The engines outside grew louder.
Vivian counted at least six vehicles through the fog. Their headlights cut through the darkness like knives, illuminating the warehouse yard.
Jamo stood beside her at the office window, his posture completely still.
Too still.
The kind of stillness that came before violence.
"How many wolves do you have here?" Vivian asked quietly.
"Eight," Jamo replied.
She exhaled slowly.
"And they brought at least twice that."
"Most likely."
Neither of them sounded worried.
But both understood the danger.
Outside, one of the vehicles stopped directly in front of the warehouse doors. The engine idled loudly, echoing through the empty dockyard.
The other trucks spread out in a half-circle.
Blocking every exit.
"Definitely a trap," Vivian muttered.
Jamo stepped away from the window.
His voice carried easily through the warehouse.
"Positions."
His men moved instantly.
Two wolves took cover behind the stacked crates. Another climbed the steel stairs leading to the overhead walkway. The rest spread along the walls where the shadows were thickest.
They moved like soldiers.
Disciplined.
Vivian watched them with quiet approval.
"You run a very organized pack," she said.
Jamo glanced at her.
"I run a city that people want to take."
A truck door slammed outside.
Footsteps followed.
Vivian's senses sharpened immediately.
Six… no… seven wolves approaching.
Confident.
Not rushing.
Whoever they were, they believed they already had the advantage.
Jamo looked toward the large warehouse doors.
"Stay behind me."
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
"That's not how this works."
"It is tonight."
She folded her arms.
"I've survived alone for years, Alpha. I'm not suddenly becoming helpless."
Jamo held her gaze for a moment.
Then he said quietly, "This isn't about helpless."
"Then what is it about?"
Before he could answer
The warehouse doors slid open with a loud metallic screech.
Cold fog spilled into the building.
Several figures stepped inside.
Vivian recognized the man in front immediately.
Daniel Reyes.
He looked exactly like he had on the video footage tall, dark coat, calm expression.
But the moment his eyes landed on Vivian, his smile widened.
"Well," he said.
"That saves me the trouble of tracking you down."
Vivian stepped forward slightly.
"You should have stayed gone, Daniel."
He chuckled softly.
"You always were dramatic."
Jamo moved beside her.
"You're in my territory," he said.
Reyes finally looked at him.
"And you must be the famous Alpha."
His eyes studied Jamo carefully.
"I expected someone… older."
Jamo didn't react.
"You have ten seconds to explain why you're here."
Reyes sighed.
"Straight to business. I like that."
Behind him, several wolves stepped into the warehouse. Some were already shifting, claws extending.
Vivian counted quickly.
Ten wolves.
Maybe more outside.
Her pulse quickened.
Reyes glanced around the warehouse.
"Nice place you've got here," he said casually. "Shame it's about to get messy."
Vivian's patience snapped.
"Where is Lucas?"
The name hung in the air.
Reyes's expression changed slightly.
Just enough for Vivian to notice.
"Still chasing ghosts, Vivian?" he said.
"You worked with him."
"Yes."
"You betrayed him."
Reyes smiled faintly.
"That depends on your definition of betrayal."
Jamo stepped forward slightly.
"You trafficked wolves in cages."
Reyes shrugged.
"Business."
Vivian's eyes burned with anger.
"Lucas would never work with traffickers."
Reyes tilted his head.
"Funny thing about people."
"What?"
"They change."
Vivian's voice dropped dangerously low.
"You're lying."
Reyes didn't answer right away.
Instead, he reached into his coat pocket.
Jamo's wolves tensed instantly.
But Reyes only pulled out a small folded photograph.
He tossed it across the floor.
It slid to Vivian's feet.
She hesitated for half a second.
Then picked it up.
Her breath caught.
The photo was old… but clear.
It showed a group of wolves standing in front of a warehouse.
Reyes.
Two other men she didn't recognize.
And Lucas.
Alive.
Standing beside them.
Vivian's hands trembled slightly.
"Where did you get this?" she demanded.
Reyes smiled.
"From the past."
Jamo stepped closer, studying the picture.
Lucas looked older than Vivian remembered.
Harder.
More dangerous.
"This proves nothing," Jamo said.
"Oh?" Reyes replied.
He leaned casually against one of the crates.
"Look closer."
Vivian's eyes moved back to the photo.
Then she noticed it.
Lucas wasn't a prisoner.
He wasn't being forced.
He was standing in front.
Leading them.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"No," she whispered.
Reyes's voice softened.
"You always believed your brother was a hero."
Vivian looked up slowly.
Her eyes burned.
"What did you do to him?"
Reyes shook his head.
"Wrong question."
"Then what's the right one?"
His smile returned.
"What did he become?"
The warehouse felt suddenly colder.
Vivian's grip tightened on the photograph.
"You're lying," she said again.
Reyes shrugged.
"Maybe."
He pushed away from the crate and straightened.
"Unfortunately, we're running out of time for family discussions."
Jamo's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Reyes gestured casually toward the door.
"Because my wolves are getting impatient."
As if on cue
One of the rogue wolves lunged forward.
Jamo shifted instantly.
The warehouse exploded into chaos.
Claws, teeth, and bodies collided across the concrete floor.
Vivian dodged a charging wolf and slammed her knife into its shoulder before spinning away.
Jamo's massive wolf crashed into two attackers at once, sending them skidding across the floor.
The battle roared through the warehouse.
But in the middle of it
Reyes simply walked toward the exit.
Vivian saw him leaving.
"Jamo!"
The Alpha turned instantly.
Reyes stepped into the fog outside.
He looked back once.
And smiled.
Then he disappeared into the night.
Vivian wiped blood from her lip and looked at Jamo.
"We're not done with him."
Jamo's voice was low and dangerous.
"No."
Outside, the engines of the trucks started again.
Reyes was escaping.
And he had just changed everything Vivian believed about her brother.
The war had officially begun.