Demon's POV
"Do I have to repeat the plan?"
The pack stood in a half-circle around me, their faces lit by the dim flicker of the bonfire. Shadows stretched long across the sand, and every wolf kept their head slightly bowed, waiting.
They shook their heads almost in unison. "No, we are clear."
"Good." I let the word hang sharp in the air. My lips pulled into a thin frown. "Because I have no intention of failing this time. I counted nearly sixty guards along the island borders. That means ten each for us to take down. If everything goes as planned, the money will be sent directly to your accounts."
A low ripple of approval moved through the pack, a dozen nods at once.
It had taken me an entire year to carve this plan into perfection, and I had no patience for mistakes. Idiots forget steps—that's why people end up in cages. Not me. Not this time.
My mother sent me here to rot. To die. And I will have my revenge on all of them.
"They have a lot of guns…" one of them muttered, his voice dipping with worry.
I snapped my gaze to him, narrowing my eyes. "I made sure to hire the most powerful Alphas in the country. Are you suggesting you're not one of them?" My voice cut like glass. "They're humans—weak. All you have to do is not let them shoot you. Is that too much?"
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. "I'm sorry, I… I am ready."
"Good." I let out a short breath, then jerked my chin toward the flames. "Lunch is ready."
We broke the tension in a rush toward the bonfire, where slabs of raw venison sizzled over the crackling wood. Smoke coiled into the night air, thick and heavy with the scent of blood and charred meat.
"My favorite," Ryan said, practically throwing himself at the food like he hadn't eaten in decades. His hands tore into the venison before the juices had even stopped dripping.
Matt, my most loyal wolf, lowered himself beside me with practiced ease. He bit clean through a massive chunk of meat, chewing slowly as if he had all the time in the world.
"I don't get it," he said around a mouthful. "Why do you want revenge so badly? You could escape. Start fresh in another country. Why go back just to risk another prison?"
I let the firelight catch in my eyes, the rage simmering beneath my skin. "Because my brother is getting married in one week. And I intend to ruin the wedding. I'll take everything from him."
Matt tilted his head, studying me as he stripped the meat clean off a bone. With a flick, he tossed it into the dirt. "Okay, I get that. But then what? Flee again? We can't spend our whole lives running."
We had been friends since we were pups, bound tighter than blood. Matt had seen every side of me—the monster and the man—and still stayed by my side. He was the only one I'd ever truly trust. I would die for him without hesitation.
"We'll settle somewhere," I promised. "I'll make sure of it."
He nodded slowly, eyes scanning the others devouring their meal. "Do you trust them?"
I frowned, following his gaze to the ragtag pack I had assembled. Some were snarling through their bites, others already licking the blood off their fingers.
"I don't trust anyone," I muttered. "But I need them. And they need the money."
Matt smirked. "Who's your brother marrying?"
I shrugged, feigning indifference though the words tasted bitter. "Some beta girl from a tragic family."
"She must mean something to him if he's marrying her."
"Hope so," I said flatly. "It'll make it hurt more when I destroy them both."
Matt chuckled, shaking his head. "It's crazy. The only time I see your eyes light up is when you're planning to ruin someone."
I smiled. "Because it's the only way I can feel alive."
We finished eating and lay down on the bare ground of the empty woods. The moon hung above us, constant and unyielding, a silent witness to everything. My wolf and I found no comfort in it—only a reminder that even the night could not hide what was coming.
It was time.
Revenge.
The purpose that had kept me breathing when everything else had rotted away.
I didn't simply want to answer for what my brother did.
I wanted to dismantle him—body, mind, and soul—until fear itself carried my name into his sleep.
That pathetic little girl would serve as my pawn, nothing more than a tool in the design I had perfected.
I smiled—slow, deliberate.
The wait was nearly over.