91 Chapter 91
91 Chapter 91
Seraphina’s POV 1
Themand center buzzed with controlled tension as dawn broke over the eastern border. I stood beside
Damien at the central tactical disy, watching dozens of red dots move across the digital map like predators
circling their prey. Each dot represented a scout position, carefully hidden among the trees and rocky
outcroppings that dotted our territorial boundary.
Twenty-four hours had passed since we’d implemented my strategy, and my nerves felt stretched tighter
than a bowstring.
“Still no movement from the main rogue force,” Lucas reported from his position at themunications
console, his voice carrying the exhaustion we all felt after maintaining this vigil through the night. “But our
scouts are reporting increased chatter from the smaller groups. They’re definitely taking the bait.”
I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly grateful for the thick sweater I’d thrown on. Themand
center was kept deliberately cool to prevent the electronic equipment from overheating, but the chill seemed
to seep into my bones as we waited for our gamble to either pay off spectacrly or fail catastrophically.
“Second thoughts?” Damien asked quietly, his voice pitched low enough that only I could hear it.
I looked up at him, taking in the lines of stress around his silver-blue eyes, the way his jaw was clenched with
barely controlled tension.
“No,” I said firmly, though my heart was hammering against my ribs.
“Alpha,” came a crackling voice through the radio, urgent but controlled. “This is Scout Team Seven. We’ve got
movement on the northern ridge. Large group, maybe forty rogues, approaching what they think is an
undefended section.”
The entiremand center went silent except for the electronic hum of equipment. Damien moved to the radio with fluid grace, his entire demeanor shifting into themanding presence that had made him the most powerful Alpha King in living memory.
“Copy, Scout Seven. Maintain concealment and report when they begin crossing into our territory.”
My hands were shaking slightly as I watched the tactical disy update with new information. Forty rogues
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was a significant forcerge enough to overwhelm a normal patrol, but small enough to retreat quickly if
they encountered serious resistance.
“There,” I whispered, pointing to the screen as new contacts appeared. “Look at the formation they’re using.”
Lucas joined us at the disy, his sharp eyes analyzing the enemy movement patterns. “They’re not spreading
out for territorial upation,” he said slowly, understanding dawning in his voice. “They’re staying in tight
formation, ready for rapid withdrawal.”
The radio crackled again. “Alpha, this is Scout Team Three. We have eyes on a second group moving through
the western pass. Approximately thirty rogues, same tight formation as the first.”
“And there’s the confirmation,” I murmured. “Multiple simultaneous probes to force us to split our response.”
Damien was already moving, his tactical mind racing ahead to the next phase of our counter-strategy. “All
teams, maintain concealment until further orders. Do not engage unless directly threatened.”
“Sir,” came the questioning voice of one of the younger officers, “shouldn’t we be moving to intercept? If we
let them prate deeper into our territory…”
“We let them think they’ve seeded,” Damien said firmly. “Everyone hold position and trust the n.”
The next hour passed like an eternity. I watched the red dots on our tactical disy inch deeper into our
territory, each movement representing rogues who thought they were exploiting our weakness. Every
instinct I had screamed at me to send our warriors after them, to stop the invasion before it could gain
momentum.
“Alpha,” Scout Team Seven reported, their voice tight with barely controlled excitement. “The northern group has reached the decoy supply depot. They’re… they’re not taking anything. They’re just observing and taking
notes.”
I felt a rush of vindication so intense it made me dizzy. “They’re gathering intelligence,” I said to Damien.
“Scout Team Three reports simr activity at the western checkpoint,” Lucas added.
“Then we spring the trap”
The next phase of our n unfolded with military precision that made me understand why Damien
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along the rogues’ most likely retreat routes were armed and ready. Concealed warriors moved into nking
positions that would cut off escape routes while leaving the enemy with only one apparent path to safety-a
path that led directly through our kill zone.
“All teams, prepare for Operation Mousetrap,” Damienmanded through the radio. “Remember, we want
prisoners alive for interrogation. Disable, don’t destroy.”
I watched the tactical disy with fascination and growing excitement as our forces moved into position like
pieces on a chessboard. After months of reactive defense, we were finally taking control of the engagement.
“Northern group is beginning their withdrawal,” Scout Team Seven reported. “They’re heading straight for the
canyon route, just like predicted.”
“Western group is also pulling back,” confirmed Scout Team Three. “They’re moving fast, but they’re following
the path of least resistance exactly as anticipated.”
My heart was racing as I watched the coordinated retreat that would lead both rogue groups directly into our
carefully prepared ambush. Everything was proceeding exactly as I had predicted, but I couldn’t shake the
fear that something would go wrong at thest second.
The radio crackled with urgent updates as both rogue groups moved deeper into our trap. “Northern group
approaching the primary kill zone… now entering the canyon… charges are armed and ready…”
“Western group is thirty seconds behind them,” came the second report. “All units in position.”
“Execute Operation Mousetrap,” Damienmanded.
What followed was chaos coordinated with surgical precision. The explosions that erupted along the canyon
route were carefully calibrated to disable rather than kill-enough force to knock the rogues unconscious or
inflict non-fatal injuries, but not enough topletely destroy our opportunity for intelligence gathering.
Through themand center’s speakers, we could hear the sounds of the ambush unfolding; shouted orders
from our warriors, the confused cries of trapped rogues, the controlled violence of a perfectly executed tactical operation.
“Northern group is down!” Scout Team Seven reported with barely contained excitement. “Fifteen casualties, twelve prisoners, minimal friendly fire. The remaining rogues are surrendering.”
“Western group neutralized as well,” confirmed Scout Team Three. “Twenty prisoners, eight casualties. They
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never saw using.”
Themand center erupted in cheers and congrattions, but all I could focus on was the relief flooding
through my system. It had worked.
“Sera,” Damien said, his voice thick with emotion that made me look up at him in surprise.
Before I could say anything, he swept me up in his arms, lifting me clean off my feet and spinning me around
in a circle that made meugh despite the tears streaming down my face. The entiremand center was watching us, but I couldn’t bring myself to care about protocol or dignity.
“You brilliant, incredible woman,” he said, setting me down but keeping his arms wrapped tightly around me. “You did it. You actually did it.”
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