MICAH’S POV An hour later, the elevator ride down from Obsidian Park to Sector 9 felt longer than usual.
Maybe it was because too much had changed in a week.
Or maybe it was because every minute that passed brought us closer to a war nobody could stop anymore.
The elevator groaned as it descended through the spine of the High Spire.
Layers of civilization peeled away one by one.
The polished chrome walls of the upper tiers gave way to rusted steel.
Heated ventilation became cold drafts that slipped through cracks in the metal.
I leaned against the wall and watched condensation gather on the exposed pipes overhead.
I found Vex in the office staring out, and with her arms folded.
Silent.
Thinking.
Planning.
Which usually meant someone was about to have a very bad day.
“If Lira gets caught?” I asked.
Vex didn’t look at me.
“She won’t.” “That’s not what I asked.” “Then ask a better question.” I rolled my eyes.
“If Lira gets caught, what happens?” Vex finally glanced over.
“The same thing that happens to anyone who gets caught in Syndicate territory.” “Helpful.” I huffed in annoyance, knowing well that Vex was being patient with me.
“She improvises.” Vex pointed out.
“That’s not a plan.” I was worried as I responded.
“It is when Lira does it.” I sighed.
“You trust her that much?” “I trust her more than half the captains in this city.” Vex nodded.
“Comforting.” “It should be.” “You really think Thorne can hold the Board back?” I whispered voicing my thoughts.
“Even if Vance deploys the Purge squads?” “Especially then.” I looked at her.
“That’s a lot of confidence.” “It’s experience.” “You know him personally?” Vex snorted.
“No.” “Then why are you so sure?” I demanded.
“Because people like Vance survive through politics.” She stated.
“And Thorne?” A dangerous smile appeared on her face.
“People like Thorne survive through violence.” I couldn’t argue with that as the man had practically stared down the entire Syndicate Board and laughed while doing it.
“I still don’t trust him.” “You don’t have to.” “You do?” “No.” I blinked.
“What?” Vex shrugged.
“I don’t trust him.” “Then why are we counting on him?” “Because trusting someone and predicting them are two different things.” Finally I nodded.
“Fair.” “Besides,” Vex added, “if Thorne wanted Koro handed over, he would’ve done it already.” “Good point.” “He gains nothing by betraying them now.” I rubbed my face.
“You sound like you’re analysing a battlefield.” “I am.” She raised both eyebrows with assertion.
“They’re people.” “They’re both.” She shrugged.
That answer bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
The smell of diesel fuel, wet fur, sweat, and old metal wrapped around us instantly.
Dozens of Iron-Paw wolves moved through the shadows as they walked into the office and then the moment they spotted Vex, conversations died.
“Alpha on deck!” Every head turned, and the room immediately straightened.
Respect wasn’t demanded here, It was automatic.
Vex walked forward without slowing, and I followed.
A massive wolf captain stepped forward first, and his name was Grim, with broad shoulders and Half his face covered in burn scars.
“Alpha.” He bowed.
“Report,” Vex responded.
“Western drainage tunnels secured.” “Casualties?” “Three wounded.” “Fatalities?” “None.” “Good.” Another captain approached.
“Explosive teams are ready.” “Charges?” “Thirty-two assembled.” “Tested?” “Twice.” “Again.” The captain nodded immediately.
“Yes, Alpha.” A younger wolf approached next.
“The elevator shaft scouts are back.” Vex turned.
“And?” “They confirmed increased Vanguard activity.” “How many?” “At least forty guards.” A few growls rippled through nearby warriors.
Vex remained calm.
“Only forty?” The scout blinked.
“Only?” Vex smirked.
“They’re scared.” The room quieted, and she pointed toward the scout.
“If they weren’t scared, they’d send two hundred.” A few wolves laughed, and the tension eased slightly.
I stepped beside the diesel barrel while Vex moved toward the center of the staging area and the flames illuminated her face.
Every scar, every line and every year she’d spent fighting for this pack, and then she raised her voice.
“Listen up.” Silence fell instantly.
“We have confirmation.” The crowd leaned in.
“The Board is fractured.” A murmur spread.
“They tried to separate Koro Dew from Don Marks.” More murmurs.
“They failed.” That got a reaction.
“What happened?” “Did Koro escape?” “Did they kill anyone?” Vex raised one hand, and the room quieted again.
“The Board locked Koro inside a cryogenic containment unit.” A growl rolled through the crowd.
“They filled it with absolute-zero gel.” Now the wolves looked genuinely angry, and one shouted, “That’s torture!” Another added, “They would’ve killed him!” Vex nodded.
“Yes.” The room darkened, and then her smile appeared.
“But Koro survived.” Instantly, heads lifted.
“How?” “What happened?” Vex pointed toward me.
“Micah.” Hundreds of eyes landed on me, and I sighed.
“You’re welcome.” I stepped forward.
“The Board underestimated him.” “By how much?” someone shouted.
