Lyra’s POV
Lyra took in a deep breath.
“Do not withdraw the west patrols completely,” she said slowly, choosing each word with care.
“Reinforce them quietly instead.
Let the enemy think their attack worked.
At the same time, send negotiators south, but delay real agreements.
Buy time,” she added.
Ash’s eyes widened, then lit with interest.
“Draw them out,” he said slowly, tapping the report on the table with a finger.
“Make them make a move before they are ready.
I like the idea.
But how exactly?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, her voice gaining confidence, steadying with each word.
“People who plan carefully panic when things stop going as expected.
They act rashly, make mistakes.
If whoever is behind this thinks we are reacting, they will reveal more than they intend.”
“Also, block the trade routes leading to the west and south,” Lyra added.
Ash leaned back, brow furrowed.
“I see that, but what about supplies and trade?
We cannot just… freeze things,” he said.
She shook her head.
“No, not completely.
But we can block certain trade routes leading to the west and the south.
Focus on the key routes they use most.
The ones that bring in herbs, salt, iron, and spices,” Lyra told them.
Ronan raised a brow.
“You know all that?” he muttered in surprise.
Her gaze swept the table as she outlined it.
“Yes.
Crescent Pack and neighboring territories used these routes.
I memorized them when I was younger,” she said.
“The north-west route leads to Crescent.
Herbs, rare salts, and some dried meat.
The south-east route is mostly iron, tools, and wine.
If we block them temporarily, we can see which packs try to avoid the blockade.
That will tell us exactly who is involved.”
Ash’s eyes brightened.
“So they pick a side.
Clever.
If they act, we’ll know the players,” he said.
“Yes,” she said firmly, tapping the edge of the table for emphasis.
“And once we know, we can prepare properly.
We will not just be reacting blindly.
We will have proof of involvement.”
Ronan’s gaze, which had been unreadable until now, sharpened slightly.
“You’re suggesting a trap of sorts,” he said quietly.
“Let them reveal themselves while we maintain the appearance of panic and confusion.”
She nodded.
“Exactly.
Keep the west patrols reinforced quietly.
Keep the southern negotiators moving but without making concessions.
Block trade on these targeted routes.
Watch how each pack reacts.
Whoever moves first or tries to bypass the restrictions is the one manipulating both fronts, or is involved somehow.”
Ash whistled softly, impressed.
“That is… brilliant.
It would force the packs into action without us needing to make the first aggressive move,” he muttered.
Her pulse quickened as she realized how seriously they were taking her suggestion.
She had spoken up, spoken clearly, and now these men, the Alpha and his council, were considering her plan seriously.
Several council members exchanged looks.
Murmurs rippled across the room.
Some whispered, others frowned.
Ronan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
“And the poison?” he asked, voice low.
Lyra sighed.
“It tells us someone inside the pack is involved,” she said.
“External enemies could not have gotten to your meals without help.
It may go beyond the former head cook.
The attacks and the poison are connected.
Find the traitor, and the rest will reveal itself.”
Ash nodded slowly, taking in her words.
“You are assuming this is one coordinated force, not just random opportunists from the west and south?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“This is the strategy of someone who knows exactly what they are doing.
The west and south are only part of the plan.”
Ronan’s eyes flicked to her briefly.
“Your reasoning is sound,” he said.
She exhaled quietly, feeling both relief and a small spark of pride.
“It will give us the information we need without putting the pack in unnecessary danger,” she added.
Ash smiled faintly.
“Well, I will be damned.
Keeping you around was a good idea, head cook.
You just mapped a strategy that half the council would take hours to figure out,” he said.
Heat rushed to Lyra’s face, but she held her posture, forcing herself not to smile back too broadly.
She could feel Lothian’s eyes on her from the side, approving.
“I… I am glad it helps,” she said softly.
Ronan’s expression remained unreadable, but his eyes held a glint she could not identify.
Approval?
Surprise?
Both?
She could not tell, and yet it made her heart beat faster.
“We will act immediately,” Ronan said, standing.
“Prepare reports on the trade routes.
Reinforce patrols.
Notify southern negotiators to delay agreements.
Keep all movements quiet.
And Ash,” his gaze sharpened, “watch for any unusual activity within the pack.
No one is above suspicion.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Ash said, straightening.
Lyra’s hands clenched briefly at her sides.
Her plan was accepted.
Her voice had mattered.
For the first time, she felt a strange mix of fear and purpose.
Fear, because she had just placed herself directly in the line of political strategy.
Purpose, because she had a role to play, one that could shape the survival of the pack, and perhaps the Alpha himself.
Ronan stood then, the movement drawing attention back to him.
“This council is adjourned,” he said, his voice cutting through the remaining murmurs.
“We move immediately.”
Chairs scraped against the floor as members rose, voices filling the chamber again with quiet chatter about the plans.
Lyra remained where she was, unsure if she should step forward or wait.
Her mind was still racing.
She had spoken.
She had offered insight.
She had been heard.
And yet, a part of her worried that she had overstepped.
Lothian leaned close, his voice low so only she could hear.
“You did well, Lyra Storme,” he said quietly.
“They needed to hear that.”
She exhaled slowly, letting some of the tension slip from her shoulders.
Her knees trembled slightly now that the weight of the meeting was behind her.
“I did not mean to speak so much.
I can’t help it when the wheels start running in my head,” she murmured, almost to herself.
“You needed to,” he replied.
“And they needed to hear it.”
As the council members filed out, Ronan paused beside her.
He looked at her with something she had not seen before in his face.
It was not the sharp command she was used to, nor the calm dominance that could make someone tremble.
It was… appreciation.
Respect.
Surprise that she had dared to speak, and that she had been right.
“You were right to speak,” he said quietly, not raising his voice.
“Do not doubt that again.”
The words struck her like a balm she did not know she needed.
She lowered her head quickly, trying to hide the sudden warmth of pride and relief that bloomed in her chest.
“Thank you, Alpha,” she whispered.
He nodded once, briefly, and then walked away.
His presence lingered behind her, heavier than any chair or table, like a shadow that left warmth instead of cold.
She was reminded again, that he was her mate, when her wolf stirred.
She glanced at Lothian.
He looked like he was reading her.
He knew that Ronan was her mate, and his eyes held a small, almost unnoticeable smile.
“See,” Lothian said softly.
“You did more than survive this meeting.
You helped shape it.”
Lyra let out a shaky breath.
“I… I just hope it’s enough,” she murmured.
“If I am wrong…”
“You are not wrong,” Lothian said firmly.
“And even if you were, you spoke with caution, logic, and clarity.
That counts here.
That counts more than you know.”
She could see the path forward, but the danger still loomed.
The west, the south, the poison.
Everything pointed to someone beyond the obvious packs.
Someone clever.
Someone patient.
Her heart thumped at the realization.
They were facing an enemy who thought several moves ahead.
And she had just placed herself in the middle of it.
But as she looked at Ronan walking away, shoulders squared, commanding attention even in passing, she realized something else.
He would not face it alone, not when she was here.
She would have to be smart.
Careful.
And above all, unseen when necessary.
But she would not hesitate when it mattered to Ronan.
Not now.
Because she had seen the pattern.
She had spoken.
And Ronan had listened.
And that was worth more than anything else in the room.
Her wolf stirred, quiet but proud.