Chapter 162: # Chapter 162

Rocco's POV

I sprinted through the dimly lit corridors, my senses heightened as I tracked Andy's scent mixed with the acrid smell of gunfire.

The sounds of combat grew louder—grunts, shouts, the distinctive thud of bodies hitting the floor. I accelerated, pushing my muscles harder. The corridor opened into a wider area, and the scene that greeted me made my blood run cold.

Andy and what remained of his team were backed into a corner, surrounded by at least fifteen guards. But something was off about the guards—their movements were too coordinated, their eyes vacant. Mind control. Ethan had turned our own kind against us.

I didn't hesitate. Drawing on my Alpha power, I let out a roar that shook the walls, the sound reverberating through the chamber. Every head snapped in my direction, exactly as I'd intended.

"Over here!" I shouted, immediately drawing half the guards toward me.

I locked eyes with Andy across the room. His face was streaked with blood, his breathing labored. For a split second, I saw surprise in his eyes, followed by something else—relief. He nodded quickly, and without a word, we fell into a fighting rhythm I hadn't expected.

As three guards rushed me, I ducked under the first punch, driving my shoulder into the attacker's midsection. I spun, using the momentum to kick another in the chest. The third grabbed me from behind, but I threw my head back, connecting with his nose. The sickening crunch told me I'd hit my mark.

"Look who decided to join the party," Andy called out, his voice strained as he fought off two guards simultaneously.

I slammed another attacker into the wall before responding. "Looked like you needed help."

Andy took down a guard with a perfectly executed leg sweep. "I was handling it." He paused to catch his breath. "But thanks."

We ended up back-to-back, circling slowly as the remaining guards regrouped.

"Where's Kira?" Andy asked, tension evident in his voice.

My jaw tightened. "She went after Ethan. To stop the countdown."

"You let her go alone?" The accusation in his voice hit harder than any physical blow.

"She made a choice," I said, deflecting an attack and countering with a sharp jab. "I respected it."

Andy fell silent for a moment. "We need to finish this and get to her."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "The cells holding the Pack leaders are nearby. We free them, then we back up Kira."

The fight continued, growing more intense. I noticed Andy's movements slowing, his reactions delayed by microseconds. A patch of dark red stained his side—he was injured worse than he was letting on.

Then I saw it—a guard approaching from Andy's blind spot, silver blade gleaming in the emergency lights. Without thinking, I lunged, shoving Andy aside. White-hot pain exploded through my shoulder as the blade sank deep into my flesh.

"Fuck!" I growled, the silver burning like acid. I managed to grab the guard's arm, twisting until the bones snapped. He fell, and I staggered back, blood pouring from the wound.

Andy stared at me, shock evident on his face. "You just took a silver blade for me."

I gritted my teeth against the pain. "Don't make a big deal out of it."

But Andy's expression had already shifted, the hostility replaced by something resembling grudging respect. He helped me to my feet, his grip firm on my uninjured arm.

"That's going to need treatment," he said, eyeing the wound.

"Later," I replied, scanning the room. The remaining guards were down, some unconscious, others moaning in pain. "We have to move."

Andy grabbed a first aid kit from his pack and quickly pressed a bandage against my shoulder. "Hold this. Silver wounds don't heal on their own."

His hands were surprisingly gentle as he secured the bandage. I watched him work, this man who clearly loved Kira, who she had chosen over me. I should hate him. Instead, I found myself saying, "Thanks."

Andy met my eyes. "I owe you one."

"No," I shook my head, wincing at the movement. "I owe more. Much more." The words hung between us, heavy with meaning. We both knew what I was referring to—Kira. What I'd done to her.

Andy's expression hardened briefly, then softened. "Come on. The cells should be this way."

We moved through the facility, dispatching the few remaining guards we encountered. The pain in my shoulder was excruciating, the silver preventing my werewolf healing from kicking in. Each movement sent fresh waves of agony through my body, but I pushed it aside. Kira needed us.

The detention area was eerily quiet. Rows of transparent cells lined the walls, each containing a Pack leader I recognized—alphas from across the country, influential elders, all in various states of consciousness.

"Start unlocking the doors," I ordered. "I'll check this terminal."

While Andy began freeing the prisoners, I approached the computer station. The screen was still active, displaying data files I immediately recognized as extensions of what we'd found earlier.

"Rebecca," I called into my comm. "I found something. Sending you access now."

I quickly established a remote connection, allowing Rebecca to see what I was seeing. The files contained detailed schematics for a device labeled "Consciousness Vessel."

"This is it," I breathed, scrolling through the data. "Ethan created containers to temporarily store extracted consciousness."

"The extraction process isn't irreversible," Rebecca's voice came through, excitement evident. "According to these notes, with the right isolation technique and if the original host has a strong enough will..."

"We could separate Lyra from Kim," I finished, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. There was hope for Kim—and by extension, for all of us.

"Can you find the actual devices?" Rebecca asked urgently.

Andy appeared at my shoulder, pointing toward a door at the far end of the room. "That looks like storage."

We forced the door open to find shelves lined with metallic spheres, each about the size of a grapefruit. I carefully removed one, examining the intricate circuitry visible through its transparent sections.

"Got them," I confirmed to Rebecca. "I'm sending one back with the team."

"This changes everything," Rebecca replied. "With this, we might be able to help Kim. But first—"

A violent tremor shook the facility, cutting Rebecca off. Dust rained from the ceiling as the lights flickered.

"Energy readings are off the charts!" Rebecca's voice returned, urgent now. "Ethan's accelerating the process. You need to get to the main control room now!"

I turned to Andy, who was helping a disoriented Pack leader to his feet. "Get them out of here. I'm going after Kira."

Andy hesitated, clearly torn between his duty to the rescued leaders and his desire to help Kira. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," I said firmly. "Get them to safety. I'll make sure she's okay."

Something passed between us then—an understanding, perhaps even the beginning of respect. Andy nodded once, decisive.

"Keep her safe," he said, his voice low but intense. "Whatever's between us... she's what matters."

"I know," I replied simply. "She always has been."

Another tremor rocked the facility, stronger this time. I handed the consciousness vessel to one of Andy's team members. "Get this to Rebecca. It's crucial."

With one last look at Andy, I turned and sprinted toward the main control room, ignoring the searing pain in my shoulder. The hallways blurred around me as I pushed my body to its limits. Kira was facing Ethan alone, and I had to reach her.

The closer I got to the main control room, the stranger the air felt—charged with an unnatural energy that made my skin prickle and my wolf instincts howl in warning. Blue electrical arcs crackled along the walls, and the metal fixtures vibrated with an otherworldly hum.

I slowed as I approached the entrance, hearing voices from within. Kira's voice, tense but determined. And Ethan's—smug, confident, dangerous.

"The process has already begun, Kira," he was saying. "In minutes, every werewolf in this city will be under my control."

I peered through the doorway. The scene before me was like something from a nightmare. Ethan stood on a central platform, surrounded by pulsing blue energy. Kira was trying to reach a control panel but kept being pushed back by some kind of energy barrier.

Assessing the room quickly, I noticed several secondary power nodes feeding the main system. If I could disrupt even one of them...

I caught Kira's eye across the room. In that brief moment of connection, I saw recognition flicker across her face, followed by the slightest nod. No words needed—we'd fought together long enough to communicate silently. I indicated the power node to my left, and she understood immediately.

Drawing a deep breath, I prepared to enter the fight. Whatever happened next, we would face it together.