Luna. Chapter 46

(Kael's POV)

The emergency meeting convened at midnight in my office. Magnus had driven through the night from Mountain Cross, his face grim with the knowledge of what we were facing. Adrian sat with his laptop open, monitoring communications from our security network.

"How certain are you about the timeline?" Magnus asked.

"Completely. Seraphina confirmed they're moving tonight." I spread the intelligence photos Chen had given me across the desk. "Morrison has been positioning assets for weeks."

"What kind of assets?"

"Military contractors, federal agents, medical personnel." I pointed to specific faces. "This man is Dr. Robert Hayes, a specialist in supernatural physiology. This woman is Agent Sarah Chen, trained in subduing enhanced individuals."

"They're planning to take her alive."

"For now. But Magnus, they want the baby. Morrison specifically wants to be present for the delivery."

Magnus went very still. "Over my dead body."

"That might be what he's counting on. Dead protectors can't interfere with his plans."

Adrian looked up from his computer. "I'm getting reports of unusual federal activity near Moonlight Pack territory. Helicopter movements, roadblocks being set up."

"It's starting."

I grabbed my phone and called Sebastian directly.

"Alpha Sebastian, it's Kael. You need to implement lockdown protocols immediately."

"What's happening?"

"Morrison is moving tonight. Full assault on your territory."

"How many people?"

"At least fifty agents, plus military support. They have federal warrants and official authority."

"Those warrants won't be worth the paper they're printed on if I invoke pack sovereignty laws."

"Will that stop them?"

"It'll slow them down while we figure out how to get Isabella to safety."

"Where is she now?"

"In the main packhouse with Derek. She's been having contractions on and off all day."

My blood went cold. "Contractions?"

"Dr. Elena thinks it might be false labor, but we're monitoring the situation."

"Sebastian, you cannot let them take her to a hospital. Morrison has people in medical facilities across three states."

"I understand."

"I'm on my way."

"Kael, if federal agents see you entering our territory, it could be considered an act of aggression."

"I don't care."

After I hung up, I looked at Magnus and Adrian.

"I'm going to help defend Moonlight Pack."

"That's a declaration of war against the federal government," Adrian warned.

"Then that's what it is."

"Kael, think about this rationally. If you assault federal agents, you'll be a fugitive. Your pack will lose their Alpha."

"My pack will understand that I'm protecting family."

Magnus stood up. "I'm going too."

"Magnus—"

"She's my Luna. Those are my people surrounding her. If the federal government wants a war, they'll get one."

I felt a surge of gratitude toward this man who'd protected Lyra when I couldn't.

"Adrian, you stay here. Keep the pack safe. If something happens to me..."

"Nothing's going to happen to you."

"But if it does, you're in charge. And you make sure Iron Claw Pack remembers why this was worth fighting for."

The drive to Moonlight Pack territory took forty-five minutes at dangerous speeds. Magnus followed in his own vehicle, both of us racing against time and federal authority.

My phone rang as we approached the territorial border. Unknown number.

"Alpha Blackwood," Director Morrison's voice was calm, professional. "I understand you're concerned about Isabella Sebastian's welfare."

"I'm concerned about the federal government kidnapping a pregnant woman."

"No one is being kidnapped. Miss Sebastian is being taken into protective custody for her own safety."

"Protective custody in a research facility?"

A pause. "You've been misinformed about our intentions."

"Have I? Because my information suggests you want to experiment on her and her unborn child."

"Miss Sebastian possesses abilities that pose a potential threat to national security. We simply want to ensure those abilities are properly contained."

"By locking her up forever?"

"By providing her with a secure environment where she can't accidentally harm innocent people."

"She's never harmed anyone."

"She will. Power like hers always leads to corruption, Alpha Blackwood. We're trying to prevent that."

I could see Moonlight Pack territory ahead, surrounded by federal vehicles and helicopter searchlights.

"Morrison, let me make something very clear. If you hurt Lyra or her baby, I will hunt you down and kill you myself."

