“Lyra, Kira’s tablet is signaling that she’s been taken to the Cross Pack headquarters,” Scuzball announced, his voice cutting through the chaos as I frantically shoved items into my go bag.

I made sure to stuff one of the thumb drives into the front pouch. The second one was MIA, but I didn’t have time to hunt for it. Every bottle of perfume we’d bought was tossed into the bag, along with my combat knife, now securely strapped to my belt. My eyes darted between Kira’s and my rifles, debating whether to bring one. But lugging a rifle through Baltimore would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull—more trouble than it’s worth.

With Scuzball working on ordering an Uber, I hastily donned my new black outfit, then bolted out of the truck and clambered onto the back catwalk. I yanked open the headache rack, grabbing a twenty-foot-long, five-sixteenth-inch chain and the winch bar—a.k.a. the “bitch bar”—from its spot. Wrapping the chain across my body like a makeshift bandolier, I strapped the bar to my bag with the molly system and some zip ties.

The leather coat went on last, concealing the chain. I slung the go bag over my shoulders, popped one earbud in, and connected it to my phone. By the time I was ready, the Uber had arrived. After locking the truck, I stashed the keys under some straps in the headache rack. No way was I risking those on this mission.

I sprinted across the parking lot, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Scuzball’s voice guided me to the Uber, describing the vehicle and plate number. Spotting it, I yanked open the door and slid inside, pulling the bill of my hat down to obscure my eyes.

“Good evening,” I muttered, barely glancing at the driver as I settled in. Pulling out my phone, I typed a message to Scuzball.

Scuzball, start the firestorm as soon as we arrive.

“I’m already on it,” he replied smoothly through the earbud.

We need to draw as many wolves out of that headquarters as possible. Pull out all the stops.

“Lyra, what’s your plan?” His tone was measured, but I could sense the undercurrent of concern.

I’m going to waltz right through the front doors and beat the living shit out of anyone who gets in my way.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asked, his worry seeping through.

Those assholes took my wolf. I’m done caring about good ideas.

“So, channeling your inner Star, then? Going full-on alpha badass?” There was a chuckle in his voice now.

Damn right. No one messes with my wolves.

“Alright, let’s go kick some furry ass,” he said, his chuckle turning into a low, devious laugh.

For the rest of the ride, I sat in silence, the Uber driver’s attempts at small talk met with clipped, disinterested responses. My mind was too consumed with the mission ahead. As we neared the building, I had her stop a block away. I slipped her a hundred-dollar tip before disappearing into a nearby alley Scuzball had pointed out.

“Scuzball, it’s time,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Already on it,” he confirmed.

From the shadows, I watched as cars began streaming out of the building’s parking garage like rats fleeing a sinking ship.

“Give it two more minutes,” Scuzball advised.

“Why?” I asked, impatience clawing at me.

“Let them get far enough away so I can mess with the traffic lights and block their return.”

“You hacked the city’s traffic system?” I couldn’t help but smirk at the audacity.

“Of course,” he replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Where’s Kira in the building?” I asked, focusing on the task at hand.

“Thirty-fifth floor, her father’s office. I’m watching her right now.”

“Wait, how?”

“The dumbass plugged the thumb drive into his computer. I’ve got access to their entire network.”

“Ah, so that’s where the other thumb drive went,” I mused.

“Kira played it perfectly. She made them think it held some top-secret info. I locked down her tablet, just to sell the story.”

“Brilliant,” I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips.

“Go,” he ordered, and I didn’t need to be told twice.

Quickly stepping out of the alley, I kept my head down and moved with purpose toward the building's entrance. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder that Kira was inside and in danger. Just as I reached the doors, the lights in the main lobby flickered out, plunging the space into an eerie semi-darkness. The wolves stationed at the reception desk glanced around in confusion before getting up and disappearing from sight.

Perfect.

I slipped through the doors and hugged the walls, making my way toward the elevators. My senses were on high alert, every muscle tensed for action. I could hear the wolves muttering to each other, trying to figure out what caused the power outage.

“Watch this,” Scuzball’s voice purred in my ear, tinged with mischief.

I peeked around a corner, just in time to see one of the wolves open a door, presumably leading to a maintenance room.

“I bet it’s just a breaker, Levi. No need to bother the boss,” the first wolf said, his voice dripping with false confidence.

“Uh huh, suuuure. And that’s why we just sent nearly the whole pack to check on the other locations?” the second wolf retorted, sarcasm thick in his tone.