I grinned.
“A lot.” Laughter spread.
“They locked him inside.” “And?” “He let them.” The room went silent, and one captain frowned.
“He what?” “He walked in.” “Voluntarily?” “Yep.” “Why?” “No idea.” Several wolves exchanged confused looks, and then I continued.
“He absorbed the cryogenic gel.” The silence became absolute, and someone laughed nervously.
“You’re joking.” “I wish I were.” “No hybrid can do that.” “Koro can.” Another captain stepped forward.
“Then what?” I couldn’t help smiling.
“Then Rujin Marks lost control.” The entire room erupted.
“No way.” “The Dragon?” “Seriously?” I pointed at them.
“Seriously.” The excitement intensified.
“How bad was it?” “The thermal alarms thought a reactor core was failing.” Several warriors burst out laughing.
“What happened to the containment chamber?” “Gone.” “The guards?” “Hospitalized.” “The Boardroom?” I looked at Vex, and she grinned, and I looked back at the crowd.
“Destroyed.” The cavern exploded with laughter and cheers, and one massive wolf nearly fell off his crate, and another slammed his fist into a table.
“I wish I’d seen it!” “So do I!” Someone shouted, “Koro finally broke their toys!” The cheering continued, and for a moment it felt good, and eventually Vex raised her hand again, and the room settled, and her expression hardened.
“The celebration ends now.” Instant silence.
“Because frightened men are dangerous.” Every wolf listened.
“The Board is frightened.” Nobody disagreed.
“They will retaliate.” The mood darkened instantly.
“They will cut power.” Several captains cursed.
“They will target our clinics.” More growls.
“They will target our children.” Now the room looked murderous.
“And they will target Nara Dew.” The room fell completely silent as everyone knew that name, and one older wolf lowered his head.
“The girl.” “Yes.” “The Omega.” “Yes.” A female captain stepped forward.
“They wouldn’t.” Vex looked directly at her.
“They absolutely would.” Nobody argued because everyone knew she was right, and the Syndicate had never been above using hostages.
Especially sick ones, especially vulnerable ones, and the family.
“We’ve already deployed Lira,” Vex continued.
“To the clinic?” “Yes.” “Alone?” “She prefers it.” A few chuckles spread, and one warrior muttered, “She’s insane.” Another replied, “That’s why she’s effective.” “Exactly,” Vex said.
The room laughed, and then her expression became deadly serious again.
“Lira’s mission is simple.” The wolves listened carefully.
“Keep Nara alive.” A captain nodded.
“Whatever it takes.” “Whatever it takes.” The words echoed across the room.
For a moment, nobody spoke, and then someone asked the question sitting in everyone’s head.
“What about Koro?” The room turned quiet again, and I looked at Vex.
She looked at the fire and for several seconds, she said nothing, and finally she spoke.
“What about him?” The captain swallowed.
“When we get Nara out.” “When this is over.” Another pause.
“Do we bring him home?” Nobody moved or breathed as Vex stared into the flames, and then she sighed, a tired sound, older than any of us.
“I don’t know.” The answer shocked the room.
Vex always knew, or at least pretended to, but this time?
Nothing.
One wolf frowned and spoke up, “Alpha?” “He still belongs to the pack.” “Then we bring him back.” “Maybe.” The uncertainty spread through the room, and I stepped closer.
“You think he’s changed.” Vex looked at me.
“I know he has.” The room remained silent.
“He was taken from us.” “Yes.” “He was used.” “Yes.” “He was chained to Marks.” “Yes.” The captain frowned.
“Then what’s the problem?” Vex looked toward the distant ceiling, toward the Apex, and then toward the city above us.
“The problem,” she said quietly, “is that Koro isn’t chained anymore.” Nobody spoke.
“He chooses to stay.” The words hit like a hammer, and a long silence followed, and then someone whispered: “You think he wants to be there?” Vex closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, they reflected the fire.
“I think it’s more complicated than that.” Finally, Vex straightened, and her voice became steel once more.
“It doesn’t matter.” The room focused immediately.
“Tomorrow, we move.” Every wolf stood taller.
– “We secure Nara.” Growls answered.
“We secure the clinics.” More growls.
“We secure our people.” Now fists struck Armor, and the sound thundered through Sector 9.
“And if the Syndicate stands in our way?” The answer came from every throat in the cavern.
“We break them!” Vex smiled, and the cavern shook with anticipation.
Tomorrow, the city would change, and tomorrow the Dragon and the Wolf would be forced to choose what came next, tomorrow the Board would discover that fear worked both ways, and as I stood beside the diesel fire watching the Iron-Paw pack prepare for war, I realized something terrifying, nobody knew whether we were marching toward a revolution or a catastrophe.
Deep down, I suspected the truth, and Kryos was about to get both, and even I had some hidden secrets that if Vex found out, about how I almost lost my life because of the scent in ducts, there would be hell to pay.
My secret was safe.
For now!