Vivian had made deals with dangerous men before.
They usually ended in blood.
She stood in the center of the warehouse, blade still loose in her grip, and studied Jamo Star like she was already planning where to bury the body.
He looked… annoyingly unbothered.
Tailored suit. Calm posture. Dark eyes that missed absolutely nothing.
Alpha control.
It pressed against her nerves like a slow, deliberate warning.
"You're quiet," Jamo said.
Vivian's mouth curved faintly. "I'm deciding whether this conversation ends with you unconscious or bleeding."
Something flickered in his gaze.
Interest.
"Comforting," he murmured.
God, she wanted to stab that calm right off his face.
Instead, she forced her brain back into strategy mode.
Think.
If what he said about her brother was true—
Her chest tightened hard enough to hurt.
Don't go there yet.
Information first. Feelings later. Survival always.
"You want my help stopping a pack war," Vivian said slowly. "You claim my brother's alive." Her eyes sharpened. "So talk. What's the catch?"
Jamo studied her for a long moment, like he was weighing something complicated.
Then
"You work with me," he said. "Directly. Until this is contained."
Vivian barked out a short laugh.
"Absolutely not."
His expression didn't change.
"You don't trust me."
"Gold star," she said flatly.
Silence stretched between them, thick with challenge.
Then Jamo did something unexpected.
He stepped closer.
Not threatening.
Not rushed.
Just… deliberate.
Vivian's body reacted instantly, muscles tightening, senses flaring sharp.
Too close.
Way too close.
His voice dropped slightly.
"You don't have to trust me," he said quietly. "You just have to want the truth badly enough."
Her pulse kicked.
Damn him.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Again.
Vivian hated that.
Her jaw clenched.
"What exactly are you proposing?" she asked.
His gaze held hers.
"A temporary alliance."
The words settled heavy in the air.
Vivian's instincts screamed.
Trap.
Complication.
Mess.
"…Define temporary," she said carefully.
"Until we identify who's destabilizing the packs," Jamo replied. "And where your brother fits into it."
Her heart stuttered once—hard.
She masked it fast.
"You're assuming he is involved."
"I don't assume," Jamo said calmly. "I verify."
Something cold slid down her spine.
Because that sounded like a man who already knew too much.
Vivian crossed her arms slowly, blade still hidden along her wrist.
"And what makes you think I won't just find this information myself?"
For the first time, a hint of steel entered his voice.
"Because you've been hunting the edges for three months and you're still missing the center."
The words landed clean.
Precise.
And annoyingly accurate.
Vivian's eyes narrowed.
"You've been watching me."
"Observing," he corrected smoothly.
"Oh, that's worse."
A flicker of humor ghosted across his face again.
Then it faded.
"Someone is using traffickers to bait smaller packs into territorial retaliation," Jamo said. "Two have already mobilized. A third is close."
Vivian's mind clicked fast.
Pieces sliding into place.
"…If they clash inside city limits," she said slowly, "it won't stay contained."
"No," Jamo agreed quietly. "It won't."
The weight of that settled heavy between them.
Because pack wars weren't clean.
They weren't quiet.
And they definitely didn't stay away from civilians.
Vivian exhaled slowly.
Damn it.
She hated when the logical choice aligned with the one she didn't want to make.
Her gaze sharpened on him.
"One condition."
Jamo's brow lifted slightly.
"Bold of you to assume you're in a position to negotiate."
Vivian smiled a sharp, dangerous thing.
"Bold of you to assume you can stop me if I walk out."
Silence.
Charged.
Then
Very slowly
Jamo inclined his head.
"…I'm listening."
Score one.
Vivian's voice stayed cool.
"You don't give me half-truths. You don't feed me pack propaganda. And if I find out you're using me as bait"
Her eyes went ice cold.
"I disappear."
Not a threat.
A promise.
Jamo watched her for a long moment.
Really watched her.
Like he was peeling back layers she didn't remember offering.
Something unreadable moved through his expression.
"…You already plan exit routes," he said quietly.
Vivian's lips twitched faintly.
"Survival habit."
Another beat of silence.
Then
"Agreed," Jamo said.
The word dropped heavy and final.
Vivian blinked once.
Well.
That had been… easier than expected.
Which immediately made her suspicious again.
"You gave in too fast," she said flatly.
One corner of his mouth lifted.
"I didn't give in."
His gaze locked onto hers.
"I adapted."
Her pulse ticked once sharp and unwelcome.
God.
This man was going to be a problem.
Vivian pushed the thought away.
Focus.
"Fine," she said. "Then start adapting by telling me what you know about my brother."
The temperature in the room shifted.
Subtle.
But real.
For the first time since he appeared—
Jamo looked… careful.
Vivian's stomach dropped.
Oh.
That was not a good sign.
His voice lowered slightly.
"The night your brother's vehicle burned," Jamo said, "he wasn't alone."
The world tilted.
Just slightly.
Vivian went very, very still.
"…Explain."
Jamo's eyes held hers.
Unblinking.
Controlled.
And carrying just enough weight to make her pulse start to pound.
"There was another wolf on that road," he said quietly.
Every instinct in Vivian's body snapped to full alert.
Because something in his tone said
This was about to get worse.