Kael dragged Sera into an abandoned building.It was a small house. Rotting wood. Broken windows. He pushed her into a chair. He tied her hands behind her back. He checked the knots twice."Start talking," he said.Sera looked up at him. Her face was calm. Too calm."What do you want to know?""Everything. Cross's lieutenants. His contacts. His plans. Everything he was going to do after the attack."Sera was silent for a moment. Then she spoke. "There were three lieutenants. You killed one in the fortress. The other two are still out there.""Names.""Malik. A wolf. He was Cross's enforcer. He's in the eastern settlements. Recruiting.""And the other?""A human. Her name is Director Vance. She's not a field operative. She's the money. She funded the entire operation."Kael's blood went cold. "Vance?""She's not related to Vera, if that's what you're thinking. Different family. Different agenda. She's been funneling money to Cross for years. She's the one who bought the weapons. The si

The bullet missed Kael's head by an inch.He felt the heat of it. The wind of it. He dropped. Rolled. Came up behind a crate. Another shot. Wood splintered. Splinters cut his face. He ignored them.Sera and the four wolves had taken cover. Their blades were drawn. They were waiting for his signal.Vance was still standing in the center of the room. Her pistol was raised. Her eyes were sharp. She was not afraid."You're fast," she said. "Faster than Cross said.""Cross is dead.""I know. You killed him. That was... unexpected."Kael moved. He darted from behind the crate. Another shot. He dodged. He was closer now. Ten feet away. Five.Vance fired again. Click. Empty.Kael lunged. His knife was in his hand. He drove it toward her chest.Vance dropped the pistol. She raised her hands. "Wait."Kael stopped. The knife was at her throat."Wait?" he said. "You just tried to kill me.""I tried to stop you. There's a difference."Kael stared at her. His hand was steady. His knife was sharp."

The paper was spread on the table.Kael studied it for the hundredth time. Names. Locations. Dates. Vance had given him everything she knew about the Broker. It was not much. The man was a ghost. But ghosts left footprints. You just had to know where to look.Sera sat across from him. Her hands were still bound. Her face was tired. But her eyes were sharp."The first name on the list," Kael said. "Elias Vane. Brother of Gareth Vane. The merchant you killed in the valley.""I didn't kill him. You did."Kael ignored her. "Elias runs a trading post in the northern settlements. He's been moving silver and information for years. He's the Broker's eyes and ears in the north.""And you want to go see him.""I want to ask him some questions."Sera leaned back. "He won't talk. He's loyal to the Broker. He's been working for him for decades.""Everyone talks. You just have to find the right pressure point."Kael stood. He folded the paper. He tucked it into his coat. He walked to the door."Whe

The pack did not believe him.Not at first. They stared at Kael. They stared at each other. They whispered. They argued. They did not want to accept the truth. Theron was their captain. Their friend. Their brother. He had fought beside them. He had bled beside them. He had saved their lives.But Kael stood on the wall. His wounds were still bleeding. His face was still pale. His voice was still steady."I know it's hard," he said. "I know you don't want to believe it. I didn't either. But it's true. Theron Cross is the Broker. He's been working against us from the beginning. He's the one who framed me. He's the one who sent the wolves after me. He's the one who killed Rigg. He's the one who started this war."The courtyard was silent. Then an elder spoke."Do you have proof?"Kael met his eyes. "I fought him. I heard him admit it. That's proof enough.""Your word alone is not enough. Theron has been with this pack for years. He's been loyal. He's been loyal to you.""I know. That's wh

Kael did not move.His knife was in his hand. His body was ready. But his mind was frozen. Theron. His second. His best friend. The wolf who had saved his life. The wolf who had stood beside him through everything.The Broker."You," Kael said. His voice was barely a whisper.Theron stood. He was calm. His hands were at his sides. His face was unreadable."Me," he said."How long?""Since the beginning. Since before you were framed. Since before Hale. Since before Cross."Kael's hand tightened on the knife. "You were working with them the whole time.""I was working for myself. Cross was a pawn. Hale was a pawn. Voss was a pawn. They all thought they were in charge. They were wrong.""You sent the wolves after me. In the culvert.""I did.""You wrote the patrol schedule.""I did.""You were there when I woke up. You helped me. You saved my life.""I needed you alive. You were useful. You were the Silent Fang. You had access. You had skills. You were the perfect tool."Kael stared at h