Claimed By The Twin Alphas

Chapter Seventeen: The Secret Plan

ROWAN'S POV

We rode back to Frostborn territory in silence, both of us were too angry and worried to speak. Kael's predatory smile was burned into my mind. The way he'd displayed Lara like a trophy, making sure we saw her fear and his control.

By the time we reached the fortress, dawn was breaking over the mountains. Cian headed straight for the strategy room, and I followed. We had planning to do.

"We need to get that note to her," I said, pacing while Cian spread maps across the table. "We need her to know we haven't abandoned her."

"And how exactly do you plan to get into the palace?" Cian asked, marking guard positions on the map. "After this morning, Kael will have security doubled. He'll be watching for us."

I stopped pacing and turned to face him. "I already have a plan for that."

Cian looked up, surprised. "You do?"

"There's a servant. Works in the palace kitchens. Her brother is part of our pack." I moved to the map and pointed to the servants' entrance on the east side. "She owes us a favor. A big one. Her brother was dying from infection last winter, and we gave her medicine from our healers when Northwind refused to help."

"So she's sympathetic to Frostborn," Cian said slowly. "You think she'd risk sneaking a note into the Luna's chambers?"

"For the right price, yes." I'd already thought this through during the ride back. "She has access to all the private chambers. Goes in daily to change linens and tend the fires. She could slip a note under Lara's pillow without anyone noticing."

Cian studied the map, thinking. "It's risky. If she's caught, Kael will know we're trying to make contact."

"She won't get caught. She's been working there for years. No one pays attention to servants."

"And if Lara shows the note to Kael instead of coming to meet us?"

The question hit harder than it should have. "She won't," I said, but I couldn't quite keep the doubt from my voice.

"How do you know?" Cian's storm gray eyes were serious. "She chose him, Rowan. She's wearing his mark. She lied to him about seeing us to protect him. What makes you think she'll risk everything to meet us?"

"Because the bond is getting stronger." I pressed my hand against my chest, where I could feel the constant pull toward Lara. "Every day it gets more intense. She has to be feeling it too. That pull. That certainty that we belong together."

Cian was quiet for a moment. "I feel it," he admitted. "The bond, her emotion, and her fear. But wanting to see us and actually risking Kael's wrath to do it are two different things."

"She'll come," I insisted, needing to believe it. "She's trapped there and scared. She needs to know she has options. That she doesn't have to stay with an Alpha who treats her like property."

"We don't know that he treats her badly," Cian pointed out. "We saw one confrontation. For all we know, that was unusual."

But I shook my head. "You felt her fear through the bond. That wasn't a new fear. That was old fear, deep fear. The kind that comes from living with constant control."

Cian's expression darkened. He'd felt it too, even if he didn't want to admit it. "So we get her the note. Ask her to meet us at Silverbrook Falls tomorrow night. Then what?"

"Then we tell her the truth." I started pacing again. "We explain the mate marks. We tell her what they mean. We give her a choice."

"What if she chooses him anyway?"

The question made my wolf snarl with frustration. "Then at least she'll have made an informed choice. Right now, she doesn't even know what the mate bond means. Doesn't understand why her body responds to us. She thinks something's wrong with her."

Cian nodded slowly. "We need to prepare for the meeting. Weapons, but hidden. We can't look threatening, or she won't trust us."

"Agreed." I moved to the weapons wall and started selecting knives I could hide easily. "And we need escape routes planned. Multiple options in case Kael tries to follow her or set a trap."

"He will try," Cian said with certainty. "He knows we're trying to reach her. He'll be watching for any opportunity to catch us together."

We spent the next few hours planning. Routes to and from Silverbrook Falls. Weapons placement. What we'd say to convince Lara that we weren't trying to hurt her or trick her. That we just wanted her to understand what she meant to us.

"We can't force this," Cian reminded me as we reviewed the plans. "Even if every instinct is screaming to just take her and run. She has to choose us willingly, or the bond will never fully form."

"I know." But my wolf disagreed violently. My wolf wanted to claim what was ours, to mark her and make sure everyone knew she belonged to us. The restraint required to let her choose was killing me.

A knock on the door interrupted us. One of our border guards entered, looking uncertain.

"Alphas," he said, bowing his head. "A messenger just arrived from Northwind territory. He has news about Luna Lara."

My heart stopped. "What news? Is she hurt?"

"No, sir. Not hurt." The guard shifted uncomfortably. "Alpha Kael has made an announcement. The Luna is pregnant. They just found out today. The palace is celebrating."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Pregnant. Lara was pregnant with Kael's child.

Cian's face had gone completely pale. "Are you certain?"

"Yes, Alphas. The messenger said Alpha Kael announced it publicly this morning. Three weeks along."

Three weeks. Which meant it happened right after the Claiming Ball. Right after Kael marked her as his.

The guard left, and silence filled the room. I couldn't breathe and couldn't think. Our mate was carrying another Alpha's child.

"This changes everything," Cian said quietly.

"No." The word came out harsh, absolute. "It changes nothing. She's still our mate. The bond is still real."

"Rowan, she's pregnant with his heir. If we try to claim her now, if we convince her to leave him, there will be a war. And what happens to the baby?"

I hadn't thought that far ahead. Hadn't let myself think about what it would mean if Lara was already carrying Kael's child when she came to us.

"We can't just abandon her," I said desperately. "The note is already being delivered. She'll be waiting for us tomorrow night."

"And we'll go," Cian agreed. "But we need to be realistic about what we're asking her to choose. It's not just leaving Kael anymore. It's leaving while carrying his heir. The pack will call it betrayal. They'll hunt her down."

"Then we protect her." I slammed my hand on the table. "We take her to Frostborn territory where Kael can't reach her. We keep her and the baby safe."

"A baby that isn't ours," Cian said softly. "A baby that will always tie her to Kael, no matter what she chooses."

I knew he was right. Knew this complicated everything in ways I hadn't considered. But I couldn't give up on her. Wouldn't give up on her.

"The bond is still real," I said again. "She's still our mate. And she's trapped with an Alpha who's treating her like property. Pregnant or not, she deserves better than that."

Cian studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Agreed. We go through with the plan. We meet her tomorrow night. We tell her everything and let her choose."

"And if she chooses him? If she stays because of the baby?"

"Then we respect her choice." Cian's voice was firm, even though I could see the pain in his eyes. "But we make sure she knows we're not giving up on her. That we'll be there if she ever needs us."

I wanted to argue. Wanted to say we should just take her regardless of what she chose. But I knew Cian was right. We had to let her decide.

Even if her decision destroyed us.

"Tomorrow night," I said. "Silverbrook Falls. We tell her everything."

"Everything," Cian agreed.