"Is that a threat against a federal official?"

"That's a promise from an Alpha protecting his family."

Morrison's laugh was cold. "Your family? According to our records, you rejected and exiled Isabella months ago."

"My mistake. One I intend to spend the rest of my life correcting."

"You'll have plenty of time to think about your mistakes in federal prison."

The line went dead.

Magnus and I abandoned our vehicles at the territorial boundary and shifted partially, using our enhanced speed to cover the remaining distance to the packhouse.

Federal agents had surrounded the building, but they were maintaining distance. Clearly, Sebastian had invoked sovereignty laws that prevented immediate assault.

"Alpha Blackwood!" Agent Chen called out as we approached. "You're in violation of federal security perimeters."

"I'm visiting family," I called back.

"Stand down immediately or face arrest."

"I'll take that under advisement."

Magnus and I reached the packhouse entrance without being shot, though I could feel rifle sights tracking our movement.

Inside, Sebastian was coordinating defense strategies with Derek and several other pack leaders.

"Status report," I said immediately.

"They've surrounded us, but haven't tried to breach yet. Morrison is demanding we surrender Isabella voluntarily."

"Where is she?"

"Upstairs with Dr. Elena. The contractions have gotten stronger."

My heart hammered against my ribs. "Is she going into labor?"

"Too early to tell. But Kael, if she delivers tonight, with federal agents surrounding us..."

"They won't get near her."

"How can you guarantee that?"

I thought about the promise I'd made to Morrison, about the lengths I was willing to go to protect Lyra.

"Because I'm calling in reinforcements."

"What kind of reinforcements?"

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I'd hoped never to use.

"Alpha King Adrian," I said when he answered. "I'm invoking emergency protection protocols."

"For whom?"

"For Lyra Blackwood and her unborn child. Federal agents are attempting to abduct them for supernatural experimentation."

"That's a very serious accusation, Kael."

"It's a very serious situation."

"What are you requesting?"

"Full Council of Alphas intervention. Immediate deployment of enforcement officers."

"That level of response requires significant justification."

"The justification is that if we let the federal government start abducting supernatural beings for experimentation, none of us are safe."

A long pause. "What are you willing to sacrifice for this intervention?"

"What do you want?"

"Your pack. Iron Claw Pack comes under direct Council supervision."

I closed my eyes. He was asking me to give up everything I'd built, everyone I'd led.

"For how long?"

"Permanently. You become a Council appointee, not an independent Alpha."

It was everything. My territory, my autonomy, my legacy.

But it was also Lyra's life and our child's freedom.

"Done."

"You're certain about this decision?"

"Completely."

"Council enforcement will arrive within the hour. Don't do anything stupid before then."

After I hung up, Sebastian stared at me.

"What did you just do?"

"I traded my pack's independence for Lyra's safety."

"Kael..."

"It was the right choice. The only choice."

Magnus put his hand on my shoulder. "She'll never know the sacrifice you just made for her."

"Good. If she knew, she'd feel guilty about it. She's been through enough."

A new commotion outside drew our attention. Through the windows, we could see additional federal vehicles arriving, along with what looked like mobile medical units.

"They're preparing for immediate extraction," Derek said grimly.

"How long until Council enforcement arrives?" Magnus asked.

I checked my watch. "Fifty minutes, assuming they were ready to deploy immediately."

"That might be too long."

From upstairs came a cry of pain that made my heart stop. Lyra's voice, strained and frightened.

"The baby's coming," I said, already moving toward the stairs.

"Kael, you can't—" Sebastian started.

"I'm going to be there for the birth of my child. Federal agents or no federal agents."

"It's too dangerous."

"Not being there would be more dangerous."

I took the stairs two at a time, my heart pounding with fear and anticipation.

In fifty minutes, Council enforcement would arrive and this nightmare would be over.

But our child might be born before then, surrounded by people who saw them as a specimen rather than a miracle.

I wasn't going to let that happen.