Avenging Luna
Chapter 76: The Plan

Chapter 76: The Plan

Drake’s POV:

We did exactly as Leila suggested and bugged Raphael’s cell. It was a simple yet effective plan, and I had no doubts it would work. I instructed the guards personally, making it clear that if Marcus came by, they were to allow him access with minimal resistance—just enough to make it seem like protocol but not enough to raise suspicion.

"Let him think he’s getting away with it," I told them. "But keep your eyes open for anything unusual."

The guards nodded in understanding, and I knew they wouldn’t falter. Our pack was strong and disciplined, and with Raphael’s execution looming, I was more determined than ever to root out any remaining threats. I wanted nothing more than to clear the slate before my child was born.

As I left the dungeon, a sense of urgency gnawed at me. Tomorrow, we would be one step closer to ending Raphael’s reign of manipulation and deceit. But Marcus was another story. I didn’t have hard evidence yet, only gut instincts and the little things that didn’t add up. The way he kept visiting Raphael, his odd behavior during pack meetings... It was only a matter of time before he made a fatal mistake.

And when he did, I’d be there to catch him.

I couldn’t allow any more threats to linger. Not with Leila pregnant. Not with our child’s future at stake.

One last loose end, and then our world would be safe.

I went back to my office with Lucas, ready to wait for Marcus to slip up. The bug in Raphael’s cell was set, and now it was only a matter of time before we had the evidence we needed to confront him. Lucas sat across from me, reviewing the list of pack movements for tomorrow’s execution, but my mind wasn’t fully on the task at hand.

Leila didn’t come again with her "small breaks" or sly suggestions, which, honestly, I missed. She’d been a welcome distraction these past few days—her touch, her scent, the way she smiled before pulling me into her little schemes. But I guessed she was giving me space to finish off this mess with Marcus. She knew I needed my head clear.

Still, I couldn’t help but glance at the door every now and then, half-expecting her to pop in with one of her sultry looks, pretending she had something important to discuss when all she wanted was me. Pregnancy had only amplified her need for me, and I wasn’t one to complain. Those moments between us had become my refuge from the madness that surrounded us.

But now, I had to focus. We were so close to exposing Marcus, and once that was over, we could finally have some peace. For our child. For our future.

Lucas glanced up from the papers. "We’ll get him, Drake. Just a matter of time."

I nodded, leaning back in my chair, though my thoughts drifted again to Leila. Tomorrow, this nightmare with Raphael would end. But tonight, all I wanted was to hold her, to remind myself why we were fighting so hard.

I was so bored, staring at the stack of papers in front of me, barely listening as Lucas went over the final details for tomorrow. My mind wandered to Leila, wondering what she was up to. Probably with Nelly, chatting away or resting. Goddess, I missed her presence.

Just as I was about to lose myself completely in the thought of her, Marcus’s voice crackled through the speakers. It broke the monotony like a thunderclap.

Lucas and I both snapped to attention, exchanging quick glances. The speakers were set up to pick up the bug we planted in Raphael’s cell. And now, we had our first clue.

Marcus’s voice came through clearly, a little too low at first, but then it sharpened as he got closer to Raphael.

"I can’t keep doing this, Raphael," Marcus said, his tone strained. "The pack’s already suspicious. Drake’s not a fool. He’s probably watching me as we speak."

My heart pounded as I leaned in, listening intently. So he knew we were onto him, but that didn’t stop him from coming.

Raphael’s voice, raspy and weak, followed. "You have no choice, Marcus. You either help me, or everything I know comes out. You wouldn’t last a day in Drake’s hands if they knew the truth."

Lucas’s eyes widened as the tension in the room thickened. We were close, so close to finally putting this traitor in his place. I clenched my fists, waiting for more, eager for the final slip-up that would give me exactly what I needed.

Marcus’s breathing was heavy, like he was wrestling with his conscience. I leaned in closer to the speaker, urging him to make the final mistake.

