Chapter One Hundred and Five - Plans Revealed - Damian's POV

'Okay, and what do you want me to do about it?" 'You see, his brother Lorcan is an acceptable man. You could always mate with him, still break the prophecy, and then …" Maya interrupts him before he can finish his sentence. 'You mean to overthrow him?" 'I'm talking about saving our kind," Simon fires back. 'Damian bought you and we know that bothers you. If that is what is holding you back, then maybe you'll find his brother more tolerable and it will still fulfill the requirements to save the wolf shifters." 'Who told you it would even work?" There is a long pause, and I can hear her breathing, but she's not moving. Honestly, if her breathing gets any more ragged, I will need to get to her. It doesn't sound good. 'I can show you, but not tonight. You can't tell him about this, either. He'll try to stop you." My jaw clenches so hard it aches. When has he even talked to Lorcan? I want to know the same thing she does. Who said this plan would work? Is this really their grand plan? Suddenly, someone steps on a branch behind Simon. My eyes are trained on a bush that is barely swaying from whoever is behind it. I don't have to even ask, because the person hiding behind it comes out immediately. It's Luce. 'You really should think about it, Maya. Lorcan is a better match." Maya laughs. 'If he is so great, why don't you go mate with the guy and leave us alone?" Luce clicks her tongue and comes around Simon, almost touching his shoulder, but then refraining. My eyes widen as I study the way she is acting around him and it becomes obvious. They have been plotting this behind my back. Not only that, but they may have just been trying to take each other as mates behind my back. But that doesn't make any sense. Why would she pursue me if she was planning on having Simon this entire time? Then it all clicks. Unless the plans have shifted. 'Lorcan will leave the pack to Simon," she nearly purrs. And here is my answer. They plan to kill me, take over the pack for themselves, while throwing Maya to Lorcan, who is a horrible match for her. He's pushy, overbearing, and way worse than I ever dreamed of being. 'So, that's your answer? You'll make Simon the alpha and send me off to Lorcan. What about Damian?" Luce looks away, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. 'He'll be taken care of. The line just needs to go on." Simon nudges her, and she grows quiet. My brows furrow in confusion, but I don't have time to think about what she means. Maya takes a step back, her body trembling as she takes them both in. 'Can I have a day to think about it?" Simon looks at Luce before returning his gaze to Maya's. 'Sure, a day is fine. But you need to return here tomorrow. I'd also like to commend you on finding it correctly the first time just by my directions. Maybe humans are smarter than we knew." 'We're definitely smarter," she murmurs under her breath, though I'm not sure they heard that part. 'Well, then. Go back before Damian realizes you're gone. He sure sleeps like a log." Maya laughs and looks away while rubbing the back of her neck. 'You have no idea. He's been sleeping rather hard lately." Of course, it's a lie, and he buys it immediately. His eyes seem to gleam in the dim lighting as if those words give him an idea. I wait until she heads back toward the estate. Now that I'm certain I found the two behind everything, I feel better about letting her go back alone. At least for a few minutes while I see what else they are up to. Simon's still standing there, watching the spot where she just was. 'She bought it," Luce murmurs, crossing her arms over her chest. Simon doesn't answer right away. His face is half-shadowed by the trees, but I can see the smile slowly spreading across it. 'She's smart, but she cares about him," he says, his voice low. 'She's trying to play the game, but she's not there yet." 'Do you think she'll come back tomorrow?" Luce asks, sounding skeptical. Simon nods once. 'She'll come because she's curious. That's the hook. And if we give her something she thinks she's choosing, she'll walk right into it. We just need her to choose Lorcan, then he can kill Damian and the cycle will repeat until they are born again." I flinch hearing those words. What? Simon turns, catching my attention again. 'Besides, now we know something else. He's vulnerable and will probably be easy to kill. If she thinks he's sleeping through her leaving, then maybe he really is." 'She might be lying to us," Luce adds. 'Maybe, but maybe not. Either way, it's useful. If she's keeping things from him, she may not care for him like we think. If not, well, Lorcan won't care. He wants his brother's head." They start walking off together, deeper into the woods and I'm not sure where they are headed. Part of me says to follow, but that means leaving Maya alone. No, I won't do that. So, I turn and head back once I know they won't hear me. When I make it back to our room, the door is cracked open, but only slightly. Inside, she's sitting on the edge of the bed, arms wrapped around herself. She hears me before she sees me. Lifting her head slowly, our eyes meet. 'You made it back. What took you so long?" 'I will always make it back, but I had to hear the rest of what they said, if anything." My heart hammers in my chest. I can't tell her about the rest of what I found out. Her eyes search mine. 'Did you hear everything?" 'Every single word." I walk to the bed and sit beside her. Close, but not touching. 'You did well. But they're planning something. It's more than a power grab, but we'll be fine now that I know." She is quiet for a moment, then sighs. 'I hate how normal they talked to me as if they were discussing dinner plans. It was like three people having a normal chat."