As soon as Blackjack arrived, Kai didn’t waste time. He led the vampire straight into one of the three private offices he’d had built inside the manor.Kai had envisioned moments like this, important, private conversations with members of the team or external parties. He worked better in structured environments, and an office allowed him to stay focused. That’s why he’d had an architect carefully design the manor, optimizing layout and access points so he could move quickly and efficiently throughout his day.“This whole place smells new,” Blackjack said, sniffing the air. “There’s a mix of moisture in the wood… and I’m guessing you brought me straight here so I wouldn’t see Gary? I can smell he’s here. Along with the others.”Kai took his seat in the spinning chair behind his desk. Without replying, he calmly picked up his phone and tapped the record button, placing it face-down in front of him.“For the record,” Kai said, voice firm. “And if you already knew that, then why are you a

After everyone had left, Kai stayed behind, pacing slowly as he made call after call, checking in on multiple fronts.His first priority was Slough. He needed to make sure nothing strange was happening in the city while he and the others were away. The rest of the Howlers were still active back home, and if something went down, if one of the rival groups made a move, he had to know.He couldn’t afford any surprises, not now.Next, he called up his connections to check on the Lupus faction and any activity near the Ruins.‘Still nothing,’ Kai thought, sighing quietly. ‘But that’s to be expected. If Unzoku is going to strike, it’ll be on the night of the full moon. They wouldn’t need to move in early.’He bit the inside of his cheek.‘I want to send someone from the Howlers over there… just to be safe. But anyone strong enough to handle what might be waiting, sending them in would be way too dangerous. Still, I can’t shake this feeling… like Unzoku is definitely planning to make his mov

In the distance, Kai could see them, two large, glowing red eyes piercing through the darkness like twin embers in a sea of black. The shadows cloaked the rest of the figure, making it impossible to see the full form, but that didn’t matter.His instincts screamed louder than his eyes could ever see. His heart pounded. His breath hitched. His body reacted on its own, tensing up, warning him. Deep down, Kai already knew.It was him.Unzoku.Kai tried to transform. He reached inward, calling out to the beast within, begging his body to shift. But nothing was working. No claws. No fangs. No surge of energy.It felt like his body had turned against him, like it wasn’t listening anymore.A strange, heavy pit formed deep in his stomach, twisting and pulling, weighing him down like an anchor being dragged through stone.The red eyes grew larger. They were getting closer.He’s here.‘No, he’s here, he’s really here! And I... I can’t move at all!’Kai’s mind raced as panic clawed at his chest.

The words that came from Unzoku’s mouth stirred a whirlwind of confusion in Kai’s mind. Gary was the Alpha. He was the leader of the pack. If Unzoku managed to take him out, it would surely be a massive blow to the Howlers.If Unzoku could control Gary, he could force him to fight for him. That had been the entire reason he’d gone to him first. So why was Unzoku now claiming he was after Kai?Was it because Kai had stayed out too late, training with the others at night? Maybe he was the easiest one to isolate. That made some sense.But perhaps there was something deeper going on. Something Kai didn’t want to admit, not even to himself. Maybe it was his role in the group. Maybe it mattered more than he liked to believe. Not just to the Howlers, but to Gary... and even to those outside the pack.He was the strategist. The planner. The one who helped the Howlers function at their core. Without him, things might start to fall apart.‘It’s okay,’ Kai thought. ‘Even if I’m gone, there are s