The Lycan King's Outcast Omega (by Cara Anderson) novel Chapter 137

Preparations consume the remaining daylight – specialized equipment gathered, warriors selected for the operation, communication protocols established. Through it all, my powers catalog every detail, every contingency, every potential weakness in our strategy.

As dusk approaches, I find a quiet moment in the garden, centering myself for what comes next. The pendant at my throat pulses warmly, as if responding to my resolved purpose.

"There you are." Alaric's voice carries quiet strength as he joins me. "Everything's ready."

Through our bond, I feel his need to say things left unspoken. To acknowledge the risk without undermining our confidence.

"Whatever happens tonight," he says finally, "know that you've already changed everything. Not just for us, but for every wolf with abilities they tried to suppress."

My throat tightens at the emotion flowing through our bond. "We haven't won yet."

"We already have." His hands frame my face. "They wanted to keep us divided, isolated. Instead, they created the very thing they feared most – wolves who understand their methods, who can fight back. Who refuse to be controlled."

Through our bond, his absolute faith in me flows clear as mountain streams. Not just in my abilities, but in who I am. In what we are together.

"Come back to me," he whispers against my lips. "Whatever happens, whatever you face out there. Come back to me."

"Always," I promise, sealing the vow with a kiss that carries everything words cannot.

Night cloaks our approach to the ancient temple grounds. Through trees older than any living wolf, we move like shadows – three small teams converging from different directions. Through our bond, I track Alaric's position on the eastern approach, his warriors ready to create the diversion we need.

The temple ruins rise from mist-shrouded earth, stone circles and broken columns marking what was once sacred space. But the activity around it now profanes that history – modern equipment, security patrols, temporary structures erected within the ancient stone perimeter.

My powers stretch ahead, sensing corruption concentrated at the center of the ruins. Just as our intelligence suggested, they've established their primary operation at the heart of the sacred ground.

"Water source access point ahead," my guide whispers, indicating a small stream that feeds into the underground aquifer. According to ancient texts, this water flows beneath the entire temple complex, once used to carry ritual elements to all parts of the sacred ground.

The corruption responds to my influence, transforming at the molecular level. To all instruments, all tests, it will appear unchanged. But when they attempt the extraction ritual...

A hand clamps over my mouth before I can react. Through our bond, Alaric's alarm spikes at my sudden fear, but he's too far away, committed to the diversion.

"Remarkable abilities." The voice in my ear sends ice down my spine. "Even more evolved than our models predicted."

Cassius.

Through our bond, I send Alaric a desperate warning, but it's too late. Something sharp pierces my neck, and darkness begins to close in.

The last thing I feel is Alaric's frantic response through our bond.

The last thing I hear is Cassius's satisfied voice: "Bring her to the center. Phase Two begins now."