Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 415

Chapter 415

ZADE

“Only tactically,” Xenois said. “We expected defenses. Now we know they’re fresh and actively manned. That means we adjust timing-hit them during a shift change or meal break when attention is divided. And we move faster than they’re expecting. Get in, get my parents, get out

before they can organize a proper response.”

“When do we move?” I asked.

Xenois checked his watch. “Two hours. Gives scouts time to confirm guard rotations and lets us approach under cover of dusk. Nightwalkers are strongest at full dark, but twilight is a transitional period-they’re not at peak power yet.”

“And werewolves see perfectly well in low light,” Marcus added. “Gives us an advantage.”

We spent the next hour going over every detail of the plan, identifying potential problems and creating contingencies for each one. What if the ventilation system was blocked? What if Samuel and Silvia had been moved? What if Jerome had set traps specifically designed to counter

werewolf tactics?

By the time we finished, I had a headache from the sheer number of variables we were trying to account for.

“This is either going to be a brilliant tactical operation or a complete disaster,” Rivers observed.

“Often those are the same thing,” Xenois said philosophically. “Success and failure are separated by inches and seconds. We do our best, adapt when things inevitably go wrong, and trust our team to handle the unexpected.”

“Very inspiring,” I said dryly. “Really filling me with confidence:”

“Would you prefer I lie and say nothing will go wrong?” Xenois countered.

“Yes, actually. I’d prefer comforting lies right about now.”

That earned me a smile-brief but genuine. “Everything will be fine. We’ll execute perfectly, rescue my parents without incident, and be

home in time for dinner.”

“Much better,” I said. “I feel inspired now.”

Lyn rolled his eyes at both of us. “You’re both idiots. Brave, capable idiots, but idiots nonetheless.”

“You love us anyway,” I pointed out, echoing my earlier statement.

“Unfortunately,” he agreed again, though his smile was fond despite his words.

The next hour passed in a blur of final preparations. We distributed weapons, checked communication equipment, went over emergency

extraction protocols. Carol arrived and immediately started setting up the command center with the kids, her background showing in how efficiently she organized everything.

I found myself in Xenois’s office, staring at the map of the Silvercrest nest and trying not to think about all the ways this could go wrong.

“Second thoughts?” Xenois asked, appearing beside me.

1/3

“Constant thoughts, I corrected. “But not about whether we should do this. About whether I’m prepared for what it might cost.”

“You’re thinking about Lyn,” Xenois observed.

“I’m thinking about Lyn, about Lazarus still imprisoned in your territory, in this freaking basement, about Jerome’s vendetta and whether rescuing your parents is going to trigger retaliation against my pack,” I admitted. “I’m thinking about how this one operation could have consequences that ripple through the entire supernatural community.”

“Cold feet?” Xenois asked, though his tone suggested he’d understand I said yes.

“No,” I said firmly. “Just… awareness. Of what we’re risking and why it matters.”

Xenois was quiet for a moment, then spoke. “My parents aren’t perfect They’ve done terrible things, made horrible choices, caused damage that can’t be undone. But they’re trying to be better. And they’re family. That has to mean something, or what are we even fighting for?”

“For the radical idea that people can change,” I said slowly. “That past mistakes don’t have to define future possibilities. That family-

chosen or blood-is worth protecting even when it’s complicated.”

“Exactly,” Xenois agreed. “We’re not rescuing perfect people. We’re rescuing people who matter, who are trying to do better, who deserve the chance to keep growing.”

“When did you become the philosophical one?” I asked.

*When my parents got kidnapped and I had to figure out why I was willing to risk everything to save them,” Xenois said. “Turns out the

answer is complicated and involves a lot of feelings I’d rather not examine too closely.”

I understood that completely. Feelings were messy and uncomfortable and much harder to deal with than tactical planning.

“One hour,” I said, checking my watch. “One hour until we move out.”

*You should eat something,” Xenois suggested. “Lumina’s been cooking She does that when she’s stressed—makes enough food to feed a

small army.”

We headed to the kitchen, where the smell of home-cooked meals hit me immediately. Lumina had indeed been cooking-multiple dishes

were laid out on every available surface, enough to feed twice our number easily.

“Stress baking?” I asked.

“Stress cooking,” she corrected. “And before you comment, yes, I know this is excessive. But I needed to do something useful and my

options were limited to things that didn’t involve tactical planning or weapons.”

“It smells amazing,” Lyn said, appearing behind me. “And you made that pasta dish I like. You’re the best sister-in-law ever.”

I’m your only sister-in-law,” Lumina pointed out.

‘Still the best,’ Lyn insisted, already loading a plate.

We ate quickly and efficiently, fueling our bodies for what was coming. The kids joined us, subdued but trying to maintain normalcy. Ollie kept glancing at his father with worry he couldn’t quite hide. Riley was mentally cataloging everything, probably creating backup plans for backup plans. Lake was quiet, his hands occasionally flickering with the telltale shimmer of portal magic as he practiced.

2/3

And Shawn sat at the edge of the group, looking lost and guilty despite everyone’s reassurances that none of this was his fault.

“Shawn,” I said, drawing his attention. “I need you to do something for me.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify