"And what makes you think we didnāt think of that?" Leon argued. "We know that. Cane knows that. Thatās why heās surrounded by guards." There was nothing but disgust in his voice as he added, "A proud werewolf would be at the front of the battle, but heās a coward ā a smart coward at that. He knows weāre coming. So tell us, whatās this special way youāll win a war without bloodshed?"
Micah rolled his eyes. All these complaints and yet no action. The things he did for his sister.
"Well, none of you can do this," he said, stretching out his hand. Shadows billowed around him like smoke.
There was a sharp gasp as Alexa instinctively stepped back. Ezra pulled Nancy behind him just in case, while Jeremiah stiffened, ready to strike if Micah tried anything. Only Irene and Aeron stood their ground, though their eyes narrowed, and their muscles coiled, ready for a fight if it came to that.
"Calm down," Micah said, unfazed. "Itās just a demonstration, a dramatic one at that. I tend to have a thing for theatrics," he added with a sly smile.
Leon, still on edge, asked, "And how exactly is this supposed to help us?"
"I can charm Cane. Or anyone close enough and unmated. I just need to get within ten meters for my appeal to work. Itās most effective on skin contact, the victim becomes completely enamored. But I doubt Cane will let me near him."
"So let me get this straight..." Ezra said. "We have to bet this war on you seducing Cane and killing him?"
"Well, if you put it like that," Micah shrugged, unoffended.
Leon jabbed a finger at him. "So weāre supposed to trust this nonsense? We donāt even know if it works."
Accusing him of collaborating with the enemy was one thing, but looking down on him was another and Micah wasnāt going to take it.
Micah smiled, sly as a fox. "Perhaps you should find out for yourself, Alpha Leon."
"What?" Leon frowned, confused.
Then the air changed, a static prick crawling along the skin. Goosebumps rose on everyoneās arms as Micahās magic spilled outward and touched them all.
Irene felt it first. Her thoughts fogged; Micah stood in a brilliant halo in her mind. She wanted to be close to him, to touch him, to be with him. The urge rose like heat beneath her ribs.
She almost staggered toward him before the image of her husbands ā Aeron and Arion ā slammed into her mind like a cold bucket. She snapped out of it, her breath coming fast. What in the world was that?
Aeron looked dazed for a second before clearing. As for Ezra and Nancy, they were unmoved. Their bond was a shield that the charm couldnāt pierce through. It simply had no effect on them.
Micahās sinister smile widened. He pushed the charm, directing its warmth like a current. All eyes tracked as Leon, the South Pack Alpha, walked toward him as if pulled. There was nothing but adoration in his eyes. When he reached Micah, he stood in front of him like a worshiper.
Micah commanded, "Go down on your knees."
"No... " Jeremiah gasped, barely recovered from the fog. "He wouldnāt..."
But Leon did. He sank to one knee before Micah, eyes twinkling with a strange, disbelieving glee. Shock slammed through the room; faces froze in varying shades of horror and disbelief.
Irene cupped her mouth, the image still vivid behind her eyes. Jeremiah had both hands on his head, stunned into silence.
Nancyās mouth formed a perfect O, then unable to hold it in anymore, laughed. She snatched up her phone before anyone could stop her.
"No, babe, donātā" Ezra barked, too late. Nancy clicked a photo, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.
Alexa flushed crimson, embarrassed and caught off-guard. Yet when she met Micahās cool gaze, the shame softened into admiration. Micah had surprised them all.
Maybe he wasnāt so bad, after all. Except there was more than admiration in those eyes.
Micah could have pushed it further. He could have made Leon crawl on his feet, dance, or even debase himself, like giving him a lap dance.
But Leon was an Alpha and wouldnāt forgive such a public disgrace. Not to mention, Micah was now mated, and Adele would murder him. So he eased the hold, letting the charm die gently.
Leon blinked, the world snapping back. He scrambled to his feet, cheeks flushing with shame and fury as if waking from a fever dream.
"What the hell?" he snarled, scanning the room for answers, but the smug satisfaction on Micahās face said it all.
"Seriously?" Leon growled.
Nancy could not hold it. She dissolved into louder, raucous laughter, clutching her belly until tears spilled. Irene tried to hide a grin but failed; she let out a shocked, helpless chuckle. The sound spread, contagious and ridiculous. Even Aeron cracked a small smile.
Leonās humiliation curdled into reluctant concession. He straightened, jaw tight. "Fine," he spat. "You made your point. You win."
"The pleasureās all mine," Micah said, shameless and calm.
"Alright, thatās enough. We need to focus," Ezra cut in, folding the room back into business.
"You know what this means?" Aeron asked.
"Yeah," Ezra said. "Micah doesnāt necessarily have to charm Cane in person. He only needs someone close to Cane to do the dirty work."
"True," Micah agreed, "But I still need to be in close quarters for the charm to hold. I must ensure the person actually carries out the task. My presence is required for control."
"If thatās the case," Irene said, "we need Caneās exact location. That way, we can drop you in, execute, and extract you alive."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Surely, there have to be spies, or at least a few still loyal to us, in Caneās camp," Irene said, crossing her arms.
Ezraās expression was thoughtful. "There should be. And if not, weāll make one. Thereās always an Alpha willing to switch sides for the right price, or protection. Jeremiah and I will look into it. If we canāt find loyalty, weāll buy it." He glanced around the table. "Weāll come back with a name and location soon enough."
He paused, then turned to Micah. "In the meantime, is there anything youāll need before this mission?"
Micah didnāt hesitate. "Nothing else," he said, "except a long, private call with my mate. No disturbance."