"I’ve done everything you asked," Marcus finally said. "But it’s getting harder to cover my tracks. The other guards are noticing. I can’t sneak you food and medicine forever. They’ll catch on, and when they do, it’s not just me who’ll burn for this."

Raphael scoffed, the sound of his chains rattling in the background. "You think they won’t kill you once they find out? Drake will tear you apart, Marcus. The only chance you have is with me. You help me escape, and we’ll both live to see another day."

Marcus’s silence hung in the air like a heavy weight. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head, the conflict tearing him apart.

"I can’t let you die like this, Raphael. I owe you too much." Marcus finally relented, his voice barely a whisper.

I felt a surge of anger rise within me, my wolf clawing beneath the surface, ready to rip through anyone who dared betray us. Marcus was too far gone. He was helping Raphael. They were both going to pay for this.

Lucas’s hand landed on my shoulder, grounding me for a moment. "Wait," he said quietly. "Let him keep talking."

Raphael’s laugh echoed through the cell, full of malicious glee. "Good. Now, here’s what we’re going to do."

Lucas and I exchanged another look, and I knew we had to play this carefully. One wrong move, and Marcus would bolt, leaving us with no one to take down alongside Raphael. But if we played this right, we could get them both—and rid ourselves of this festering treachery once and for all.

"We’ll set the plan in motion tomorrow," Raphael continued, his voice filled with arrogance. "After my execution, chaos will erupt. You’ll have your chance to release me before anyone notices. But you have to be ready."

Marcus was breathing heavily again. "I... I’ll do it," he muttered reluctantly.

I shot a glance at Lucas, and he gave me a curt nod. We had them now. Raphael had laid out his escape plan, and Marcus had just agreed to betray the pack.

Without a word, Lucas grabbed his phone, dialing a secure line. He quietly alerted the guards to prepare for the next phase. Tomorrow, at Raphael’s execution, we’d have everything in place.

"Let him think he’s safe," I whispered to Lucas, my voice tight with rage. "We’ll catch him in the act and make sure they both pay."

Lucas nodded, his face grim. "They won’t see it coming."

As Marcus and Raphael continued talking, my mind drifted to Leila. I had to finish this mess with Marcus and Raphael for her sake—for the future of our child. This was one of the last pieces of the puzzle. When this was over, I could focus on my family without worrying about traitors lurking in the shadows.

Tomorrow, everything would change.

Leila’s POV:

I spent the rest of the afternoon with Nelly, enjoying the peace and warmth of her company. We sat on the terrace, overlooking the pack grounds as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting golden hues over everything.

"I can’t believe it’s happening tomorrow," I said, my mind flickering back to Raphael’s impending execution. "It feels like it’s been a long time coming."

Nelly nodded, her face serious. "It’s justice for what he did to you. After tomorrow, you can finally move forward without the shadow of him lingering over you."

Her words brought a sense of relief, but there was still a part of me that felt unsettled. Raphael had been a tormenting figure in my life for so long that it almost seemed surreal to think of him being gone for good.

"And what about Marcus?" Nelly asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Drake and Lucas are handling it," I said, trusting in their plan. "They’re keeping an eye on him. We’ll get what we need."

Nelly looked over at me, her eyes softening. "You’re stronger than you know, Leila. I don’t know how you’ve handled everything, but you’ve come out stronger on the other side. You’ll make a great mother."

Her words caught me off guard. The idea of being a mother still felt surreal, but every time I thought about the life growing inside me, I knew I wanted to be the best mother I could be.

"Thanks, Nelly," I said quietly, placing a hand over my belly. "I just hope I can live up to that."

"You will," she said firmly. "You’ve already shown so much strength. You’ll protect your child with the same fierceness you’ve shown in protecting this pack."

We sat in silence for a while, just soaking in the calm before tomorrow’s storm. There was a lot to process, but for now, I just needed to be with those I cared about. The rest would come soon enough.

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tomorrow’s events would change more than just Raphael’s fate.