A loud bang echoed through the hall, followed by the unmistakable crackle of an electrical zap. The first wolf came flying out of the closet, slamming into his companion with the force of a freight train. Together, they crumpled against the opposite wall, sliding down in a heap. Neither moved.

“Jeeze, what the hell did you do?” I whispered, incredulous.

“Surge overload,” Scuzball replied, his tone casual as if he hadn’t just turned those wolves into crash-test dummies.

Shaking my head, I made my way to the elevator and pressed the up button. Before the doors could open, Scuzball’s voice interrupted me.

“Take the stairs to the third level,” he directed, a hint of urgency creeping into his tone. “Someone just called the elevator.”

Without hesitation, I spun on my heel and sprinted toward the stairwell door. I pushed through and began ascending, my footsteps light and deliberate. Halfway up the first flight, the lights flickered off, plunging the stairwell into darkness.

“Why did you kill the lights in here?” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath.

“I’m disabling multiple areas of the building in stages. I’ve already cut the external phone lines and set up cascading system failures,” Scuzball explained, his tone calm and methodical.

Reaching the third-floor landing, I paused at the door, waiting for Scuzball’s signal.

“Clear,” he finally said.

I slipped through the door and crept toward the elevator. As I reached it, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. My heart leaped into my throat.

“Back to the stairs, now!” Scuzball barked.

But there was no time. I grabbed the winch bar from my bag, gripping it like a baseball bat. I sprinted to the edge of the hallway, pressing my back against the wall. Just as a man in a sharp suit rounded the corner, I swung the bar with all the force I could muster. The steel connected with his face, and he crumpled to the floor like a marionette with its strings cut.

Not taking any chances, I dragged his unconscious body to the stairwell, propping him up against the wall before racing back to the elevator. The doors slid open, waiting for me like an invitation to chaos. I stepped inside and jabbed the button for the thirty-fifth floor.

“That was a hell of a hit,” Scuzball remarked, a note of admiration in his voice.

“Thanks,” I muttered, my pulse still racing. “What’s the threat level on the thirty-fifth floor?”

“Four or five goons milling around near Mr. Cross’s office,” he replied, already plotting their demise.

I dug into my bag, pulling out four bottles of perfume and loosening their caps. The scent began to seep out, pungent but not overpowering—yet. When the elevator doors opened, I dashed out and hugged the wall at the edge of the hallway. Poking my head around the corner, I spotted one of the men idly scrolling through his phone, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He looked like he belonged in a low-budget gangster flick.

Narrowing my eyes, I decided stealth was no longer the priority. Kira was here, and these bastards had no idea what they were up against.

I stepped out from the shadows, cocked my arm back, and let out a soft whistle. The man looked up just in time to catch a perfume bottle to the side of the head. It shattered on impact, the force of the throw sending him sprawling to the floor.

Grabbing my bandanna, I wrapped it tightly around my face, ready to unleash hell. The commotion from my first attack had drawn another goon running. Cocking my arm back, I launched a second bottle with deadly precision. He instinctively raised his arms to shield his head, but that wasn’t my target. The bottle shattered between his legs. His scream echoed through the hallway as he crumpled to the floor beside his buddy. The air thickened with the acrid stench of the perfume, and the man began coughing and sneezing uncontrollably.

I darted past them, diving into the lobby where the remaining guards were already on high alert. Without hesitation, I hurled the last two bottles at them. They burst in mid-air, releasing a cloud of noxious fumes. As the men recoiled, I shrugged off my go bag and coat, feeling the weight of the winch bar in my hands. I charged.

They were already disoriented, sneezing into their sleeves and trying to cover their noses and mouths. The first one to reach me swung wildly, his fist cutting through the air. I ducked low and swung the winch bar with all my might, aiming for his knees. The satisfying crunch of bone snapping was followed by his high-pitched scream as he collapsed.

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But the second man was faster. He grabbed the winch bar, wrenching it from my grip. I didn’t hesitate. Letting go, I rolled away, coming up on my feet with the end of my chain in hand. I uncoiled a length and began to swing it, the heavy metal links whistling through the air as I stayed light on my feet, bouncing from side to side.

