Chapter 11

Jax's POV

The festival crowd surged toward the Wind Lighthouse plaza like a tide.

The moment had arrived.

Every soul in Free Haven packed into the square, even the merchant guild's guards pulled away to maintain order. That oceanfront suite should be sitting empty right now, just waiting for a "guest" like me.

I launched myself from one rooftop to another, toes barely kissing the eaves, landing soundlessly on the next building's tiles.

Wolf physiology came in damn handy at times like this—though I never showed it in public, nothing stopped me from enjoying the gift in private.

The suite's window sat on the third floor. I scaled the wall's irregularities, moving nimble as a gecko. The window wasn't even locked—these aristocratic bastards were always so careless, thinking a few guards meant they could sleep easy.

I pushed the window open and slipped inside with practiced ease.

The room was so quiet I could hear my own heartbeat.

Sunlight filtered through gauze curtains onto the floorboards. The furniture screamed money—that table was mahogany, the chair cushions embroidered with intricate patterns, the picture frames on the walls trimmed in gold.

Jackpot! This job was worth it.

I swept the room quickly, my gaze landing on a jewelry box on the vanity. I flipped it open—several necklaces lay inside, gemstones glittering in the sunlight. I stuffed them all in my coat without hesitation. The drawer held a coin purse, heavy and solid, packed with gold coins. I hefted its weight and grinned—this bag alone would keep Grandma Briony and me comfortable for half a year.

Just as I turned to leave, something caught my eye—a velvet case on the table. Red and blue light bled from its edges, almost painful to look at in the sunlight.

Curiosity pulled me over. I opened the case. A crown lay inside, perfectly still.

It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in my life—the metal gleamed with a soft luster, set with five gemstones. Two blazed with brilliant red and blue light, while the other three sat dark and lifeless. Even so, the damn thing looked expensive as hell.

This'll fetch serious money.

I grabbed the crown without a second thought and shoved it in my coat. Whatever it was, if it could be sold, it was mine.

Just as I spun toward the window, my sharp wolf hearing caught movement downstairs—hurried footsteps and low voices in conversation.

My pulse spiked. I bolted for the window. But before I could climb through, the door burst open.

Three figures crashed into the room. The leader was blonde, his eyes glowing amber, radiating pressure that rivaled a Beta's. Behind him came two guards with equally commanding presence—one copper-haired, one with iron-gray locks. All three had eyes sharp as knives.

"Get him!" the blonde man barked.

No time to think. I dove out the window. Behind me came the sound of bodies cutting through air—three wolf-shadows in pursuit, gold, copper, and iron trailing long afterimages in the sunlight.

I ran across the rooftops, tiles cracking faintly under my steps. The pursuers behind me moved with terrifying speed, their coordination flawless like they'd trained together a thousand times—the golden shadow closing from the front, copper and iron-gray flanking from both sides.

These guys aren't ordinary guards.

I pushed harder, using my knowledge of the slums' layout to weave through narrow passages. Vaulting over a chimney, sliding down a slope, I managed to open up some distance. But they didn't quit.

"Cut him off!" the blonde's voice rang out behind me.

The three shadows instantly adjusted course. Gold, copper, and iron light wove together like a net, steadily tightening. I could feel their presence closing in, the pressure almost suffocating.

My thoughts shifted from initial confidence—

I'm fast enough. I can lose them...

To mounting anxiety—

These guys work together too well, like they've done this a thousand times...

To near desperation—

Shit. My stamina's dropping and they're still fresh...

I plunged into the harbor warehouse district, trying to use the complex terrain to shake them. But just when I thought I might slip away in the chaos, the three shadows stopped and formed a triangle around me.

The blonde stood directly ahead, copper and iron-gray on either side.

They howled in unison. Gold, copper, and iron light burst from their bodies, converging overhead to form a massive triangular seal.

The light-net contracted at terrifying speed. I could feel the force pressing down—if it caught me, I was done.

Just as the net was about to close completely, the green stud in my ear suddenly exploded with blinding light!

Heat flooded my body. My speed tripled instantly. The world slowed to a crawl—the contracting net, the pursuers' movements, everything became sluggish and clear.

I seized that split-second opportunity. My form became a blur, shooting through a gap in the seal's corner.

Shocked shouts erupted behind me, but I didn't look back.

The earring's power lasted only seconds. My speed quickly returned to normal. Behind me, wolf howls rose again. They were coming.

I ran blindly until I realized I'd reached the base of the Wind Lighthouse. The forbidden zone of Free Haven. Legend said anyone who trespassed would be cursed by the goddess. No one dared approach.

I glanced back—three wolf-shadows closing fast, less than fifty meters away.

No choice now!

I gritted my teeth and leaped, scaling the lighthouse's exterior wall. Fingers finding cracks, toes catching on protruding bricks, I climbed like a lizard up the stone face.

The howling cut off abruptly. I looked down. The three pursuers had stopped at the lighthouse's base, staring up at me, hesitation and wariness flickering in their eyes.

They weren't following anymore...