Jamo hit the tunnel floor like a thunderbolt.
Concrete cracked beneath his boots as he landed. The guards barely had time to react before he moved.
One second they were aiming rifles.
The next second Jamo was among them.
A punch sent the first man crashing into the wall hard enough to dent the metal panels. Another soldier fired a silver round, but Jamo twisted aside and slammed the shooter into the cage bars.
Metal rattled violently.
The wolves inside the cages howled in response.
Marcus didn't move.
He simply watched.
Vivian stood frozen a few feet away, the remote still in her hand.
Jamo's eyes found her instantly.
There was something in them she had never seen before.
Not anger.
Not rage.
Disappointment.
"You shocked him," Jamo said quietly.
The words hurt more than the chaos around them.
Vivian forced her voice steady.
"I did what I had to."
Jamo looked at the wolf in the cage, still trembling from the electric surge.
"That's what they always say."
Marcus chuckled softly.
"Ah, the Alpha's moral lecture."
Another guard rushed Jamo from behind.
Jamo spun, grabbing the man's wrist and snapping it with a brutal crack before throwing him across the tunnel.
Two more guards hesitated.
Marcus sighed.
"Honestly, you boys should know better."
He pressed a button on his own remote.
The collars inside the cages suddenly lit up again.
Electric pulses ripped through the wolves.
They screamed.
Jamo froze.
Every muscle in his body went rigid.
Marcus smiled.
"There it is."
Vivian felt sick watching it happen.
"You said you'd stop."
Marcus shrugged lightly.
"I said a lot of things."
Jamo slowly turned toward him.
"Turn them off."
Marcus leaned casually against the cage.
"Or what?"
Jamo's voice dropped into something darker.
"I'll rip you apart."
Marcus tilted his head.
"You would."
His eyes flicked toward Vivian.
"But you won't."
Jamo followed his gaze.
Vivian still held the remote.
Marcus folded his arms.
"You see, Alpha, your problem isn't strength."
He nodded toward Vivian.
"It's loyalty."
Silence filled the tunnel.
Lucas's voice suddenly shouted from above.
"Jamo!"
A moment later Lucas slid down the broken tunnel entrance as well, landing hard on the concrete.
He took one look at the scene and cursed.
"Great."
Marcus smiled wider.
"Now the whole family's here."
Lucas pointed a pistol at Marcus immediately.
"Release them."
Marcus didn't even glance at the weapon.
"Or you'll shoot me?"
Lucas didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Marcus sighed dramatically.
"If you pull that trigger, every collar in this room activates permanently."
Lucas's finger tightened on the trigger.
"You're bluffing."
Marcus nodded toward the cages.
"Try me."
Lucas hesitated.
Vivian saw it.
Marcus noticed too.
"See?" he said softly. "Everyone hesitates eventually."
Jamo stepped forward slowly.
"You want me."
Marcus smiled.
"Of course I do."
Jamo's voice turned calm.
"Then release them."
Marcus considered the offer.
"You'll surrender?"
Lucas turned toward him sharply.
"Don't."
Vivian stepped closer too.
"Jamo, no."
But Jamo's eyes stayed locked on Marcus.
"You said you're building an army."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
Jamo spread his arms slightly.
"Then start with me."
The words shocked everyone.
Marcus's interest sharpened instantly.
"The Alpha himself volunteering."
Lucas looked furious.
"You can't be serious."
Jamo didn't look at him.
"If I surrender, you release every wolf here."
Marcus tapped a finger against his chin.
"Tempting."
Vivian stepped in front of Jamo.
"Absolutely not."
Jamo looked down at her.
"You already made your choice."
The words stung.
Vivian's grip tightened on the remote.
"You think shocking that wolf was real?"
Marcus watched the exchange closely.
Lucas frowned.
"What?"
Vivian lifted the remote slightly.
"You should really check your equipment, Marcus."
Marcus's smile faded slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Vivian pressed the button again.
The collar on the wolf sparked.
But this time
No electricity.
The wolf didn't scream.
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
Vivian's voice turned cold.
"I disabled the current when you handed me the device."
Marcus looked genuinely surprised.
"You faked it."
Jamo blinked once.
Lucas stared at her.
Marcus slowly began to smile again.
"Well played."
Vivian met his gaze.
"Release them."
Marcus laughed quietly.
"You're clever, Vivian."
He stepped closer.
"But you're still in my tunnel."
Behind him, more guards began emerging from deeper underground.
Far more than before.
Lucas cursed under his breath.
"Now we're outnumbered."
Marcus spread his arms.
"Again."
Jamo looked around the tunnel.
Then he made a controversial decision that stunned everyone.
"Vivian," he said calmly.
"Give Marcus the remote."
She stared at him.
"What?"
Lucas snapped too.
"Are you insane?"
Jamo's voice didn't change.
"Give it to him."
Vivian searched his face.
"You just told me not to trust him."
Jamo nodded slightly.
"I know."
Marcus watched with great interest.
"This conversation is fascinating."
Vivian stepped closer to Jamo.
"Explain."
Jamo leaned close and whispered something so quietly only she could hear it.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then slowly
She nodded.
Lucas looked between them.
"What did he say?"
Vivian didn't answer.
Instead she turned toward Marcus.
And tossed him the remote.
Marcus caught it easily.
Lucas exploded.
"You both just lost your minds!"
Marcus examined the remote with amusement.
"You're surrendering control again?"
Jamo's voice was calm.
"No."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Then what exactly are you doing?"
Jamo smiled faintly.
"Buying time."
Marcus frowned slightly.
"Time for what?"
Above them
A deep rumble shook the dock again.
Everyone froze.
Lucas looked upward slowly.
"That's not one of ours."
Marcus's smile faded.
The rumble grew louder.
Then headlights suddenly flooded the tunnel entrance from above.
Dozens of them.
Engines roared.
Vehicles surrounded the dock.
Armed figures began pouring down into the tunnel.
Not Marcus's men.
Not Vale's soldiers.
Different uniforms.
Different insignia.
Lucas's face went pale.
"Oh no."
Vivian whispered,
"Who are they?"
Marcus stared upward, his expression turning dark for the first time.
Because the soldiers entering the tunnel carried a symbol none of them expected.
A black wolf skull.
Lucas whispered the name like a curse.
"The Directorate."
And suddenly
Everyone realized something terrifying.
They weren't the hunters anymore.
They were the prey