growl rumbled from her and she poked him in the chest, making him back up. “I am not hiding underground. I’m going with you, and that’s final.”
Rafe towered over her, putting his nose to hers. She sensed Kirk and Nyla step up behind her, while Rafe’s rebel soldiers entered the war room. With his wolf in his eyes, Rafe snaked an arm around her waist and flattened her body to his. “I think it’s best if you stay here.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you think.” She punched him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. He instantly released her and doubled over.
She moved a few feet away, trying to calm the hum of desire rolling through her. Damn the fucking mating pull! She turned to Kirk and said, “Call Tanner and have him send a team here. I’ll need Rhea and Ana to work with Serenity and Nyla to see about transferring the power of the second moonstone to me.”
“Fuck that, Lu.”
She whirled on Rafe and shook her finger at him. “I know you are not telling me what to do again.”
He took a shaky breath and rubbed his stomach. “The power in the moonstone could kill you.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. That’s why I need the four of them to examine the stone, and we’ll form a plan when they arrive.”
Shaking his head, he said, “You will stay at my side the whole time.”
Whatever. Stubborn-ass male.
Kasen broke his silence by adding, “I’ll have a couple of Enforcers go with you to ensure your safety.”
“Thank you, Kasen.” Luna sat in front of the computer. “Nyla, how close are you to breaking the code?”
“Oh, I’m in.” She pulled over a chair and moved the laptop to her. “There are files on how the magic of the stones work, and after glancing over them, I kind of agree with Rafe. The power would be too much. That might be the reason Faelin hasn’t transferred the power from the one he has yet.”
Yeah, Luna was thinking the same thing. “That has to be the reason he needs a powerful witch.”
Nyla frowned. “I’ve never seen the stone or been close enough to it to know just how much power it holds, but if it is as powerful as I think, one witch won’t be enough. At least not without killing her or him in the process of transferring.” She turned to the computer again and added, “I’ll keep digging through the files on here and see if there are other options.”
“Thank you.” Luna faced Rafe. “What’s the plan?”
Chapter Four
The plan was to move out first thing in the morning. Rafe wanted to talk with his mate and do some wooing, but she avoided him the rest of the afternoon and night. Instead of tracking her down like he wanted to, he gave her space.
To keep his mind busy, he contacted two of his rebel soldiers that would go with him, Luna, and Kasen’s Enforcers to the location where they believed the moonstone was. Elise was a strong fighter and loyal. Russ was a great strategist as well as lethal.
Rafe was briefing them on what he learned and the plan when Colt, Kirk, and Nyla entered the room. Kirk gave a nod to them. “Colt’s in.”
“Good.” Rafe waved the mutant over to include him in the briefing. Colt had taken it upon himself to be Luna’s protector. No romantic feelings were coming from Colt, just loyalty an Enforcer would have for his Alpha. That was why Rafe liked the male.
Several minutes later, Rafe picked up on Luna’s rosemary and mint scent. Then her laughter filtered into the room moments before she and Kasen entered. Straightening, Rafe watched them. They were so close their arms almost touched, and Rafe wanted to kill Kasen. Luna was Rafe’s mate.
Mine.
Yeah, he agreed with his wolf.
As if sensing Rafe’s darkening mood, Luna jerked her gaze to his and pursed her lips. In a flash, she relaxed and asked, “Is everyone here and ready?”
Rafe closed his laptop before shoving it into the messenger bag. “I just finished briefing everyone on the mission, so we’re ready.”
They still didn’t have a solid plan because they didn’t know where exactly the stone was. They had the coordinates, but that didn’t mean it was there. The stone could have been moved, or the coordinates could point them in the area but not the moonstone. That made more sense to Rafe because that would make the stone harder to find.
“Let’s get moving,” Luna