I couldn’t see: “You can’t hold me forever.”
I met his gaze without blinking. “I wouldn’t want to keep you forever. Just until you are well enough to travel again.”
I turned to leave, CJ following behind me. At the doorway, I paused, glancing over my shoulder.
“Enjoy your stay, Adrian. Feel better soon.”
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