The two men shared a look, a sinister grin spreading across their faces. The one who had grabbed my winch bar tossed it aside, and both began to shift into their wolf forms. Their suits ripped open, bones cracking and popping grotesquely as their bodies transformed. A grin spread across my face as I felt the familiar surge of power rising within me. But this time, something was different. There was no pain, no tearing of flesh—just a warm, enveloping wave of magic that flowed through me, reshaping my body like molten steel in a forge.

When I opened my eyes, I was taller, stronger, more... everything. The wolves stared up at me, their expressions shifting from confidence to shock. I peeled back my lips, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth in a grin that promised nothing but pain. With a single motion, I beckoned them forward with a clawed hand.

One of them made the smart choice and bolted. The other, however, wasn’t so bright. He lunged at me, fangs bared. I sidestepped and lashed out with my chain, the metal links snapping against his spine with a satisfying crack. He crashed to the ground but quickly scrambled back to his feet, shaking off the hit.

This time, he charged with more force, slamming into me hard enough to push me back a few feet. I dug my claws into the floor, finding my balance. Grabbing him by the waist, I dropped to my back and used his momentum to hurl him over me. He flew across the room, crashing into the wall with a bone-rattling thud.

I was on my feet in an instant, spinning the chain like a deadly lasso. The wolf pulled himself out of the dented wall, shaking off debris, but I was already on him. The chain wrapped around his neck with a satisfying snap, and I yanked him toward me. As he stumbled forward, I reached out, clamping my hand around his throat and lifting him off the ground with ease.

“Where is she?” I growled, my voice thick with barely restrained fury.

His body went rigid in my grasp, and his eyes darted to the office door behind him. Just as I caught the direction of his gaze, he threw a desperate punch, landing it squarely on my jaw. Stars exploded behind my eyes, and for a moment, my grip loosened. But then a roar erupted from my chest, something primal and far beyond the normal sound a werewolf could make.

Without another word, I cocked my arm back and hurled him with all my strength. He sailed through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into the office door with enough force to blow it off its hinges.

When the wolf hit the door with the chain still wrapped around his neck, the thick wood exploded off its frame, crashing through the office and taking him with it. I stepped forward, surveying the wreckage as I approached. To my right, the man I’d nailed in the balls was just beginning to recover, still caught in a sneezing fit. Our eyes met, and he froze, wisely deciding to crawl away rather than test his luck. My instincts screamed at me to chase him down, but I had bigger prey in mind.

Ignoring the fleeing wolf, I turned back to the office, claws digging into the drywall as I gripped the door frame. Stepping over the unconscious wolf sprawled across the splintered door, I came face to face with Marcus Cross, the so-called alpha of the Cross Pack. He stood behind his desk, a pistol trained on Kira, who was trapped in a cage nearby. My eyes narrowed, and I wrapped the chain around my hand, fixing him with a deadly gaze.

“You might as well give up, Alpha Cross. You’re done,” I growled, voice low and lethal.

His jaw worked soundlessly for a moment, surprise etched across his features. Despite the mob boss bravado, the lines of age on his fifty-year-old face betrayed him. He wasn’t as strong as me, and he knew it. But then, the surprise morphed into a smug grin.

“You think you can take me on and win? You have no idea how powerful I really am,” he sneered, puffing up his chest. “I have connections that go beyond just being an alpha.”

I arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And your point is? I’m here for one thing, and one thing only.” I jerked my chin toward Kira.

His face twisted into a scowl. “I’m not giving her up. Especially now that she’s mated to that omega. I have plans for that brat,” he snarled.

“Plans, huh? Enlighten me,” I said, stepping forward.

He cocked the hammer on his revolver, the barrel steady on Kira. “One more step and I’ll shoot her,” he growled, but I didn’t stop. I just grinned, baring my teeth.

“If you’re so powerful, why not challenge me?” I taunted.

He let out a harsh laugh, clearly enjoying his perceived upper hand. “You don’t get it, do you, Alpha Acosta? I already have the upper hand. You care too much about your pack. That’s where you and your so-called king are weak. My wolves do as I order, even if it means their deaths. I’m going to use that omega to take over the North American Wolf Council, bring that boy-king down to his knees, and push us into a new era. With me as King, we’ll rule North America, and with China’s backing, we’ll bring the world to heel,” he declared, his voice swelling with arrogance.

I couldn’t help it—I started laughing, a maniacal sound that echoed through the office. Kira’s eyes widened in confusion, but I didn’t care. I stared at the fool before me, the man who thought he was untouchable.

“See, what you failed to understand is… I didn’t come alone,” I said, a devious grin spreading across my face.

