I WANT VAULT 7

CHAPTER 6: I WANT VAULT 7

Four hours later, a sleek black SUV pulled into the subterranean parking complex of The Obsidian Market—a sprawling, lawless neutral zone located beneath the jagged peaks of the Blackridge Mountains.

Here, shifters, rogue warlords, and black-market dealers traded in rare relics, enchanted metals, and illegal tactical weaponry outside the jurisdiction of any pack territory.

Vivienne walked through the dimly lit stone corridors of the market, holding Mina close to her side. Her system interface flickered softly at the corner of her vision:

[SYSTEM SCANNING...]

[Target Artifact Detected: Moon-Forged Titanium Core]

[Item Location: Vault 7 - Shadow-Claw Territory

She needed that titanium core to reinforce the energy grid of the fortress she was quietly securing for the end of days.

As she approached the entrance of Vault 7, four towering guards clad in heavy leather and steel broadswords barred her path. Their eyes glinted with ruthless, feral authority.

"Hold it, stranger," the lead guard barked, his eyes trailing down to Mina, then up to Vivienne's face. "This is private territory belonging to the Shadow-Claw Pack. Outsiders aren't welcome without an Alpha's mark."

"I don't need a mark," Vivienne said calmly, stepping forward without a trace of fear. "I'm here to speak with whoever commands this vault."

"Are you lost, sweetheart?" a smooth, deep voice purred from the dark shadows of the vault doorway. He took a closer look at Vivienne, then smirked. "Oh, it's the Silverbrook Luna. Did Alpha Dorian Silverbrook send his little Omega here on a mission?"

The guards stepped aside, bowing their heads respectfully.

Vivienne turned in his direction.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out into the low amber light of the torch sconces. He wore a dark slate coat over a black tactical vest, his dark hair falling wildly over a sharply chiseled jawline. His eyes were a striking, piercing silver, gleaming with dangerous intelligence and raw power.

Alpha Jaxson Sterling.

The ruthless leader of the Shadow-Claw Pack, the terror of the northern borderlands, and Dorian’s most hated, sworn enemy.

In her past life, Vivienne had only heard rumors of Jaxson—that he was a monster who slaughtered his enemies without mercy. But as she looked at him now, with that devilish smirk on his face, he looked worse than a monster. Not a monster in a negative way. Rather, she saw a warrior king whose territory was impeccably disciplined.

Jaxson’s silver eyes swept over Vivienne once again, initially carrying an air of bored amusement. “So, to what do I owe this visit, Luna Silverbrook.”

“It's Vivienne,” Vivienne responded, suddenly feeling irritated by that title. “Vivienne Hale.”

Jaxson stared at her a moment longer. He had heard that the Luna of the Silverbrook was a weak Omega, subdued by Dorian's constant domineering intimidation. He had expected a helpless female trembling in his presence.

Instead, his gaze locked onto her eyes, and his smirk slowly faded.

Jaxson’s wolf stirred wildly beneath his skin, catching something unexpected. Beneath Vivienne's calm, elegant exterior, he smelled no fear. He smelled no submission. Instead, he caught a subtle, intoxicating scent of ancient, hidden power radiating from her skin, alongside a lethal, sharp aura that screamed danger.

"Well," Jaxson murmured, his silver eyes flashing with intense curiosity as he took a step toward her. "You certainly don't smell like Dorian's obedient little Omega."

"I'm no one's property, Alpha Sterling," Vivienne replied coolly, placing a protective hand on Mina’s shoulder. "And I certainly didn't come here to talk about Dorian."

Jaxson leaned against the stone frame of the door, folding his arms across his chest. A slow, intrigued smile curved his lips. "Is that so? An Omega walking unescorted into the darkest market in the mountain range, carrying a child, demanding an audience with me. Tell me, Vivienne Hale... what could you possibly have that I want?"

"I have money in liquid capital, exclusive strategic trade routes, and information that can bring Dorian Silverbrook to his knees," Vivienne said, her voice dropping into a low, compelling whisper. "And in exchange, I want the Moon-Forged Core in your vault."

Jaxson stared at her, his dark brows lifting in genuine surprise. He threw his head back and let out a rich, deep laugh that echoed off the stone walls.

"Fascinating," Jaxson purred, his silver eyes burning with a sudden, intense heat as he looked down at her. "What did Dorian do to piss you off so much?”

Vivienne sighed. “The question should be what didn't he do to piss me off?”

Jaxson’s smirk returned. “Dorian really has no idea what kind of queen he just lost, does he?"

Vivienne met his piercing gaze directly, her lips curving into a dangerous, dark smile.

"Leave Dorian out of this, Alpha Sterling" Vivienne whispered. "Are you ready for this discussion or not?.”

Jaxson gestured for Vivienne to follow him, leading her and Mina down a quiet stone corridor into what appeared to be his private study. Heavy oak paneling lined the walls, and a warm fire crackled in the hearth, casting long shadows across the polished floorboards.

Vivienne didn't waste a single second on pleasantries. Setting Mina gently into a plush leather armchair, she turned to the Shadow-Claw Alpha, her hazel eyes sharp and unyielding.

"I want to purchase Vault Seven," she stated flatly. "Name your price."

The system interface had explicitly flagged that specific subterranean structure for her base blueprint, though Jaxson certainly didn't need to know that.

Jaxson leaned back against his heavy mahogany desk, crossing his broad arms as a skeptical smirk played on his lips. "That vault is reinforced with moon-forged titanium, Vivienne. You're an Omega who just walked away from Silverbrook. I highly doubt you can afford it."

Vivienne didn't flinch. "Try me."

Jaxson raised a dark eyebrow, amused by her audacity. He threw out an outrageous, astronomical sum—an amount that could buy a small territory. "Five hundred million dollars. Liquid. No payment plans."

"Fine," Vivienne replied without a fraction of a second's hesitation. She pulled out her tablet and looked him dead in the eye. "Give me your account details."

Jaxson froze. The arrogant smirk vanished from his face, replaced by utter astonishment. He stared at her, his silver eyes wide as he processed the complete lack of negotiation.

"Who are you really?" Jaxson murmured, his voice dropping into a low, intense rumble as he stepped closer. "And what could you possibly need that vault for that is worth five hundred million dollars?”