Chapter 144

I saved Hadrian’s number without thinking, my fingers moving automatically. But the moment his name appeared on my screen, I hesitated. Should I reach out first? The question tormented me, unraveling any hope of sleep. I wasn’t sure if I could forgive him for what he had done, yet my pulse quickened at the thought that he hadn’t given up on us. Still, there was Kenzo—subtle but relentless, weaving himself into my thoughts with every small, deliberate action. He was drawing me in, his pull almost impossible to resist.

I got up long before my alarm could go off.

Adrenaline coursed through me, my body fueled by it more than any rest could provide. I dressed quickly, stepping out of my tent to stretch. The forest was still wrapped in darkness, its silence broken only by the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees. Wearing combat boots, fitted black pants, and a short-sleeved top, I stood in the clearing when I saw them—red eyes cutting through the shadows.

I turned my head, locking onto the gaze that had found me. Kenzo emerged from the darkness beside his tent, stepping forward until the moonlight filtering through the canopy cast his face and onyx-black hair in a ghostly glow.

“Can’t sleep?” His voice was low, rough with quiet sensuality.

I shook my head, offering him a faint smile.

His eyes never left mine as he moved closer, deliberate and sure. Even in the dim light, I caught the slight shift of his lips as he bit down on his lower lip, his gaze sweeping over me from head to toe before returning to my face.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. The space between us thickened with tension, a heat that made my breath shallow. And then, without warning, his hand lifted, fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my cheek. The lightest touch—but it sent a jolt through me, sharp and consuming.

“I want you, Thalassa.” His voice was a command, not a confession.

I swallowed hard as he took another step forward, his presence swallowing mine whole.

His gaze bore into me, stripping away layers, letting me taste the hunger in his eyes.

“I need you to be my queen,” he murmured, his hands pulling me closer. “At my side, where you belong.” His fingers tightened slightly, his body radiating unshakable certainty. “I know you want this. Just stop fighting it.”

His words left me breathless, his conviction curling around my resolve, testing it, weakening it. But I forced my hands against his chest, pushing him back.

“I can’t…” My voice wavered. “Not like this.”

A flicker of something crossed his face—frustration, maybe even amusement.

“Thalassa,” he said, his tone coaxing, laced with power, “I can give you everything. Pleasure. A rightful place. Once you are mine, no one will dare touch you.” His voice dropped lower, intoxicating. “With your abilities, the Blue Moon Pack will be unstoppable.”

Tempting. Dangerous. Everything he offered gleamed like gold—but I knew it wasn’t what I was searching for.

“Kenzo, I—”

“Alpha,” a voice interrupted.

Ronan.

The Beta’s presence sliced through the moment like a cold blade. “The other groups are gathering around Wineville.”

Kenzo turned his head slightly, acknowledging him with a curt nod before clearing his throat. As Ronan moved to wake the others, Kenzo’s gaze found me again, sharp and unwavering.

“We’ll talk after we deal with the Moon Valley Pack.” His voice was resolute, allowing no argument before he turned and disappeared into his tent.

I exhaled shakily, only then realizing I had been holding my breath. Shaking off the lingering heat of the encounter, I refocused, packing the last of my belongings and folding my tent.

Forty minutes later, I was back inside the black van, ready to drive into enemy territory.

Wineville. The heart of the pack’s dominion. A place where crime festered, concealed beneath a thin veneer of civilization. It wasn’t just a werewolf stronghold; it was a town inhabited by humans too. No one knew for sure how many were aware of the supernatural lurking among them, which meant shifting forms was out of the question. A disadvantage for some—but for me, it was an opportunity. In human form, I held the upper hand.

Three groups would move in on the harbor—where drug deals and human trafficking thrived in the shadows. Two others were set to storm Dia Club, seizing control of the five-story brothel towering above its sleek dance floors. Our target was the Moon Casino—the lifeblood of Wineville’s underworld. The money, the power, the corruption—it all flowed through there, just a stone’s throw from Alpha Iskander’s mansion.

As we neared the border, the vans slowed. Weapons were distributed.

I hesitated when one was placed in my hands.

A gun.

