Chapter 242

Chapter 242

Vivian

The chaos around me intensified with each passing second. Philip's sonic assault hammered against my skull while panicked humans scrambled in all directions.

Every exit was blocked by a wall of terrified bodies pushing and shoving in desperation.

I needed to act fast. Lucas's plan was our only chance now.

'Walk. Now,' Lucas commanded through our bond.

I hesitated, torn between following his order and staying by his side. Before I could decide, Philip's voice boomed across the hall, silencing even the panicked screams momentarily.

"Everyone! This man is dangerous!" Philip pointed dramatically at Lucas, his voice carrying an artificial tremor of fear. "He's an unchipped werewolf—a fugitive! You all know he's a killer! He's one of those wolves without tracking chips. A prisoner rejected by his own kind!"

The crowd's panic shifted to something more dangerous—focused fear. I could see the change in their eyes as they looked at Lucas with growing terror and hostility.

Lucas's response was unexpected. He laughed—a soft, chilling sound that somehow carried through the noise.

"Hero? Who said I was a hero?" Lucas's voice was calm, almost conversational, yet somehow reached every corner of the room. "You really don't want to make an enemy of me, Philip. I promise you'll regret it."

Philip's face contorted with rage. "You're threatening me? In front of all these witnesses?"

"It's not a threat," Lucas replied, his eyes gleaming dangerously in the dim light. "It's a promise. I'm the one who destroyed your chip control system. Your precious tracking network." His voice dropped lower, taking on a predatory quality. "We are the superior species. Always have been."

Philip's lips curled into a triumphant smile. "But you're alone now. I made sure of that."

Lucas's expression didn't change, but I felt a chill run down my spine at his response: "That's unfortunate for you."

'Go,' Lucas commanded through our bond, the single word carrying the weight of absolute authority.

In that moment, gunfire erupted. The deafening sound of bullets combined with screams and the continuing sonic assault created a sensory overload that momentarily blurred my vision.

I instinctively dropped to the floor, my heart pounding against my ribs.

When my vision cleared, I looked back toward Lucas. What I saw made me freeze.

He stood untouched in the middle of the hall, surrounded by a shimmering energy field that seemed to absorb the bullets aimed at him. The projectiles simply disappeared into the barrier with tiny flashes of light.

The sight triggered a memory—that night years ago when I'd witnessed something similar during the great battle. Lucas had always been more powerful than he let on.

'I need to go,' I reminded myself. 'He's fine. He's always fine.'

Still, leaving him felt wrong. Every instinct screamed at me to stay and fight alongside my mate.

'Go, Vivian,' Lucas's voice was gentle but firm in my mind. 'You're the key to ending this. Get to the security room. Send the signal.'

Forcing myself to focus, I crawled away from the center of the chaos, using overturned tables and panicking guests as cover.

My medical training kicked in as I noticed injured people, but I forced myself to keep moving. There would be time for healing later—if we survived.

"Find that woman!" Philip's voice cut through the noise. "Don't let her escape!"

Another voice, slithering and cold, responded from the shadows across the room: "And then kill her."

A chill ran down my spine. I didn't recognize that voice, but the malice in it was unmistakable.

I need to get to the storage room where the auction items are kept. Lucas showed me the building plans earlier—there's a window behind the storage room that leads to the outside of the building. From there, I can override the communications blackout and send an emergency signal to Vortend and Archer's people.

Plus, there's an employee passage there that leads to the electrical room.

'Be careful, my Sexy Stallion,' I sent through our bond, allowing myself one last moment of connection.

'You too, little mate,' came his immediate response, warm despite the danger he faced.

More security personnel poured in through the main entrance, adding to the confusion. A man in a black uniform shouted above the din: "Everyone will be searched before leaving! We need to identify the hostiles among us. Please cooperate!"

I cursed under my breath. Time was running out.

As I slipped through a service door into a quieter hallway, Lucas's words from this morning echoed in my mind. He had known—somehow he had known this would happen.

---

Earlier that morning at the cabin...

Lucas sat at the kitchen table, his laptop open before him.

On the screen, I could see the encrypted video conference with Vortend, Archer, and Selene. Their faces looked serious, concerned.

"The plan is reconnaissance only," Vortend was saying, his voice firm. "If anything seems off, you pull out immediately. We can't risk anyone getting hurt. We need to wait until you gain access to those chips and disable the system."

Lucas's expression remained neutral, but I noticed the slight tightening around his eyes. "I'm not planning to just disable the system. I'm going to destroy it. Damage it beyond repair."

Archer leaned forward, his face filling more of the screen. "Lucas, that's unwise. I'm certain they'll reach out to negotiate once they realize we know what they're doing."

"We're well past the negotiation stage," Lucas replied, his voice cold and controlled. "They don't deserve the courtesy of a conversation. It's time we set the rules."

Selene's face showed concern. "That will only create more problems."

Lucas tilted his head slightly. "What if I told you I could breach their security systems before we even arrive?"

The silence that followed was telling. They all knew what Lucas was capable of, but even they seemed surprised by his confidence.

"You're planning something," Vortend finally said. It wasn't a question.

Lucas's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm planning everything."

"If anything goes wrong in a place this crowded, innocent people will get hurt," he'd said, his voice low and measured. "I'll consider both the primary and backup plans, but if neither looks promising, I'm activating the final option."

Selene's face had tightened with concern. "We don't have a final plan."

"Yes, but I do." Lucas's expression had been almost bored, but I recognized the steel beneath it.

"Lucas, what exactly are you considering?" Selene had asked, worry etching lines around her eyes.

Lucas had leaned closer to the camera. "You'll know soon enough. Weeks have passed, and the government has refused to meet about all the murders and these tracking chips. Do you really want to risk it?"

Archer had spoken then, his voice barely above a whisper. "We have no choice."

"Wrong," Lucas had countered, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You don't, but I fucking do."

Before ending the call, he'd turned to me, his eyes locking with mine through the screen. He'd outlined what I would need to do if he activated his final plan. His instructions had been precise, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Now, crouched behind an overturned table in the chaos of the gala, I made my decision. I would trust Lucas's final plan. He was right—enough was enough.

Rumors that the Moon Shadow Syndrome originated from our kind had begun spreading on more reputable news channels, fueling fear and urgency.

We were running out of time.