Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 400

Chapter 400

ZADE

“Okay,” he conceded. “But only after we get Shawn to safety and coordinate with Xenois about next steps.”

“Deal, Lynn agreed.

We helped Shawn to his feet-he was steadier now after water and some food, but still clearly exhausted.

Marcus went to the other vehicle to supply information to the guards and to call for backup and start coordinating with pack scouts who might have information about the Silvercrest nest location.

I kept one hand on Shawn’s shoulder as we walked back toward the SUVs, feeling him lean slightly against me for support. This kid had been through hell and was still trying to be helpful, still trying to contribute.

It reminded me uncomfortably of Lake-another young werewitch ford to grow up too fast because of circumstances beyond his control.

“Shawn,” I said quietly,

‘I need you to understand something. What happened to Samuel and silvia-what’s happening right now-it’s not your responsibility to fix. You’re going to help us by providing information and testimony, but you’re not going to be part of the rescue operation. You’re going to stay somewhere safe while the adults handle this.”

“But-

“No buts,” I said firmly. “You’re exhausted, traumatized, and barely trained in your abilities. Taking you into a combat situation would be irresponsible and dangerous. For you and for everyone else who’d feel obligated to protect you.”

Alpha Zade’s right,” Lyn added gently. “The best thing you can do for Samuel and Silvia right now is take care of yourself. Rest, recover, and be ready to provide detailed information when we’re planning the rescue. That’s how you help.”

Shawn looked like he wanted to argue, but eventually nodded reluctantly.

“Okay. But I want updates. I want to know what’s happening and if they’re okay.”

“You’ll get updates,” I promised. “Every step of the way. You have my word.”

We reached the vehicles, and I helped Shawn into the back seat beside Lynn, who immediately started fussing over him with blankets and

more water.

Lyn climbed into the passenger seat, his exhaustion obvious now that the immediate crisis was over.

Rivers took the driver’s seat this time, giving me a chance to pull out by phone and call Xenois.

He answered on the first ring. “Did you find him?”

“We found him,” I confirmed.

“Shawn’s safe. Dehydrated and exhausted but uninjured. And Xenoise has information about the attack. About who took your parents

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and possibly where they might be holding them.”

“Tell me everything.”

1 relayed what Shawn had told us-the ambush location, the number attackers, the symbols and names, the implications about Jerome

Thorne’s involvement.

With each detail, I heard Xenois’s breathing get heavier, his anger mo palpable even through the phone connection.

“Jerome Thorne,” he finally said, his voice deadly quiet. “The brother the nightwalker we’re holding. He’s kidnapped my parents for

revenge.”

“And for justice,” I added carefully.

“According to Shawn, multiple attackers mentioned grudges from the territorial wars. Things your parents did forty years ago. This is about more than just Lazarus.”

“I don’t give a fuck what it’s about,” Xenois snarled.

“They took my parents. They’re threatening my family. And I’m going to make them regret every second of it.”

“Don’t,” he interrupted. “Don’t tell me to be calm or strategic or careful. My parents are being held by people who want revenge. My mother -the woman who raised me, who loved me despite all my flaws-is probably being tortured right now. You want me to be reasonable about

that?”

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“Xenois-”

I understood his rage. If someone had taken Lyn, if they were hurting him while I sat helpless-I’d burn the world down to get him back.

But I also understood that rage without strategy was a recipe for disaster,

“I’m not telling you to be calm,” I said carefully.

“I’m telling you to be smart. We have intelligence now. We have a starting point. Let’s use that to build a rescue operation that actually works instead of charging in blind and making things worse.

“The silence on the other end was heavy and tense.

Then: “How long?”

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“Give me twelve hours,” I said.

“Twelve hours to get Shawn to safety, to coordinate with scouts about he Silvercrest nest, to gather a strike team that can handle multiple supernatural species. Then we go in together, with a plan, with backup, with everything we need to get your parents out alive.”

“Twelve hours is a long time to be held by enemies who want revenge Xenois said quietly. “I know,” I acknowledged.

“But going in unprepared is how rescue operations turn into recoveryporations. Your parents need you alive and effective, not dead because you rushed in without support.”

Another long pause.

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Then: “Twelve hours. But Zade? If anything happens to them because we waited-”

“I know,” I said again. “And I’ll take full responsibility. But I really do think it’ll come to that. Your parents are tough. They’ve survived

worse than this.”

“I hope you’re right,” Xenois said, then hung up.

I pocketed my phone and looked at the crater still smoking in the road ahead of us-evidence of Shawn’s power, of how dangerous a panicked werewitch could be.

“Rivers,” I said, “take us back to pack territory. We need to get Shawn somewhere safe and start coordinating with our best people. We have twelve hours to plan a rescue operation that’s probably going to determine the future of supernatural relations in this entire region.

“No pressure,” Rivers muttered, but he was already turning the vehicl around. From the back seat, I heard Lynn talking quietly to Shawn, her voice soothing as she continued monitoring his condition.

And beside me, Lyn had his eyes closed, clearly exhausted but still present, still ready to help despite his depleted state.

Twelve hours to save Xenois’s parents and prevent a war.Just another day in the absolute chaos that had become my life since deciding to challenge centuries of prejudice and build something better.I reached over and took Lyn’s hand, squeezing gently.

He squeezed back without opening his eyes, and I felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders.

Whatever happened next, whatever challenges we faced-we’d face them together.

That was what mattered.That was what would get us through.