It felt foreign in my grip, unfamiliar. Unsettling.

And yet, there was no turning back.

Wineville awaited.

I had barely touched a gun before.

"Is this really necessary?" I asked, leaning in towards Kenzo’s seat.

"Hopefully, we won't have to use it," he sighed, a heavy sound that weighed down the air. "The bullets are filled with aconite—deadly to werewolves. But the goal isn’t to kill anyone. These are for keeping the humans at bay if we need to. We want to look like... well, human attackers, not supernatural forces."

I nodded, fastening a holster around my body, silently hoping I’d never have to fire the weapon.

The moment we entered the town, everything shifted into high gear. Time was slipping through our fingers, and we were spotted almost immediately. Ian pushed the van forward with reckless speed, tearing towards the hill where the casino stood. Kenzo’s orders were simple when we reached the back of the grand building: stay close.

Our high-tech specialists moved quickly. One of them was already hacking into the casino’s security system from his laptop in the van, while the other methodically cut the circuits, plunging the surveillance into darkness. Less than a minute later, ten of our warriors were silently neutralizing the guards outside, taking them down without leaving a trace of violence behind. I watched them, hidden behind a row of thick hedges that divided the casino from the rest of the territory. They moved like a seamless unit, their precision unnerving. It was at that moment that the weight of what was happening hit me—I wasn’t just watching a mission unfold. I was part of it.

With the back and side entrances secured, Kenzo gave the signal. Everything moved so quickly, I barely had time to register how I found myself in the main hall—its gleaming tables of roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker flashing around me. We fanned out across the space, covering every angle. The main office and the vault were just ahead.

Kenzo had timed this perfectly. It was early morning, the slow period between shifts, when no gamblers were in sight. It was when the staff stored away the earnings from the night before—an ideal time to strike.

With only the staff inside the building, we guessed that the number of humans would be minimal. And sure enough, when the security guards rushed in, panting with fury, their glowing red eyes betrayed them. They were wolves, ready to shift, and that was enough of a distinction for us to know who we were up against.

The wolves were closing in, gathering from every direction, and my pulse quickened. My heart hammered as I watched them, sizing us up, testing our strength. Three massive wolves stood directly in front of me, their jaws snapping, eyes locked on me with deadly intent. I could feel the primal heat in the air. My muscles were ready, charged with adrenaline. My eyes flicked to Kenzo—his signal was all I needed.

"Now!" His voice rang out, sharp and commanding, laced with the force of an Alpha.

We moved. Thirty of us, an unstoppable force that moved in perfect synchronization, charging the guards. The fight was immediate and thrilling, an intoxicating wave of action that surged through me. My instincts kicked in, and everything else melted away. I became the predator.

The wolves—those overconfident bodyguards—were no match for me. They had underestimated my speed and skill, and each hit I landed sent a wave of sweet satisfaction through me. I dodged their attacks easily, relishing the power coursing through my veins. I didn’t even need my knife—my fists did all the talking. With a soft chuckle under my breath, I knocked another wolf to the ground. My eyes scanned the battlefield for Kenzo.

When I saw him, my admiration surged. He was a force of nature—moving like a machine, his every strike calculated and brutal. He took down everyone who dared challenge him in less than three moves. Soon, the casino floor was littered with unconscious bodies, and our group was the only one still standing.

Kenzo kicked down the door to the main office with a ferocity that made it splinter. He motioned to a few of our warriors, and they dragged the casino’s manager and his team out of their hiding spots.

"Bind them," Kenzo ordered, his voice cold with authority. "Lock them up in one place."

"Yes, Alpha!" they responded in unison, quickly securing the workers, starting with those still conscious.

Kenzo flashed a proud grin, the mission’s first phase complete. He took my hand, leading me out of the chaos, and gestured for the second group to follow.

I was still catching my breath, feeling like I’d just walked out of a mob movie, and a strange thrill tickled at the back of my mind. It was exciting, more than I cared to admit.

"What’s next?" I asked, my voice still a little breathless, feeling the weight of the moment settle into my chest.

Kenzo’s grin widened, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "We’re heading to the pack’s main mansion," he said. "It’s time to take down Alpha Iskander."