Chapter 0161 

I recalled his panic–stricken face and nearly burst out laughing. But I swallowed a deep breath, pursing my lips. It was too soon to make fun of him. He still seemed shaken. 

“You should get laid,” I muttered. “Why not call Misha once we’re done from here. Or that other female.” 

He ignored the unsolicited advice. It felt like he was holding back from cursing. 

I was about to tell him that he looked far from alright when Lindsey emerged. She greeted us and immediately began explaining the situation. 

The Night Storm warrior still hadn’t given anything away. But she was sure he would crack soon. From the looks, the fact that he tried to escape had done nothing but worsened his 

situation. 

Archer, Lindsey’s partner who got hurt during the escape attempt, was now healing. Lindsey was still pissed as hell. I could feel the warmth of her wrath as she led us to the prisoner. 

Moments after we entered the cell, Jake and I stood with the battered warrior in front of us. He was healing, but our warriors had done a good deal of damage. Some of those wounds wouldn’t disappear overnight. 

“The two of you, wait outside,” Jake said to Lindsey and Archer. Both filed out, leaving me, him, and Tony with the prisoner. 

I started to approach the male when Jake cut in front of me. 

. “Please, let me handle this, Alpha,” he whispered. 

I stood back to let him do his thing. He was in such a weird mood after the strange encounter in the woods. Males of our kind were usually cruel when they got confused, anxious, or afraid. 

I would bet my left arm that my beta was feeling all three of those feelings. 

Why? 

The prisoner was at the receiving end of his cruelty. 

Ten minutes later, what the warrior revealed was as bad as what we suspected. 

He was indeed sent to take my kid. Being a full moon, I was expected to be out with his mother. They thought I would be far from the child. 

The plan was to evade the guards and snatch the pup from his bed. 

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Chapter 0161 

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“Not to harm him, I swear,” he cried. “I would never harm a pup, I swear to you, Alpha Nick. 

Alpha Lazarus wanted to use him to force a mating ceremony with you and Celia. O–or force your girl to t–to disappear from Forest Moon.” 

Richard arrived just then. He pushed open the door and seemed pained that we didn’t wait for him. 

Tony finished recorded the prisoner’s confession and immediately mailed it to Chief Alaric. At the same time, Richard called Henry to turn the jet around. 

It was better to move the prisoner to a real prison – the dungeon in the city. 

After the arrangements were made, the three of us stood quietly outside the house, occasionally looking up at the sky. 

We all knew what we were thinking. As a pack, an attack on one was an attack on all. Lazarus and his people had to pay. 

I tried not to imagine what would’ve happened if Jayden had succeeded. I trusted my warriors. and didn’t think he could’ve taken my pup. 

But recalling a few weeks ago, when Sara and the little one were taken, I couldn’t help but admit the small possibility of a repeat. 

The scary part was the fact that Jayden had a scent–blocker on. A perfume that wore out within an hour. Enough time to sneak into Alex’s room and snatch him away. 

If Lindsey hadn’t been doing her rounds at the same time he got here, would he have done the .did and left before Sara and I arrived? 

I shuddered at the thought. 

Thank Goddess, Sara insisted on coming back home tonight. 

Heaving a deep sigh, I pushed aside the unpleasant thought and broke the silence. 

“Alpha Lazarus made an attempt on my son. Here on Forest Moon’s territory. He’s left me with no choice but to retaliate. And I will strike hard!” 

Jake seemed more pleased by this declaration than the rest of us. Or was he just itching for a fight? 

“I’ll get to work on speeding up the business parts,” he declared. 

“Do we attack right away or after the ceremony?” Richard asked. 

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Chapter 0161 

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“We attack immediately. In coming days,” I replied. It has to be before the ceremony. 

In twenty–four hours, the moon would start to wane. An unfavorable period for a mating rite. Sara and I couldn’t have our ceremony until the next cycle, which was in two weeks or so. 

Before then, I must take care of our enemy. 

All three of us grew silent again as we quietly worked out the details of the attack in our heads. 

Another round of silence stretched for a while. Only our breathings and distant howls filled the space between us. 

I looked up at the sky, grateful for my life. For my family. Including my imperfect mother and my brothers. There was a calm assurance in my spirit that my loved ones were safe. Even when I was far from them out of necessity, they would remain so. 

“So,” I breathed, breaking the silence again. This time, to lighten the mood. 

“We saw a sleepwalker, Jake and I.” 

My gamma arched his brow, curious to hear more. 

“You won’t believe how scared he got, Rich. He pooped his pants.” 

3 

Richard laughed as Jake scowled, shaking his head in irritation. 

He began to walk away. 

“Where to?” I called out. 

“The night is still young, Alpha,” he replied, letting out his wolf as he spoke. 

‘I’m going for a run,‘ 

“Do that,” I called out. “And get laid too.”