At that moment, the computer on his desk flared to life, the screen filling with the stern, commanding image of Lord Lycotonu, flanked by several council members. Cross’s smug expression faltered, his eyes darting to the monitor as he recognized the King of the Wolves.

“Alpha Cross, thank you for so eloquently confessing your plans,” Lord Lycotonu’s voice boomed from the speakers, filled with cold authority. “The information you’ve hidden within your pack headquarters is rather illuminating. You are hereby stripped of your alpha position. You and your entire pack are excommunicated from the North American pack registry.”

The look on Alpha Cross’s face twisted from fury to shock as he swung his pistol toward the monitor, squeezing the trigger. Just as he fired, I whipped my chain at his arm. The hook met the back of his hand with a sickening crack, and his hand exploded into a mess of blood and bone. He screamed, the pistol clattering to the floor as he cradled the shattered remains of his hand to his chest.

I took a step forward, but before I could close the distance, he shifted into his wolf form in a desperate attempt to fight back. With a sigh, I whipped the chain again, nailing him in the head. He dropped to the floor, knocked out cold in mid-shift. I hadn’t even hit him that hard—just enough to keep him down for a while. Walking over, I quickly tied his arms and legs with the chain. It wouldn’t hold him forever, but it’d do long enough for us to get the hell out of here.

“Are you okay?” I asked Kira over my shoulder while securing the unconscious alpha.

“Yeah,” she replied, her voice steady. “The key to the cage is in his desk drawer.”

I rifled through the drawer, finding the key and tossing it to her. She caught it and unlocked the padlock that kept her trapped. The moment she was free, she walked over and kicked her father square in the face, the crunch of bone indicating she’d broken his nose.

“Let’s shove him in the cage and give him a taste of his own medicine,” she growled.

Grinning, I hoisted the unconscious alpha up and threw him into the cage. He hit the bars with a satisfying clang, and we quickly secured the door, locking the chain around it for good measure. With that done, we gathered up Kira’s belongings and made our way out of the office. I grabbed my winch bar, coat, and go bag before we headed toward the elevator. As we stepped inside, Kira turned to me with a curious look.

“Lyra, have you always had armor?” she asked, her eyes scanning my shoulders and chest.

I shot her a puzzled look. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve got these... armored scales along your shoulders, down your back, and chest,” she explained, a mix of awe and curiosity in her voice.

I glanced down at myself, my eyes widening in surprise. Sure enough, black dragon-like scales covered my upper chest and arms, hard and resilient like Stoneclaw’s. I reached up and touched them, feeling their solid, protective texture.

“Huh, that’s new…” I muttered, still in my raspy voice.

“It’s really cool looking. You should talk to Stoneclaw, see if you’ve got any other new tricks,” she suggested, a grin tugging at her lips.

“Probably a good idea,” I agreed, still marveling at the scales as the elevator’s mirrors reflected my transformed appearance.

The elevator came to a stop on the fourth floor, and the doors slid open to reveal a wolf waiting outside. Her eyes widened as she took in my appearance. I let out a vicious growl, baring my teeth. She stumbled back in fear, retreating down the hallway. Kira quickly hit the close button, and the doors slid shut again.

“For a five-foot-nothing woman, you’re one of the biggest wolves I’ve ever seen,” she remarked, glancing down at me.

“I’m only six and a half feet tall,” I replied, brushing it off. “There are bigger wolves than me.”

“Lyra, not to burst your bubble, but you’re definitely taller than six and a half feet,” she stated as the elevator reached the ground floor.

I didn’t argue with her, though I made a mental note to check later. Stepping out of the elevator, I scanned the lobby to ensure it was clear. Seeing no one, we made our way to the building’s entrance. Just before stepping outside, I shifted back to my human form. The transformation was smooth, almost effortless, unlike the usual painful process. As I stood next to Kira, she blinked in surprise—she was now a full six inches taller than me.

“What?” I asked, noticing Kira's wide-eyed stare.

“Your clothes—they’re intact,” she blurted out.

I glanced down at myself, and sure enough, the clothes I’d been wearing before I shifted were perfectly fine. Not even a tear, not a scratch. Hell, the earbud was still snug in my ear. Well, that was different.

“It’s about time you shifted back,” Scuzball chimed in my ear. “I’ve been trying to get your attention.”

“What’s up?” I asked, already knowing it probably involved something going boom.

