Chapter 491: We hold.

Davian.

The sharp, familiar pressure of a mind-link suddenly pressed against the back of my skull, cutting straight through the heavy silence that had settled over the bedroom. The sensation was unmistakable, a firm mental presence pushing against my consciousness and demanding my attention. I recognized the connection almost immediately.

I paused where I stood, then slowly leaned back against the edge of the heavy wooden writing desk beside me. My attention remained fixed on Daniel, who was still chained securely to the bedpost. I made sure not to move too suddenly or give away the fact that something had changed.

I closed my eyes for only a split second, allowing myself to focus inward. I reached for the mental channel and opened it, letting the familiar connection settle fully into my mind.

’Alpha Davian,’ Marcus’s voice echoed through the link. His tone was tight and disciplined, every word controlled and steady as iron. ’Everything is set on our end.’

I kept my physical face completely neutral. I refused to let even the smallest flicker of reaction cross my features, especially with Daniel watching me so closely. Whatever Marcus had to report, Daniel didn’t need to see it reflected in my expression.

’Report, Marcus,’ I answered silently through the link, keeping my thoughts calm and controlled. ’What’s the status of the pack?’

’We’ve taken full control of both the inner courtyard and the outer perimeter,’ Marcus reported through the mind-link, as his voice remained controlled, but there was a sharp edge of satisfaction bleeding into his thoughts, a quiet confidence behind every carefully measured word. ’Daniel’s loyalists on the grounds didn’t even know what hit them. We moved in fast and quietly subdued every single one of his men stationed outside.’

I listened without interrupting, keeping my expression carefully blank as his report continued.

’They’re locked in the iron cells under the guardhouse as we speak.’

A cold, satisfying wave of relief washed over me at the words. It settled through my chest, easing some of the tension that had been coiled tightly inside me. Still, I refused to let that relief soften my focus. I kept my mental voice razor-sharp and my thoughts firmly controlled.

’Good work,’ I replied through the link. ’What about the rest of the pack guards?’

There was no hesitation from Marcus.

’They’re fully armed, geared up, and standing by in the lower courtyard,’ he replied, his voice steady and immediate. ’The war horses are saddled, the supplies are packed, and the men are ready.’

His words came clearly through the connection, each detail confirming that everything was already in position.

’We’re positioned right at the main gates, just waiting for your word to march out and steamroll the troop of soldiers Daniel brought with him earlier tonight.’

I remained silent for a moment, absorbing the report as Marcus continued.

’We can wipe them out before they even realize his letter was dispatched.’

The certainty in his voice carried through the link. Everything was prepared. The guards were armed, the horses were ready, the supplies had been gathered, and the men were waiting at the gates for my command.

I kept my mental response measured despite the satisfaction still lingering beneath my composure. Marcus had delivered exactly the report I needed to hear, and there was no uncertainty in his words. The pack was prepared and waiting for my order.

I glanced over at Daniel. He was slouched heavily against the bed, his body resting awkwardly where he had been restrained, his chin lowered against his chest. Blood was still caked around his split lip, dark against his skin, and his breathing came in slow, heavy breaths. His dark eyes kept darting nervously toward me, watching me with growing suspicion as though he were trying to read the silent conversation taking place inside my head.

I deliberately turned my focus back to the mind-link, shutting Daniel out of my attention. My mental voice dropped into an unyielding, authoritative command, leaving no room for argument or misunderstanding.

’No, Marcus. Do not act recklessly yet.’

There was a brief pause.

’Alpha?’ Marcus hesitated, surprise flickering through the mental bond. ’Sir, we have the element of surprise right now. If we strike Daniel’s troop first—’

’We hold our ground,’ I cut in, driving the order firmly into his mind. My tone remained controlled, but the command behind it was unmistakable. ’If you attack Daniel’s men prematurely, the noise and commotion will spill over into the forest.’

I paused, making sure the weight of my reasoning reached him clearly through the link.

’The Lycan prince’s scouts will see the chaos from the ridge and realize the surrender was a setup before the messenger pigeon even reaches his camp.’

I kept my thoughts steady as I continued, refusing to allow impatience to interfere with the plan.

’ We need the Lycan prince to be completely relaxed, believing Daniel’s letter that everything is locked down.’

For a moment, there was silence through the link as Marcus absorbed the order and the reasoning behind it.

’Understood, sir,’ Marcus answered at once. His discipline took over instantly, his earlier hesitation disappearing from his voice. ’ We’ll hold our positions in the courtyard and wait for your explicit order before making a move.’

His response was firm and immediate, leaving no doubt that he understood exactly what I had commanded. I kept the connection steady, allowing his acknowledgment to settle between us before returning my attention to the silence of the room.

’Keep the outer guards on high alert, keep the horses quiet, and stand by,’ I commanded, making each word firm enough to leave no room for misunderstanding. ’Do not make a move until you receive my order.’

I snapped the mind-link shut, cutting the connection cleanly. The mental pressure that had been pressing against the back of my skull dissolved instantly, leaving my mind quiet again. I let out a slow, steady breath, allowing the tension in my chest to ease slightly.

When I opened my eyes, my attention immediately settled on Aidan. He was standing near the tall glass window, his dark eyes fixed on the distant timber line where the messenger pigeon had disappeared into the night. His posture was still, his attention seemingly locked on the darkness beyond the glass.

I slowly pushed myself off the desk, straightening as I did so. I reached down and wiped a smear of soot from my leather sleeve, brushing the dark residue away with a slow movement.

A slow, lethal, victorious smile spread across my face as I looked over at my brother. The satisfaction of Marcus’s report still lingered in my mind, impossible to completely hide now that the link was closed.

"That was Marcus," I said, my voice rich with satisfaction as I crossed my arms over my chest. "The pack is locked down."

I paused briefly before continuing, watching Aidan as I spoke.

"Every single one of Daniel’s men outside has been disarmed and thrown into the cells without raising an alarm... the guards, the horses, and the supplies are completely prepped in the lower courtyard."

Aidan finally turned away from the glass. His brow arched slightly as he listened to my report, his dark eyes settling fully on me.

"And Daniel’s troop?" he asked.

The question hung between us as his attention remained fixed on me, waiting for my answer.

"Standing outside the main gates like sitting ducks, completely oblivious," I replied, letting out a short, dark laugh. The sound escaped me with a quiet edge of satisfaction as I thought about how unaware Daniel’s men still were. "Marcus wanted to march out and tear through them right now, but I told him to hold his position. We wait."

Aidan’s attention shifted from me, moving down toward Daniel.

Daniel stiffened on the bed almost immediately. His body went rigid as the words sank in, and his face grew even paler. His dark eyes flickered with a mixture of realization and unease as he finally understood that his men outside had already been neutralized without firing a single shot. Whatever confidence he had been holding onto seemed to falter beneath the weight of that knowledge.

I stepped up beside Aidan, coming to a stop near the window. My hand rested comfortably on the hilt of my sword, my fingers settling around it with familiar ease as I looked out into the quiet, dark horizon.

The night remained still beyond the glass, the distant timber line barely visible against the darkness. I kept my gaze fixed ahead, allowing the silence to settle for a moment before speaking again.

"Everything is falling into place, Aidan," I said, as my smile widened slowly, sharpening into a confident, almost lethal grin as I let the certainty of my words sink in. "Once that Lycan prince falls for the letter trap and marches his men right where we want them, this whole thing is over."

I kept my hand resting on the hilt of my sword, my gaze still fixed on the dark horizon. The plan was already moving exactly as intended, and all that remained was for the Lycan prince to believe the message he had received and step directly into the position we had prepared for him.