Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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There are eighteen groups preparing for tonight’s heist. I wouldn’t call it an attack because it’s not exactly putting a bomb in the alpha’s bedroom. I’ve been looking all day for black market buyers. I haven’t contacted anyone yet, but as soon as they see the branding on the weapons, money, and drugs, they’ll know exactly what to do. Rogues are crafty like that.
Ragnar is about to announce where everyone is going to hit. He has a bigger map made for this, and there’s not a single wolf in sight. They were told it was a precaution after what happened in the castle. All wolves were removed from any and all royal assistance jobs. The ones that were near the royal family all disappeared.
My grandmother is sitting beside me, dressed in the same armor I am, and as I continue to look through buyers and dealers, she can’t help but sit beside me to watch. I’m going to be very honest. It’s making me very nervous. I feel like a little kid sitting in front of the headmaster’s office waiting to be reprimanded after cutting the girl who’s been bullying me all week’s hair off with a pair of scissors I stole from the teacher’s desk.
“You are quite skilled at this,” her voice startles me. When I look up at her, she smirks as if she knows exactly how I react to her.
“It was part of my training before I went into the medical program. Luna Romano encouraged me to pinpoint specific buyers and track down rogues using this, so the betas could go after them. She used to do this too. It’s why my mom had to bail her out of trouble a lot.”
“And what do you wish to accomplish with this now?”
“We’re showing off the new toys to the rogues. Once they know that Artume is short on defenses, we’ll see where they stand in all of this,” Ragnar says, approaching us. “Come on. We’re about to begin.”
“Are you okay with all of this?” My grandmother stops me before I approach my team.
“Who do you think gave them all the information they have?” I ask.
“That’s a different matter, Sophia. I just want you to know exactly what’s going to happen. These people will suffer for something we’re taking from them,” she clarifies.
“They were presented with evidence of everything that made us all suffer for, and they chose to turn a cheek, Grandma. Maybe this isn’t going to get us back everything we lost, but in the very least, they can finally share in our same misery.”
“So this is about getting even?”
“Yeah,” I say, tucking my gun in my holster. “This is about getting even.”
The smile on her face confuses me. We get in line with the others to wait for Ragnar and Ivar to give us orders.
“What are you doing?” Ragnar asks when I go to sit down. I look around and point at myself to make sure he’s talking to me. “Yes, get up here.”
“Oh,” I clear my throat and go over to Ivar, who smirks at me.
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Chapter 79
“This is your plan,” he reminds me.
“So, it’s on me if it fails?” I rush out. He laughs and looks back at Ragnar, who grins.
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“We wouldn’t have gone along with it if we thought it wasn’t going to work out, little wolf,” Ragnar rolls his eyes. He whistles, and immediately everyone takes their seat. “Good morning, everyone. I want to thank you all for coming on such short notice.
“We have a special assignment for all of you today. Today’s run will be led by our newest beta candidate. Sophia Helvig. She will give you all a little more insight. I would like to personally ask you to listen to everything she has to say. Any questions you have, save them until the end. Sophia?”
I feel a little put on the spot, but it’s not like I’m new to this. I take the remote for the screen out of his hand when he holds it out. He smirks at me when he turns to join Ivar behind me. I glare at him, knowing that this is a fucking test. The joke is on him because I never back down from a challenge.
“Hey, guys,” I greet everyone. Some of the lycans I trained with wave at me from the back. Kennedy and Sasha both quietly clap for me. Some of the others stare at them like they’ve lost their mind. “I know I haven’t been here long, but I am honored to be considered to lead tonight’s run.
“As you all know, last week the King’s wing was attacked by one of the wolves that were hired to work maintenance in Castle Axel. I know that some of you might believe the attack came out of nowhere. I can tell you it wasn’t sudden, and it was meant to hurt us.
“This issue goes back a few years. It’s something that has been covered up by this family,” I click the button on the remote, and the family portrait I had been a part of before Santiago went overseas for training pops up. “These are the Romanos. The leading Alpha family in Artume City.
“This,” I close in on Alpha Romano. “Is Guillermo Romano. The former Alpha and the cause of the attack that leveled both the city and the Lycan community ten years ago. Up until two years ago, this,” I zoom out and bring up a picture of Santiago and me. “Was my mate. I didn’t know any of this at the time, but because I didn’t shift with most werewolf pups, I was rejected for being an omega.
“In the midst of leaving Artume City, I discovered a file my mother left behind. A file with information on this family that caused the attack,” everyone immediately starts murmuring. Ragnar growls, silencing everyone. “I know,” I sigh. “I lost everything to this raid as well.
“I’m not exactly sure what triggered the attack on the castle last week. I am sorry to those of you whose loved ones were caught in the attack. That is why we’re here. I grew up in this city. I have extensive training as the Luna candidate who was meant to lead beside the new up–and–coming alpha.
“I know you guys have seen the media posts about me being a power–seeking omega. That I never did anything for the city. I assure you that it was never the case. I’ve always paid close attention to everything, wanting to please these assholes.
“These fucking idiot believe their own lies, and now we’re going to use that to our advantage,” they all growl in approval. “Seven years ago, Alpha Romano had eighteen safety warehouses built for emergencies like the attack on the stadium.
“In these houses, they keep weapons, medicine, money, drugs, and other warfare supplies should the city ever need to protect itself from outside threats. Tonight, we’re going to empty all of them.” This gets a round of cheering. “Each team leader will be equipped with the codes to a warehouse and the codes to disarm the
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Chapter 79
tracking devices in some of the packages.
P:
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“You will also receive four loading trucks and four undercover guard uniforms. If we play this right, this will get your teams inside the warehouse without a problem.
“We want a clean sweep, and we want them to know it was us who hit them. The goal is to load each truck with as much as you can get your hands on, as fast as you can, before we are discovered. Leaving the city will be the easy part. I have set up each GPS in the assigned trucks to guide you down the roads you are least likely to be pulled over on.
“Tonight is a very special night for wolves. The velvet moon is out, and a grand ball is taking place in the mainhouse. The event starts at six p.m. tonight. We will hit each warehouse at nine, when most of the alphas and guards of the city are inside the packhouse-”
“What about the treaty with the Alpha King?” someone asks.
“I presented all of the evidence required to arrest this family for the crimes they committed not only against Lycans, but Alpha King himself, and he chose to pardon them. The files were dismissed as fabricated by Prince Ivar and me. A false claim by a jilted omega.”
“The treaty was broken the moment my mother, sister, and mate were killed by their mistakes,” Ragnar adds. “I assure you. All the information we’ve gathered is real. The Alpha King had spies in our castle and our administration. Spies, we have already taken care of. Jilted or not, we have a weapon they overlooked on our side. And we need to remind the wolves exactly who the fuck they’re messing with.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
