Chapter 026: Enter the Trap

Jackson's POV 

The war room felt colder than usual, and as I studied the map in front of me the low hum of tension permeated the area. My thoughts burned the coordinates we had discovered in the journal—a little clearing close to the southern boundary. Perfect for an ambush, it was secluded, far-off. This screamed trap, everything about it, yet we had no choice. We had nowhere to wait any more.

I looked at Ava, standing next to me, her forehead wrinkled in focus as she worked over the specifics with Leo. She was keeping it together, but I could see the cracks—the anxiety that carved lines on her face, the concern for our kids chewing at the margins of her fortitude. I also experienced that. Every second that went without them seemed to last an eternity.

Breaking the quiet, Leo stated, "We have to assume she's expecting us." Though he spoke in a cool, businesslike manner, he could not completely hide a slight sense of anxiety. "The Raven would not leave coordinates behind without a purpose. Whatever it is for, this meeting is bait.

"I know," my voice low but consistently answered. Nevertheless, we are going regardless.

Ava raised her keen, determined eyes up at me. "We have no other option. We walk in, but we have to be wise. We cannot stroll into this blind.

I nodded, but inward the irritation boiled. Being defensive and responding to her motions instead of handling the matter disgusted me. From the start, this woman had been tugging the threads; every time we thought we might be close to calling it off, she vanished, wreaking more turmoil in her path.

Looking between Ava and Leo, "We'll take a small team," I said. "Only ten of our finest, maximum here. A full frontal attack is unaffordable; it will cause her to tip off. We have to start her off surprised.

Leo shot a quick nod. I'll have them ready.

I glanced at Ava, still fixed on the map, as he exited the room to put the team together. She had not talked much about what we could discover there, but I knew Lily and Caleb were on her mind.

I whispered softly, moving toward her, "They will be there." She keeps us on edge using them. Ava, we will get them back.

Her eyes flicked to mine, and for a minute the mask of power she had been wearing dropped off. "I hope you are correct, Jackson. What if, nevertheless, they are absent? Suppose this is merely another diversion.

I stretched forward and softly squeezed her hand. "Then we will keep on. We will dissect her ideas till we come across them. We are not, however, leaving without them.

Ava nodded, her lips tightly together and her will returning. "We'll finish this."

As we walked throughout the woodland, our crew crept softly over the shadows amid the heavy fog of the evening. Every step seemed intentional, every sound enhanced as we approached the clearing. Every instinct told me this: that this interaction would decide everything; my senses were on great alert.

Leading the way, Leo moved fast but deliberately, his sharp eyes glancing ahead over the woods. Ava was right next to me, breathing steadily, but I knew her mind was racing exactly like mine. Every muscle in my body was tensed, poised to react the instant we spotted anything—any indication of the Raven, any indication of the children.

The clearing emerged, a little open area encircled by low-hanging branches and heavy trees. The air was calm as we bent beneath the cover of the forest, looking for any movement—eerily quiet. As we waited, watched, my heart hammered in my chest every second dragging.

Leo murmured, his eyes narrowing as he gestured toward the far side of the clearing.

I looked where he pointed, and my breath stopped in my throat. Two little, huddled close together people stood far apart. Lilia and Caleb.

Ava's palm flew to her mouth, and as she saw them she gasped softly. "It's them," she said, her voice laden with feeling.

Though it was soon buried under mistrust, I experienced a wave of relief. This was simply too simple. They were out in the open, utterly deferential. It was set up like this.

"Wait," I murmured, sounding quiet but forceful. There is something wrong.

Ava stared at me, wide with urgency. Jackson, we cannot just abandon them there.

"I know," I remarked rapidly. But take a look around. The Raven resides where? Where are her men?

Leo's face hardened as his eyes surveyed the clearing once more. "We are caught in a trap."

I looked to our left before I could reply. Though hardly apparent in the heavy fog, shadows moved across the trees. Rogues, hovering about from all sides. Realizing we were encircled sank my heart.

I said, "Stay low," to the others. "They do not know we are here yet."

Ava's body stiffened as if she were poised to run across the clearing, her eyes fixed on the twins. Though we couldn't afford to hurry in, I knew how much waiting was killing her. Not quite yet.

Then, sharply and frigid, a voice emerged from the other side of the clearing. "I see Alpha, you have finally arrived."

She entered view, her cloak billowing around her as she proceeded with careful unhurried grace. Her smile was as sharp as a sword, and her eyes shone with gratification.

Her voice floated across the calm air, "You've been a thorn in my side for far too long." However, it closes tonight.

My eyes never leaving hers, I stood slowly, moving out from behind the trees. "Where are your lads, Raven?" Maintaining a calm voice, I asked Generally speaking, you do not work alone.

Her smile grew more broad. Oh, they are just close enough. But for this I do not need them.

Ava moved forward next to me, her eyes flaming with resentment. "Let the kids go."

The Raven's gaze moved to Ava, her face amused. "You really do think it's that straightforward? Don't you? You still believe you have any influence over what comes next after all I have done to get you to this point?

As she talked, my muscles stiffened and the air seemed dangerously charged. She was far too composed and too confident of herself. I had no faith in it.

"You've already lost," I murmured, stepping forward. "We are walking out of here and picking the twins. You have nothing to haggle with.

The Raven laughed, a stinging, sarcastic sound that chilled my spine. You believe you could simply grab them? You hardly leave this place at all.

The fog changed before I could respond, and twelve rogues came out of the shadows encircling the clearing. Their hands clutching guns, their eyes shining with hate, they closed in.

Ava wrapped her palm around mine, her breath accelerating. Though that was not what bothered me, we were outnumbered. Like she was waiting for something, the Raven was staring at us. Like she knew, we did not know something.

Then I watched the movement behind the twins.

My heart stopped when a man emerged from the darkness clutching a little gadget. a bomb detonator.

No! Too late, I yelled and sprang forward.

The explosion tore over the clearing, dumping a tsunami of heat and trash over us. I landed hard, the boom still audible in my ears. Everything was anarchy for a moment—fire, smoke, the yells of the fighters as they rushed to their feet.

Still, one idea emerged through all the fog.

My body hurt, I forced myself forward, my vision fuzzy as I looked for them. Though I could not see them, the smoke was dense and the fire burned over the clearing. My heart beating, panic tore across me and I staggered forward.

"Ava!" I phoned with a scratchy voice.

She came up next to me, her face white but focused as she looked about. Her eyes wide with panic, she gasped, "Where are they?"

I was not sure. Though I could not see them through the fog, the blast had thrown them elsewhere. Desperate to find them, my heart hammered in my chest as I hurried across the wreckage yelling their names.

Then I spotted a little figure still on the ground through the cloud.

"Lily!", I cried and ran for her.

She was unconscious, her little body limp in my arms as I drew her near; my heart stopped as I looked for a heartbeat. She was breathing, but hardly at all.

"Ava, assist me here!" I started to cry; my voice broke with feeling.

Ava arrived quickly, shaking hands as she examined Lily for bruises. Her voice faltering, she added, "We need to get her out of here."

But when we raised her, a triumphant cry sliced through the tumult.

The Raven called, "You can run, Alpha," her laughter resounding across the smoke. You will never be able to flee me, though.

And I realized then this was not over.

Not by a long margin.