“You need to get out of the building. I’m about to cause complete chaos,” he said, his tone too casual for comfort.

Grabbing Kira’s hand, I pulled her out of the building and into the streets, heading for a coffee shop a block away. Just as we got inside, the fire alarms in the building behind us started blaring, and smoke began billowing out of one of the upper floors.

“What did you do?” I asked my A.I. companion, a smirk forming on my lips.

“I fried the server room and every single workstation in the building,” he said with a hint of pride.

“What about all the data?” I asked, more out of curiosity than concern.

“I copied everything and sent it to the NAWC. Zak ordered it all destroyed, so I traced everything to an offsite location and obliterated it. The Cross Pack’s finances have been frozen and seized as well,” he explained.

“Damn… Zak wasn’t kidding around,” I muttered, impressed by the thoroughness.

“No, he wasn’t. Everything that belonged to Marcus Cross or the Cross Pack has been completely transferred to either Kira or the NAWC,” Scuzball added, with a hint of satisfaction. “Have Kira check her bank account.”

I looked over at Kira as we sat down at a table. “Check your bank account,” I told her.

“I don’t have my phone; the asshole Uber driver that grabbed me tossed it in a trash can,” she said with a sigh.

“Oh yeah, hold on,” I said, rummaging through my go bag until I found her phone. I handed it over.

“You found it! Thanks,” she said, her voice brightening up.

“You’re welcome,” I replied, watching her unlock the screen. The notifications lit up with several missed calls—all from Jake. She quickly cleared them away and opened her banking app. Her jaw dropped the moment her balance appeared.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, leaning in.

She turned the phone around, showing me the screen. Over seven million dollars now sat in her account. Even my jaw fell open a little. She quickly closed the app, setting the phone down like it might bite her.

“That’s a lot of money…” she whispered, still processing.

“No shit, I thought what I had this morning was a lot,” I remarked, shaking my head.

“I know, right?” she said, the shock still evident.

“You should call Jake back before he loses his mind,” I suggested, nodding toward her phone.

She picked it back up and dialed his number. I listened in as she reassured Jake that she was okay, the panic in his voice audible even from across the table. Apparently, their bond had let him feel her fear and anxiety, which had thrown him into a panic. When he couldn’t reach us, he’d gone to Stoneclaw, ready to fly out and find us himself. Luckily, Stoneclaw had calmed him down, telling him that if we didn’t check in by nightfall, the dragons would come looking.

Kira spun a tale about how she’d left her phone in the truck while we were loading, and that the fear he felt was just from a giant spider. We’d probably have to come clean later, but for now, it was best to keep the fleet in the dark about what really happened.

When the Uber arrived, we climbed in and headed back to the truck stop. Once there, we grabbed a few drinks and returned to the truck. We didn’t bother staying the night. I went straight to the pre-trip checklist, while Kira went into the sleeper to organize the mess I’d made earlier.

Scuzball brought up the GPS route to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and without wasting any time, I shifted the truck into drive, released the brakes, and got us the hell out of Baltimore. The city that had nearly swallowed us whole disappeared in the rearview, replaced by the long, dark stretch of highway. It took us about an hour to reach our destination, and thankfully, we arrived just before the end of the workday.

After a quick check-in, we were directed to the loading zone. To my surprise, several loaders were already waiting for us, ready to get to work. In minutes, they had the truck loaded, secured, and tarped. The massive forklifts made short work of the prototype JLTV and the accompanying crates we were tasked with transporting. They didn’t even bother asking us to break the trailer down—efficiency at its finest.

With everything in place, I signed off on the cargo, and we rolled out. As we hit the open road, I learned that part of the load was destined for SkyTeam Aerospace Foundation Headquarters. Perfect. I needed to have a word with Director Staroko anyway—there were too many loose ends that needed tying up, and I had a feeling he’d have some answers.

Kira sat silently in the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. She was lost in thought, the weight of the day’s revelations pressing down on her. I could see it in the way she absentmindedly traced patterns on the window with her finger, her mind a million miles away. It had been a long, grueling day—one that neither of us would soon forget. And with everything we’d uncovered, it was no wonder she needed time to process it all. Hell, I did too.

As the miles rolled by, the hum of the engine and the rhythmic thrum of the tires on the asphalt became a sort of lullaby, soothing the lingering tension. But beneath that calm surface, the gears in my mind were still turning, planning, anticipating, preparing for whatever lay ahead. This was far from over.