Frank Sterling lifted the delicate bamboo cup to his lips, allowing the fragrant steam of the Highland Summit tea to caress his face before taking a slow, deliberate sip. The liquid was warm, soothing his throat, a stark contrast to the cold, calculated words he was about to speak. He set the cup down with a soft clink, the sound echoing slightly in the vast, silent office."In recent years," Sterling began, his voice smooth and cultured, yet carrying an undercurrent of steel, "specifically the last twenty-four months, the organized crime syndicates in this country have undergone a terrifying resurgence. It is as if a dormant virus has suddenly mutated. They are no longer just street gangs fighting over turf. They are receiving backing from European cartels, leveraging sophisticated money-laundering networks, and infiltrating legitimate businesses. The sociopathic nature of these organizations, combined with this new influx of resources, has turned them into a cancer that is me

The "Recruitment Order" issued by Rex Dalton—a mandate that allowed inmates to exchange a rival's head for a spot in the trials—plunged the entire East Wing into a blood-soaked nightmare.Those whose names appeared on the Red List lived in terror. Confidence in one's strength meant nothing when a shank could come from the shadows at any moment. To be so close to the door of freedom only to slip on a pool of blood and die on the threshold was a fate no one wanted. They slept with one eye open, trusting no one.Meanwhile, those who hadn't made the list were desperate. They saw the Red List targets not as men, but as tickets to salvation. It was a simple equation: kill or rot. Freedom or oblivion.In this crucible of death, nerves were pulled taut like violin strings. Every shadow held a knife; every meal could be the last.The prison guards, having received subtle orders from above, turned a blind eye. They watched the carnage with indifferent eyes, all

I am the soaring Blood Eagle. I am the Blood Beast breaking free from its cage. I am the King, launching myself into the sky.In this suffocating darkness, in this game of death, I will let out a low, guttural roar. I will tear apart the flesh of my enemies, letting the sound of my fury echo and the blood of my foes flutter like crimson flags. I will make this endless night sky tremble, and make every ignorant soul shiver in terror!— Volume PrologueTen Days Later. 9:00 AM.The morning air was biting, carrying the distinct chill of the northern wilderness. South of the Confinement Death Ward—that hidden fortress of despair buried deep in the mountains—a rugged, winding highway stretched out like a gray scar against the forest.Two figures stood by the roadside, their silhouettes sharp against the pale morning sun. They wore casual civilian clothes, a stark contrast to the prison grays they had lived in, yet they stood with a posture that n

Victoria Vance?The Boss's Wife?The realization hit Marcus Grady like a freight train loaded with cement. His eyes bulged, nearly popping out of his skull. Beside him, Ghostand Dante Romero stood frozen, their mouths hanging open in perfect "O" shapes of disbelief.A moment later, a violent shiver raked down Marcus's spine. It wasn't the cold wind of the Larkspur cemetery; it was the icy grip of absolute terror.Oh, God, Marcus thought, his internal monologue screaming. I just flirted with the Boss's woman. I just tried to pick up the Queen.Most of the men who had followed Kane Adler out of the Confinement Death Ward knew the broad strokes of his past. They knew about Eliza Bennett, the tragedy that had sent him to prison. But they also knew about Victoria Vance—the powerful, terrifying force of nature from one of the nation's elite families who loved Kane with an intensity that bordered on obsession.In fact, rumors whispered in the cell blocks

Victoria Vance's soft cry cut through the haze of Kane Adler's desire like a bucket of ice water. The redness in his eyes, a symptom of the Bloodlust awakening within him, receded almost instantly, leaving his gaze clear and sharp.Kane looked down at Victoria, who was gazing up at him with a pitiful, wide-eyed expression beneath him. He shook his head violently, trying to clear the fog.What the hell is wrong with me? he thought, panic rising in his chest. Why was I so impulsive? I almost lost control.Beneath him, Victoria was secretly grinning. Damn, she thought. I only sprayed a tiny bit of that pheromone perfume, but the effect is way stronger than advertised.Her original plan had been simple: she was afraid Kane would still be that shy, awkward boy who didn't even know how to kiss properly. She wanted to give him a little nudge. But she hadn't expected to turn him into a ravenous wolf.Tsk, tsk. I almost lost my virginity right there, she mused. I def