This chapter uncovers emotional layers that quietly guide the story’s direction, revealing motivations beneath the surface. The characters' choices are shaped by deeper conflicts they struggle to express. Tension builds subtly, hinting at consequences that will echo beyond this scene. Emotional shifts here set the stage for how each character navigates challenges ahead.

Behind every line lies an undercurrent of emotion that the characters try to hide. Their internal struggles show through gestures and pauses, revealing truths they cannot fully voice. This chapter highlights how deeply their emotions shape their choices.

Chapter 591

Alannah gaped at me. “No.” She did one slow blink before she turned to Ternen. “Baby?”

His smile as he leaned over to kiss her lips was heart-wrenching. He pulled back to cup her face. “You did it, baby. You have done the one thing that most Omegas have dreamed about.” A tear escaped his eye. “I’m so proud of you, baby. Now I can rest easy knowing that you have the rank to protect our pups, all on your own.” He looked to me. “I know you would have helped, but this way…” He looked back to his mate. “This way it’s better.”

Alannah took a shuddering breath before she nodded once.

She turned to face me. “I know you have to go.” She was putting on a brave face. “But thank you for staying and making me see sense.” She looked down at her pups in her arms and kissed both on their heads. “I almost ruined the best thing we have ever done for my own selfishness. But I have Taryn and Talia now to worry about.” She looked back up. “Just like you have packs to worry about. So go.”

I nodded once and turned to kiss my mom. “I have to go.”

She nodded, and I watched her eyes fill with exhaustion and tears. “Save my mate.”

I nodded quickly before I kissed Wendy. “I will.” I squeezed Wendy’s hand once, then I was running for the door.

I ran out of the cabin, straight to the cliff, and faster than I thought possible, I was crawling out from underneath the gazebo. I barely had a moment to think before Nix was shifting and pushing us to run as fast as we could to the med tent. I don’t even know how much time I had spent back at the cabin, and I will never regret the time I spared there, but I knew the council was on its way and I needed time to get everything in order.

"What are we going to do?" Megan’s question almost had me skidding to a stop because I had no idea. I mean, they know every wolf that’s in Silvermoon pack, don’t they?

Nix ignored us as she kept running. We were almost at the tent when an idea started to form in my mind. I relayed the ideas to my wolves, and they both chuckled. Nix finally graced us with her opinion. "If they are stupid enough to fall for it, then they deserve everything coming their way."

We sprinted out of the trees lining the clearing with the tent, and I pushed forward, stepping out of Nix’s form and into my body. “Well…” I walked into the tent and looked at the broken bodies still waiting to heal. “Let’s hope they are too full of themselves to realize the trap before it snaps shut on them.”

Rowan stood and walked over to me. “What trap?”

I stretched my neck as the last twenty-four hours hit me like a wall, but I pushed through it. “I just thought of something that might work for the council. But I have questions. And I can only hope that you are the man to ask.” I smiled up at my mate. He was staring at me expectantly, but instead of asking the questions I had, I reached up and slipped my arms around his neck as I leaned in and kissed his lips.

He pulled back after kissing me, and he smiled. “What was that for?”

“No reason. I just wanted to kiss my mate.” I kissed him again, but a soft cough had me pulling away. I looked behind Rowan only to see my father struggling to sit up. “Daddy.” I rushed to his side and pushed him back down. “You need to rest.”

He coughed again. “I rested enough.” He started to laugh, but Ronnie walked up with his still-pregnant mate.

“Lying unconscious under a pile of rocks doesn’t count, you idiot,” Ronnie snarled as I knelt next to the cot he was on.

"Uncle Ronnie is right."

My dad shook his head. “I don’t have time to rest. The council is almost here.”

I closed my eyes for a second, fighting the urge to smack him. “I’m only holding back because you are already hurt, but if you say one more stupid thing, I will swing.” I turned my shifted eyes on my father, and he threw his head back and laughed.

“You would hit your wounded ol’ man?”

“In a heartbeat.” I nodded to the empty cot next to my dad. “Sit, Tina, you look about ready to burst, and I have to tell you, I’m not great with pregnant women.” I grinned as Rowan tilted his head.

“The twins?”

“Safe, sound, and Goddess blessed.” Before my dad could ask, I turned to him and answered. “Mom is safe and sound too. She is exhausted but keeping everyone in the cabin safe until we deal with all this bullshit.” I turned back to my mate. “The lupine extract?”

He pointed to the bags around the tent. “All hung. Healing should kick back in within the next two hours.”

“Two hours?” I was surprised it would take that long.

The doctor had walked up as Rowan opened his mouth. “The slower the drip, the less painful it will be to work it out of the system.”

“You didn’t do that with Ronnie.” I pointed out.

The doctor smiled. “I would have if I had had the option. I did low and slow with you.”

Ronnie groaned. “That’s what the burning was?”

The doctor nodded.

I turned to Rowan. “Do we have two hours?”

Rowan nodded. “We should still have about three.” A ringtone rang out with a soft drum. Rowan pulled out a sleek phone and answered. “Yes?” He listened for a few minutes and then hung up. “We have less than one hour.”

My dad grunted as he pushed up again. “The council landed by plane. If they were running, we would have less time, but they demanded a car.”

My dad looked at Ronnie. “Call Trey, delay as much as possible.” Then he turned to the doctor. “Turn everyone up. We don’t have the time to be gentle anymore.”