Silence swallowed the underground chamber.
Even the distant gunfire from the tunnel faded into nothing.
All that remained was the man standing in front of them.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Watching.
Vivian's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
"You're supposed to be dead," Lucas said again, his voice tight.
The man smiled.
"A lot of people are."
Jamo stepped forward, positioning himself slightly ahead of Vivian without even thinking.
His voice dropped low.
"Name."
The man tilted his head.
"You don't recognize me, Alpha?"
Jamo's eyes narrowed.
"I don't forget enemies."
"Good," the man said softly. "Then remember this one."
He stepped closer into the light.
"Gabriel Knox."
The name hit the room like a bullet.
Lucas went still.
"No," he said under his breath.
Vivian frowned.
"You know him?"
Lucas didn't look at her.
"Everyone knows him."
Jamo's expression darkened.
"The war strategist."
Gabriel smiled faintly.
"Former."
Vivian's heart pounded.
"You started the border conflicts five years ago."
Gabriel gave a small nod.
"I refined them."
Lucas stepped forward, anger breaking through.
"You started a war between packs."
Gabriel shrugged.
"They were already weak. I just… exposed it."
Vivian's stomach twisted.
"People died."
Gabriel's eyes settled on her.
"People always die."
Jamo's claws extended slightly.
"You're behind Black Unit."
Gabriel shook his head slowly.
"No."
He gestured lightly.
"I'm behind everything."
The words landed cold.
Lucas let out a harsh breath.
"This is insane."
Gabriel smiled.
"Is it?"
He walked toward the large table, running a finger across the scattered photographs.
"You chased traffickers."
He looked at Lucas.
"You built networks."
Then at Jamo.
"You built power."
Finally—
At Vivian.
"And you… you survived."
Vivian's voice came sharp.
"What do you want?"
Gabriel stopped.
Then turned fully toward her.
"You."
Jamo stepped forward instantly.
"Not happening."
Gabriel ignored him.
"Do you know why Lorewolves are rare, Vivian?"
She didn't answer.
Gabriel continued anyway.
"Because they don't belong to anyone."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"And that makes them dangerous."
Lucas cut in.
"Get to the point."
Gabriel smiled.
"I'm building a system."
Jamo scoffed.
"Another one?"
"A better one."
Vivian crossed her arms.
"You mean control."
Gabriel nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas shook his head.
"You sound just like Marcus."
Gabriel's expression didn't change.
"Marcus is a tool."
That answer shifted something.
Vivian frowned.
"You're using him."
"Yes."
"And Vale?"
Gabriel's lips curved slightly.
"Another tool."
The realization hit hard.
Everything they had been fighting
Marcus.
Vale.
Black Unit.
Even the Directorate
All of it had been part of a larger design.
Gabriel stepped closer.
"You've all been reacting."
His voice lowered.
"I've been planning."
Jamo's voice turned deadly.
"Then your plan ends here."
Gabriel smiled.
"No."
He lifted a small device from his pocket.
Lucas's eyes widened instantly.
"Don't"
Gabriel pressed it.
Somewhere deep beneath the chamber—
A low mechanical hum began.
The walls vibrated slightly.
Vivian's pulse spiked.
"What did you just do?"
Gabriel answered calmly.
"I locked the exits."
Lucas swore.
"We're trapped."
Jamo didn't look away from Gabriel.
"Then we fight."
Gabriel tilted his head.
"You still think this is a fight?"
Behind him—
Metal doors slid open.
More soldiers stepped out.
Not Marcus's.
Not the Directorate's.
Something else.
Their movements were too precise.
Too synchronized.
Their eyes… empty.
Vivian's breath caught.
"What are they?"
Gabriel's voice softened slightly.
"Control."
Lucas muttered, "Enhanced wolves…"
Gabriel nodded.
"Improved."
Jamo growled.
"You turned them into weapons."
Gabriel looked almost pleased.
"Exactly."
The soldiers raised their weapons.
But they didn't fire.
They waited.
For him.
Gabriel's gaze returned to Vivian.
"Here's the truth," he said quietly.
"You can't stop this."
Vivian's jaw tightened.
"Watch me."
Gabriel smiled.
"I don't want to stop you."
That caught her off guard.
"What?"
"I want you to join me."
Lucas snapped immediately.
"No."
Jamo stepped closer.
"She's not joining anyone."
Gabriel ignored them both.
"You've seen what the world is," he said to Vivian. "Packs, betrayal, control, lies."
His voice lowered.
"You don't belong to any of them."
Vivian felt something shift inside her.
Gabriel stepped even closer.
"You belong above them."
Lucas grabbed her arm.
"Don't listen to him."
Jamo's voice followed.
"He's manipulating you."
Gabriel said quietly,
"I'm offering you power."
Silence filled the chamber.
Vivian looked at the wolves behind Gabriel.
Controlled.
Broken.
Used.
Then she looked at Jamo.
Fighting for his pack.
Holding a city together.
Then at Lucas.
Hiding truths.
Making deals.
Breaking them.
Gabriel waited.
Patient.
Certain.
Vivian took a step forward.
"Vivian," Jamo warned.
She didn't stop.
Lucas's grip tightened.
"Don't."
Vivian pulled free.
Then she said the one thing that changed everything.
"I'll hear your offer."
Jamo froze.
Lucas stared at her in disbelief.
"You can't be serious."
Gabriel smiled slowly.
"I knew you would."
Vivian crossed her arms.
"Talk."
Gabriel gestured toward the chamber.
"Help me build a system where no wolf is weak again."
Vivian's eyes hardened.
"And how many die for that system?"
Gabriel didn't hesitate.
"As many as it takes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Vivian nodded slowly.
"Then I'll help you."
Jamo's voice dropped into something dangerous.
"Vivian."
Lucas shook his head.
"No."
But Vivian didn't look at them.
She stepped beside Gabriel.
"I'll help you," she repeated.
Gabriel's smile deepened.
"Good."
Then
Vivian moved.
Fast.
Her hand shot toward the control panel beside him.
She slammed her palm against it.
Alarms screamed through the chamber.
Lights flickered violently.
Lucas blinked.
Jamo surged forward.
Gabriel's expression changed for the first time.
Surprise.
Vivian turned to them, eyes blazing.
"Run!"
The controlled soldiers glitched.
Their movements stuttered.
The doors began to unlock.
Chaos erupted again.
But as Vivian ran
Gabriel's voice followed her.
Calm.
Certain.
"You just proved my point."
She didn't stop.
"You're exactly what I need."
And then
The floor beneath her feet suddenly dropped.
Vivian fell.
Into darkness.
Jamo lunged forward
But he was too late.
.