Chapter 160
Blake
Dmitri moved to a large desk, pulling out a detailed map of Alaska and spreading it across the surface. "Konstantin has been building network for twenty years," he said, marking locations in red. "Started small—underground gambling, protection rackets, loan sharking. But he's ambitious. Wanted bigger piece of Eclipse Court's power."
"So he started collecting leverage," I said. "Artifacts, information, people who knew Court secrets."
"Exactly," Dmitri confirmed. "Celeste and Connor were valuable because they'd stolen from Court vault, because Celeste had been trained in blood magic. When they died, Konstantin lost that leverage. But then..." He tapped the map. "Then he realized their daughter might have inherited knowledge, might have been told secrets before they died. So he started watching Kara, waiting for her to turn eighteen, waiting for her wolf to emerge and prove whether she had Celeste's gifts."
That's why he took her now, Asher's mental voice was sharp. Not just because she's our mate. But because she just turned eighteen, just had her first shift, just became valuable if she inherited her mother's abilities.
"Does she?" I demanded. "Did Celeste's gifts pass to Kara?"
Dmitri's expression was troubled. "I don't know. Never got close enough to test her. But Konstantin clearly thinks it's possible, or he wouldn't risk angering three Sterling Alphas by taking their marked mate. He's not stupid—knows you'll come after him with everything you have. Means he thinks what he'll gain is worth the war."
"Then we give him a war," I growled. "We burn his entire operation to the ground."
"Yes," Dmitri agreed calmly. "But first, we find her. And for that, you need to understand how Konstantin operates." He began marking the map more systematically, circling five locations. "These are his known safe houses—two abandoned cold storage facilities in Fairbanks, one former military warehouse outside Anchorage, one remote hunting cabin near Denali, one converted underground parking garage in Seward. All remote, all purchased through shell corporations, all off official records."
"Which one?" I demanded. "Which one for a high-value prisoner?"
"That's the question," Dmitri said thoughtfully. "Cold storage too obvious—first place law enforcement would look. Hunting cabin too isolated—no quick escape if raided. Parking garage too public. That leaves military warehouse, but..." He frowned. "Something feels wrong. Too convenient, too easy to find."
He's right, Asher's mental voice cut through my frustration. If we had these locations, Konstantin's people would know we'd find them eventually. Which means the real safe house is probably somewhere else.
"There's a sixth location," Dmitri said slowly. "Place I heard rumors about but could never confirm. Supposedly Konstantin bought old pharmaceutical factory southwest of Anchorage—near Evergreen Heights, wealthy suburb that borders abandoned industrial district. Perfect location—close enough to civilization that screams wouldn't be immediately suspicious, remote enough that nobody goes there, industrial zoning means no residential neighbors."
Evergreen Heights, Cole's mental voice was sharp. That's where the pharmacy was—the one on Kara's pregnancy test. Blake, that has to be it.
My heart slammed against my ribs. "How sure are you about this pharmaceutical factory?"
"Sixty, seventy percent," Dmitri admitted. "Never confirmed it personally, just heard whispers from other Court members that Konstantin had 'special facility' for 'sensitive projects.' But if he's keeping your mate somewhere, if he thinks she's pregnant with Sterling heirs, that's where I'd put her. Secure, isolated, equipped with medical facilities if needed, close enough to his other operations that he can move her quickly if threatened."
It fits, Asher said. Everything fits. Blake, we need to move. Now.
"But be warned," Dmitri continued gravely. "Konstantin knows blood magic tracking. If you go in without protection, he can use your pheromones to locate you, set traps. You must use silver powder, coat yourselves in laurel oil, mask every trace before you get within a mile of that factory."
"We don't have time for that," I snarled, already turning toward the door. "Every second we waste—"
"And every second you rush in unprepared is another second you risk getting yourself killed and leaving her with no rescue at all," Dmitri cut in sharply. "I understand desperation. But Konstantin is not stupid. He's had days to set up defenses, to prepare for exactly this—three enraged Alphas coming in hot and easy to kill."
He's right, Asher's mental voice was frustratingly calm. Blake, we need to do this smart. Thirty minutes to prepare properly could save Kara's life.
I wanted to argue, wanted to tell them all to fuck off and let me do what my wolf was screaming for. But the rational part of my brain knew they were right. Rushing in blind would just get me killed and leave Kara with no one coming for her.
"Fine," I bit out. "Thirty minutes. Not one second longer."
Dmitri nodded, already moving toward a cabinet. "Silver powder is easy—pure silver ground fine, blocks magical tracking for few hours. Laurel oil..." He pulled out several dark glass bottles. "This is harder to make, requires specific moon phase and blood ritual, but I keep stock for emergencies. Mix with powder, rub over all exposed skin and clothes, will mask your scent completely."
He started laying out supplies—bottles of oil, bags of silvery powder, tactical gear modified with Court symbols. "You'll need these too," he said, pulling out three silver collars similar to the one I'd seen on Kara in my nightmares. "Suppression collars, but modified. Won't block your wolf completely, just dampen your pheromone signature. Wear them until you're ready to strike, then remove and shift. Element of surprise is only advantage you'll have."
This is good, Asher said. This is exactly what we needed. Blake, get everything. Cole and I will meet you at the coordinates in twenty-five minutes. We're bringing Devon and twelve of our best warriors.
"One more thing," Dmitri said quietly. "When you find Konstantin—and you will, because he'll want to be there when you arrive, will want to see your faces—don't kill him immediately."