Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Strategic Planning

Victoria

Tiny cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "If I might suggest," his deep voice rumbled, "we prepare for both scenarios. A primary plan to extract both hostages, and a contingency if Aurora proves... uncooperative."

Leo’s eyes never left mine as he considered this. "You would risk the mission—risk your brother’s life—for a woman who would gladly see you dead?"

"I would risk it to remain the person my father raised me to be," I answered softly. "The person you believe I am."

Something shifted in Leo’s expression then, a softening around the edges of his determination. He didn’t respond immediately, instead turning to Garrett who had been quietly observing from the corner.

"Report on the Howlthorne fighters," Leo ordered.

Garrett straightened. "Thirty-seven combat-ready wolves, Alpha. Morale is improving since Victoria’s address yesterday. They’re eager to retrieve their packmates and prove their loyalty to their rightful Alpha."

"Their rightful Alpha," Leo repeated thoughtfully, his gaze returning to me. The weight of those words hung between us, a reminder that no matter my connection to him, my birthright was leadership of my father’s pack.

"And our forces?" Leo asked Tiny.

"Fifty-eight Shadow warriors, all elite," Tiny responded promptly. "Plus Carson’s tech team for surveillance and communications."

Leo nodded, seemingly coming to a decision. "Carson, use the recovered footage to identify all exit points from the facility. Tiny, coordinate with Garrett to integrate the Howlthorne fighters with ours—mixed units, I want no opportunity for separate agendas."

As they hurried to comply, Leo pulled me aside, his voice low and intense. "I don’t agree with risking lives for Aurora, but I respect your position. Your... compassion is part of what makes you who you are."

Relief flooded through me. "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet," he warned. "If she makes one move against you, against any of us, I will end her myself. Are we clear?"

I swallowed hard but nodded. "Crystal."

Leo’s expression remained severe. "There’s something else we need to discuss. Marcus’s plans for you."

The memory of Marcus’s words—about binding me to the Grimwood bloodline—sent a wave of nausea through me. "He wants to force a mate bond."

"Not just any bond," Leo’s voice dropped even lower, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. "A forced bond with a fairiesis... different. More powerful. According to legend, it would amplify his abilities, extend his life, give him access to old magics."

"How do you know this?" I whispered.

A shadow crossed Leo’s face. "My grandfather told stories of the last great war between wolves and Forest fairies. Of the atrocities committed by power-hungry Alphas who captured and forced bonds on your mother’s people."

Horror crawled up my spine. "That’s why they retreated so deeply into the wilderness. Why they’re so rarely seen now."

Leo nodded grimly. "And why your mother’s choice to love your father was so revolutionary. It was the first willing bond between the species in generations."

"And now Marcus wants to undo all that. Use me to gain power over both worlds." I shuddered, leaning into Leo’s solid warmth.

His arms came around me, protective and fierce. "I won’t let him touch you," he growled, the promise vibrating through his chest. "You’re mine."

Instead of bristling at the possessiveness as I once might have, I found comfort in it. I was his, as surely as he was mine. Our bond, freely given and received, was everything Marcus’s forced claiming could never be.

"We need to accelerate our timeline," I said, pulling back to look at him. "The longer we wait, the more time Marcus has to prepare."

Leo nodded, leading me back to the table where the others were already deep in planning. "Carson, what’s our intelligence on the facility’s defenses?"

As Carson detailed guard rotations and security measures, I closed my eyes briefly, reaching for that new sense within me. The plants around us responded immediately, their energy gentle and inquisitive.

"Victoria?" Leo’s concerned voice pulled me back. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I opened my eyes, a new determination flowing through me. "I have an idea. The tunnel system we found—it’s connected to the Forest fairy’s ancient pathways. Plants grow throughout those passages, even in the dark."

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