CHAPTER FIVE

The first gunshot Amber heard up close didn’t scare her. It awakened her. She ran toward the chaos. Not away from it.

Her bare feet hit cold floors, then gravel, then blood-slick concrete as she pushed through the corridor and out into the open courtyard. The night had changed. It wasn’t silent anymore. It was alive.

With war. ⸻ Men shifted.Bones cracked.

Wolves tore through the dark like shadows with teeth. Amber stopped for half a second— Just long enough to understand. This wasn’t an attack. This was an execution. ⸻ And in the middle of it— Raymond Perry stood like the storm itself. Unshaken.

Unbreakable. Covered in blood that wasn’t his.

He moved fast. Too fast for human eyes. One moment he was there— The next, someone was on the ground. Not moving.Amber’s chest tightened.

Not in fear.

In recognition.

Power recognized power. A wolf lunged toward her.

Amber didn’t think. She reacted.

Her body shifted.

Pain ripped through her bones—but she didn’t stop.

Didn’t hesitate. Didn’t fall. She transformed. Her wolf burst free—sleek, silver, and fierce. Smaller than the others. But faster. Sharper. Angrier. The attacking wolf didn’t expect it. Amber collided with it mid-air.

They crashed hard.

Rolling. Snarling. Claws tearing into flesh.

This wasn’t training. This wasn’t survival. This was instinct.

The wolf snapped at her throat. Amber twisted, biting down hard into its shoulder. Blood filled her mouth.

Hot. Metallic. Real. The wolf howled.

She didn’t let go.

Didn’t stop. Didn’t soften. Until it stopped moving. Amber pulled back slowly.

Chest heaving. Eyes glowing. Something inside her had changed. Not broken. Unlocked. A low growl sounded behind her. Deep. Commanding.

She turned. Slowly. Raymond. In wolf form. Massive.

Black. Dominant. His eyes locked onto hers. Not wild.

Not lost. Controlled. Even like this.

⸻They stared at each other across the chaos.

Two predators. Two forces. Then— Another wolf charged toward Amber from the side. Fast. Too fast.

She didn’t have time to react. But Raymond did. He moved like death. Intercepted. Destroyed. The wolf didn’t even hit the ground alive. Silence fell around them for a second. Just a second. Raymond turned back to her.

His gaze intense. Burning. Possessive. Amber’s wolf didn’t back down. Didn’t submit. Didn’t look away.

Something passed between them. Not words. Not logic. Something deeper. Older.

Recognition.

Then Raymond shifted back. Human again. Breathing steady. Like he hadn’t just ended three lives in under a minute. Amber followed. Her body snapped back into human form, breath shaking as she staggered slightly. Raymond was there instantly.

His hand catching her arm. Steadying her. “Careful,” he said. Low. Close.

Amber pulled slightly—but didn’t fully step away.

“I told you I’m not weak.” His grip tightened just a little. “I never said you were.” Gunfire echoed again.

Closer. A man ran toward them. “Alpha! They’re pushing from the east side—we’re losing ground!”

Raymond’s eyes hardened. “Fall back to the inner perimeter. Now.” The man nodded and ran. Amber looked up at him. “They’re not just testing you.” “I know.” “They came prepared.” “Yes.”

A pause. Then— “They came for me too,” she said.

Raymond didn’t deny it. Amber’s chest rose.

“Good.” That made him look at her. Really look.

“Good?” he repeated. Her eyes burned now. Not with fear. With something sharper. “Because I’m tired of running.” A beat. Then— “Tell me where to go,” she said. Raymond studied her.

Long. Carefully.⸻ This wasn’t the girl from the street anymore. This wasn’t someone to protect blindly. This was someone stepping into his world—

And choosing to stay. “Stay close to me,” he said finally. Amber almost smiled. Almost. “That sounds familiar.”

Another explosion shook the ground. Closer this time. Too close. Raymond’s expression darkened instantly. “They breached the second line.”

Amber’s heart pounded.

“What does that mean?” His voice dropped. Cold.

Deadly. “It means someone on the inside helped them.” The realization hit hard. Betrayal. Inside his own house. Amber’s mind raced. “Your men are loyal, right?”

Raymond didn’t answer immediately.

And that— That was answer enough. Before she could speak again. A voice cut through the chaos.

Familiar. Too familiar. “Amber!” Her body went still.

Slowly— She turned. Standing at the edge of the courtyard— Untouched by the fight. Untouched by the blood.

⸻Her father. Dressed in dark clothing. Calm.

Composed. Like this was all just another move in a game. Amber’s breath caught. “You…” He smiled.

Soft. Almost proud.

“My daughter.”

Raymond stepped slightly in front of her. Instinct.

Protection. Claim. “Wrong move,” Raymond said quietly. Amber’s father chuckled. “No,” he replied. “This is the final move.”

Amber stepped out from behind Raymond. This time— On her own. “You tried to kill me.” Her father didn’t deny it. “I tried to protect what matters.” Her chest tightened. “I’m your daughter!” “And you’re a threat.” The words cut clean.

No hesitation. No regret.

Amber felt something inside her finally snap. Not into pieces. Into clarity. “You killed her,” she said.

A pause. Then— “I allowed it.” That was it. That was all she needed. Amber stepped forward. Her wolf rising again beneath her skin.

Raymond’s voice came low beside her. “Don’t.” But this time— She didn’t listen. “Stay out of this,” she said. Her father watched her. Interested. Amused. “Show me,” he said softly. Amber’s eyes burned.

Her body tensed.

Then— She moved. Straight for him. But before she could reach him— A blade flashed. From the side. Fast. Hidden. Amber didn’t see it. But Raymond did.

And in a single second—

Everything changed.