Vivian heard them before the sirens fully crested the docks.
Wolves.
Not the loud, reckless kind.
Pack-trained.
Disciplined.
Moving fast.
Her spine went rigid.
"They're early," she muttered.
Jamo was already moving.
No panic.
No wasted motion.
He shrugged out of his suit jacket with smooth efficiency, revealing the quiet coiled strength underneath. His eyes had gone flat and lethal the look of a man who had stepped onto a battlefield more times than he could count.
"How many?" Vivian asked.
He tilted his head slightly, listening.
"Eight," he said. "Maybe ten."
Her lips pressed thin.
Great.
Just great.
"You expecting company tonight?" she asked dryly.
Jamo's gaze flicked to her.
"No."
Something about the single word made the air tighten.
This wasn't routine.
This was pressure.
Vivian's mind raced.
If a smaller pack had already retaliated…
If someone had fed them her name…
Then whoever was orchestrating this wasn't just moving pieces.
They were accelerating the board.
Her wolf stirred uneasily under her skin.
Danger.
Close.
Intentional.
The first heavy thud hit the warehouse doors.
Once.
Twice.
Metal groaned.
Vivian rolled her shoulders slowly.
"Well," she said, voice cool despite the adrenaline beginning to spike, "this is officially not my favorite night."
A faint, humorless curve touched Jamo's mouth.
"You're adapting."
"Don't get used to it."
The doors shuddered again harder this time.
They didn't have long.
Vivian's gaze sharpened.
"Plan?"
Jamo didn't hesitate.
"Back exit. My car is two blocks east."
Her brow lifted slightly.
"You're assuming I'm leaving with you."
His eyes met hers.
Dark.
Certain.
"You are."
For half a second, irritation flared.
Then logic kicked in.
Ten pack wolves.
Unknown hostility level.
Unknown orders.
…Yeah.
Fine.
"Temporary," she said sharply.
"Temporary," he agreed.
Another heavy slam hit the doors.
Metal screamed.
Vivian didn't wait for the third.
"Move," she snapped.
....
The back corridor was narrow and smelled like rust and old saltwater. Vivian moved fast, boots silent, senses stretched razor-thin.
Behind her, Jamo matched her pace easily.
Too easily.
She hated that.
"You always this calm under pressure?" she muttered.
His voice came smooth behind her.
"Yes."
Annoying.
They hit the rear exit just as
CRASH.
The front warehouse doors finally gave.
Shouts echoed through the building.
Pack voices.
Angry.
Armed.
Vivian's pulse kicked hard.
"They're motivated," she said.
Jamo's tone stayed cool.
"You killed one of their informants."
"He attacked first."
"They won't care."
Yeah.
She knew.
Vivian shoved the back door open
and froze.
Three wolves stood in the alley.
Waiting.
Her stomach dropped.
Ambush.
Of course.
The center wolf stepped forward, eyes glowing faint gold in the dim light.
Recognition flickered across his face.
"Vivian Black," he growled.
Her grip tightened on her blade.
"Well," she said dryly, "this feels personal."
The wolf's gaze slid to Jamo.
His lip curled slightly.
"And you."
The air went sharp.
Dangerous.
Pack politics were officially in play.
Vivian shifted her stance slightly.
"Still think we're walking out clean?" she murmured.
Jamo's voice lowered beside her.
"No."
Good.
At least they were being honest now.
The lead wolf's shoulders rolled.
"You've been busy," he said to Vivian. "Territory interference. Dead contacts. Broken routes."
Vivian tilted her head.
"You forgot rude and charming."
The wolf snarled.
Yeah.
Definitely personal.
"You're coming with us," he said.
Her smile turned sharp.
"Hard pass."
The wolf lunged.
Everything exploded at once.
Vivian moved first fast and precise, blade flashing in the low light. She ducked under the wolf's grab and drove her elbow hard into his ribs.
Bone cracked.
He roared.
Behind her, Jamo moved like controlled violence.
No wasted energy.
No hesitation.
Just clean, brutal efficiency.
The alley filled with the sounds of impact and snarls.
Vivian pivoted sharply, kicking the second wolf back just as he tried to flank her.
Too predictable.
"Your formation needs work," she muttered.
The wolf snapped at her throat.
She twisted away
and felt it.
That shift in the air.
Wrong.
Her instincts screamed.
"Jamo"
Too late.
A fourth wolf dropped from the fire escape above.
Not part of the original three.
Not part of the front team.
Backup.
Planned.
His claws raked toward Jamo's spine
Vivian moved without thinking.
She slammed into Jamo's side, knocking him off balance just as the claws sliced through empty air where he'd been standing.
The attacker hit the ground hard instead.
For half a second
Jamo stared at her.
Surprise flickering across his usually controlled face.
Vivian didn't look at him.
Didn't acknowledge what she'd just done.
Didn't acknowledge the way her pulse had jumped when those claws got too close to his back.
Focus.
Survive.
"Later," she snapped. "Fight now."
Something dark and approving flashed in his eyes.
Then the moment was gone.
The fight turned brutal.
Messy.
Fast.
But it didn't last long.
Because these weren't elite pack enforcers.
They were scouts.
And Vivian and Jamo were very much not scout-level threats.
The last wolf hit the pavement hard, unconscious and groaning.
Silence fell over the alley.
Broken only by distant sirens getting closer.
Vivian exhaled slowly.
"Well," she said, slightly breathless, "that escalated quickly."
Jamo's gaze was still on her.
Too focused.
Too intent.
Her shoulders tightened.
"What?"
His voice dropped.
"You moved to protect me."
It wasn't an accusation.
It was an observation.
Vivian looked away first.
"Don't read into it."
Silence.
Then
"Noted," he said.
Something in his tone said he absolutely did not believe her.
Great.
Just great.
The distant sirens grew louder.
Closer.
Jamo's expression hardened.
"We need to go."
This time, Vivian didn't argue.
Because the game had officially changed.
Someone was accelerating the war.
Someone knew her name.
And someone wanted her and Jamo in the same line of fire.
Which meant
They weren't just reacting anymore.
They were being hunted.
Vivian slid into step beside him as they headed toward the street.
Her voice went quiet.
Focused.
"Next time," she said, "we set the trap first."
Jamo's mouth curved faintly.
"Agreed."
Behind them, the city howled.