Chapter 73

Amelie

"Ding, Ding, Ding,"

"Oh, my oven timer!" I snap my head out of my thoughts, turn off my timer, and pull out the spice cake cupcakes from the top oven. I'm in the middle of stress baking. I've been at it for hours. It's challenging to garden right now with my belly; bending over that much kills me. I didn't feel like working in my shop at the moment, and I really wanted some oatmeal raisin cookies, so I went to stress baking. I didn't stop with just oatmeal cookies. I've made snickerdoodles, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, blondies, pecan pie, peach cobbler, now spice cake with a vanilla bean cream cheese frosting. I'm going to get some cinnamon rolls going next. I can let them sit overnight, and we can have a family breakfast with cinnamon rolls tomorrow. Where is the yeast?

As I'm looking for the yeast Gideon breaks through the mate-bond, "Am, my storm, can you come back to my office?" Gideon's tone is sweet and gentle, but I don't want to go over the plan details again. My head is spinning.

"No. I'm busy." I cut him off before he could say anything. I block the link.

Inari cuts in, "We should go to mate."

"Oh, you are talking to me now." I snap back. We are not seeing eye to eye right now, and she stopped talking to me.

Gideon mind-links me instead. He knows I always keep it open for the pre-school teachers to contact me, damn it. "You know I can find you easily through our bond, my Luna."

"I'm busy," Is all I answer back.

Fifteen minutes later, Gideon is standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He walks over to the counter and picks up a cookie. "What's all this for?"

"For whoever wants it." I continue working on the yeast dough.

"Why are you mad at me? Is it because the plan changed? Did I do something?" Gideon stuffs the cookie in his mouth and picks up a brownie. I know I said they are for whoever wants them, but I don't want to share.

"Stop eating everything, or there won't be any for anyone else." I huff. "I am not mad at you. I'm not mad. I'm…" I pause, let out a breath, and lean back on the counter. "I'm conflicted."

"What? Conflicted about what?" He goes for one of the cupcakes, but I swat his hand. He starts eating the brownie.

"Those need to be frosted." I pick up a piping bag and begin to frost the cupcakes. "I'm conflicted because even though they are traitors and criminals, I don't like imprisoning them and shipping them off to my stepfather. I understand why he suggested taking them over the non-affiliated wolves, but it still bothers me. Are we no better than them locking them up interrogating them? I know Logan, and I know he will go to the extreme to get more information out of them. I also know he's going to teach those methods to Riley. I'm sure he's already called my dad, and he'll take James over there as part of his heir training. It's just this endless cycle. I know they are criminals, and they should be punished. I just hate this whole thing." I step back from the cupcakes and look up at Gideon. I can feel tears filling my eyes.

He's still chewing the brownie, "Muhhfee muaah fhaaam." I can't stop the giggle that escapes. It felt good.

"Finish chewing your food first I can't understand you at all." I pull a glass from the cupboard and pour him some milk. "Here. Drink this, then talk." My eyes almost roll out of my head. He looks like an overgrown child. Still cute.

He drinks the glass of milk in one gulp, "Milks the best with cookies and brownies." He smiles but still has brownie in his teeth. I laugh so hard. "What?"

"You have brownie stuck to your teeth still." He gets more milk to help wash down the brownie.

"What I was trying to say was that you have to remember what they did is not like what we are doing." He swishes around the milk in his mouth. There went my sliver of peace back to the main topic.

"How is it not similar? We are locking them up, and they will be interrogated and tortured." I fold my arms across my chest.

"What they did was malicious and vile, and they did it to children. They have killed people! They have killed children. They tried to force you to miscarry and attacked you and the twins. They should be happy I'm letting them live." His voice raises toward the end, and I can feel how angry he is.

"That's why I'm conflicted. I know what they did and what they are capable of, but I can't help the other part of me that wants to protect them and keep them safe. It sounds crazy, and I don't know how to handle it. So, I'm stress baking. OK?" I slump down to the counter, my hands covering my face.

"Amelie, look at me. I know you are loving and kind, and that's why you are a great mother and Luna, but we each have our part, and mine is to protect and dole out punishment. What has happened has affected our pack and us and families and packs all over the U.S. It's my job to stop them. That's what I pledged to the Council, and my father and his father before him pledged also. It's what our sons will promise. To protect our kind from harm even from harming ourselves." He walks over and wraps his arms around my belly, rubbing it gently.

"I just hate that James and Riley have to be a part of it. They are still kids themselves." I let out a breath in a huff.

"Amelie, they are Alphas' in training. They both carry a heavy responsibility. They are lucky they have their fathers to teach them. My father died before my training was finished, and I had to take over early. Both your father and stepfather helped me when I needed it, but it was still challenging. I know your brothers will be taught to uphold our laws because that's how they taught me." He nuzzles the back of my neck. I know in my heart he's right, but it doesn't stop this feeling of guilt for inflicting harm on them when they are my responsibility as a Luna.

I take a deep breath of his eucalyptus sent to calm my mind. "OK, finish telling me about the Aruna Banquet plan. I know that's why you wanted me to come to your office."

Gideon turns me around, so I'm facing him, "We are holding a real and a fake one. This will be your's and Hope's first Aruna Banquet. Your father doesn't want to take that away from you both. As you know, the Ember Moon Festival Ball will be hosted by Alpha Conor Amaris of the Amaris Pack in Vermont. Alpha Conor is also an Ashwood descendant, so that couldn't have worked out better for us."

"OK. Vermont in the summer is nice." I give a small smile. It will be nice to travel with Gideon again. "What about Rose and Daisy? Are we bringing them or leaving them here?"

"They will stay here where I know I can protect them. I already don't like putting you in danger, but at least you can defend yourself." Gideon takes a step back and leans on the opposite counter. "Tyson, Shay, Benjamin, and Becky will come with us. Of course, Benjamin's elite unit will be joining us. We will plant them as wait staff to spy on our special guest. Your father already selected who from the New Moon Alliance to send invites to."

"I'm assuming Nox Jericho will be in attendance?" I roll my eyes. I honestly don't like the Jerichos.

Gideon chuckles, "No. We did not send Nox an invite. We did not want it to seem obvious that we are on to him, plus we are hoping for two things." He gives me a devious grin. "One that he tries to crash the party. Two that it causes conflict within their little alliance."

"Nox is an arrogant ass, so both are possible." I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. "So, we are hoping to gather intel on where to find the kidnapped wolves."

"That's the plan." Gideon takes a step forward and places his hands on my shoulders. "I need to ask you a big favor."

I raise my brow and tilt my head. "Oh. What kind of favor?"

Gideon rubs his hands up and down my arms. I know it's going to be bad if he's already trying to soothe me. He's pushing his feelings of love and security through the bond. "Before we send out the traitors to the Black Hills Pack, we are going to interview them."

"OK. What does that have to do with me?" I did not like where this was heading.

Gideon takes a deep breath, "I want you to interview Von Jericho with me."