For several seconds, Vivian could only stare at the metal tag in her hand.
BLACK UNIT.
The letters were scratched deep into the steel, not factory-made but carved by hand. Someone had wanted it to last.
Someone had wanted it to be found.
"This could be a plant," Jamo said.
His voice was calm, but Vivian could hear the tension underneath it.
She shook her head slowly.
"No."
Jamo studied her face. "You're certain?"
Vivian turned the tag over again, her fingers brushing the rough engraving.
"I've seen this before."
A quiet chill moved through the warehouse.
Jamo's men exchanged quick looks but said nothing.
Vivian's voice lowered.
"Lucas used to mark his gear like this when we were younger."
Jamo crossed his arms. "That doesn't prove anything."
"It proves enough."
She slipped the tag into her jacket pocket.
Jamo watched the movement carefully.
"You think he left it for you."
"I know he did."
Jamo didn't answer right away.
Instead, he walked toward the warehouse doors and looked out across the fog-covered docks. His mind was already working through possibilities.
If Lucas Black was alive, the situation was far worse than they had imagined.
Lucas hadn't just disappeared five years ago.
He had vanished after investigating illegal wolf trafficking across several territories.
And now traffickers had been operating in Jamo's city.
That wasn't coincidence.
Vivian stepped beside him.
"You knew about Black Unit before tonight, didn't you?"
Jamo didn't look at her.
"Yes."
She stiffened.
"You didn't mention that earlier."
"You didn't ask."
Vivian's patience snapped.
"Jamo."
Now he looked at her.
His dark eyes held something serious.
"Black Unit isn't just a name," he said. "It's an operation."
"What kind of operation?"
"The kind that moves wolves across borders like cargo."
Vivian felt anger rise in her chest.
"Traffickers."
"Yes."
"But not small ones."
Jamo gestured toward the empty warehouse.
"Three trucks full of wolves don't disappear unless someone powerful is behind it."
Vivian glanced back at the chains hanging from the wall.
Her stomach twisted.
"How long have they been operating in your territory?"
"Too long."
"That's comforting."
Jamo ignored the sarcasm.
"I knew someone was moving wolves through the docks," he said. "But until tonight, I didn't know they were using cages."
Vivian looked at him sharply.
"You're telling me wolves were being trafficked in your city and you didn't stop it?"
His jaw tightened.
"I've been hunting them for months."
"Clearly not fast enough."
The tension between them thickened.
One of Jamo's men approached carefully.
"Alpha."
Jamo turned slightly.
"What is it?"
"We checked the loading yard."
"And?"
"There's security footage in the dock office."
Vivian's attention snapped back.
"Did you see the trucks?"
"Not yet," the wolf replied. "The cameras were shut off."
Jamo frowned.
"Completely?"
"Except one."
That got Vivian's attention.
"Show us."
The dock office sat near the entrance of the pier. The small building smelled like stale coffee and old paperwork.
Inside, one of Jamo's men had already powered up a dusty computer.
The screen flickered.
Security footage began to play.
The timestamp read: 1:13 AM.
Vivian leaned forward slightly.
The empty loading yard filled the screen.
Then headlights appeared.
One truck.
Then another.
Then a third.
Large transport trucks rolled slowly into the dockyard.
Vivian felt her chest tighten.
"Pause."
The video stopped.
One of the truck drivers had stepped out.
He wore a dark coat and a cap pulled low.
But Vivian wasn't looking at his face.
She was looking at the way he moved.
Something about it felt familiar.
Too familiar.
"Play it again," she said quietly.
The footage continued.
The driver turned slightly toward the camera as he spoke to someone inside the truck.
For half a second, his face lifted toward the light.
Vivian's heart slammed against her ribs.
"No," she whispered.
Jamo noticed instantly.
"You recognize him."
Vivian didn't answer.
Her eyes stayed locked on the frozen screen.
Jamo stepped closer.
"Vivian."
She swallowed hard.
"That's impossible."
"Who is it?"
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"That's Daniel Reyes."
Jamo's brow furrowed.
"One of your brother's contacts?"
Vivian nodded slowly.
"Lucas trusted him."
Jamo looked back at the screen.
"And now he's transporting wolves in cages."
Vivian's hands curled into fists.
"Which means Lucas didn't leave that tag."
Jamo looked at her sharply.
"You think Reyes did."
Vivian nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Her answer came immediately.
"To lure us here."
Silence filled the small office.
Jamo turned back toward the frozen image of the truck driver.
"So this was bait."
Vivian's voice hardened.
"Yes."
Jamo's expression grew colder.
"Then the question is simple."
"What question?"
"Who's the trap for?"
Before Vivian could answer—
The office lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Every wolf in the building went still.
Outside, an engine started.
Then another.
Vivian moved toward the window and looked out into the fog-covered docks.
Headlights were appearing.
One.
Two.
Five.
Her pulse spiked.
"Jamo."
He stepped beside her.
"How many?"
"Too many."
Engines roared louder as several vehicles surrounded the warehouse.
Jamo's men were already shifting outside.
Vivian looked back at him.
"Well," she said quietly.
"You wanted a war."
Jamo's eyes darkened as he watched the trucks close in.
"No."
His voice dropped low and dangerous.
"But it looks like one just found us."
And somewhere inside the approaching convoy
Someone was smiling.
Because the trap had finally closed.