เข้าสู่ระบบThe fire remained lit. The flames of the torches illuminated the stone circle, while the Moon stayed high among the snow-covered branches. Among the Lycans, the Crossing did not end when the body was delivered to the earth; there was still one last thing to do: say goodbye. Not farewell. Never farewell.Alexei remained in front of Boris’s body, and at his side Carla did not let go of his hand. He felt the pressure of her fingers against his — a silent anchor on that cold night.The silence was broken by Andrei. He walked to the body and knelt, remaining still for a few seconds. Then he ran his hand through Boris’s gray hair, adjusting a lock that had come loose.Andrei closed his eyes, and his hand remained on Boris’s head for a longer moment.“You were my father.” The sentence came out without hesitation, firm despite the tremor in his voice. “No matter what they say, no matter the blood. You were.”He lowered his head, and when he spoke again, the words came loaded with a promise:“
The Moon had already risen above the treetops when everyone gathered around the stone circle. The snow reflected its pale light, while the torches scattered around the clearing kept the fire alive.Boris lay at the center, and Alexei remained a few steps away, with Carla at his side. Dmitry and Susan stood nearby, and Anatolie a little farther back. Everyone in silence, their eyes fixed on the body of the former enemy who had, in some way, become part of the family.The four Counselors stood before the circle, and Andrei, Yulian, and Feliks remained by the body. None of them seemed willing to step away, as if physical proximity were the last way to keep Boris present.The oldest of the Counselors raised his face to the Moon, and his voice crossed the clearing with an ancient solemnity:“The Crossing begins when those who remain recognize the one who has departed. Today we gather to deliver Boris Demidov to the ancestors.”The silence that followed seemed even deeper. Alexei looked at
The death of Boris did not end when the car arrived at the mansion. Perhaps because, among the Lycans, death was never truly an end. It was only a passage, a change of state, and that required preparation, respect, rituals that crossed generations.The old man’s body was taken to a reserved room in the Demidov mansion, where only the closest members of the family were allowed to enter. There was no music, no raised voices, and even the habitual movement of the servants seemed not to exist that morning.The entire house seemed to have learned how to remain silent, as if the air itself were in mourning.Andrei was the first to enter the room. Behind him came Yulian and Feliks, their steps slow, their faces marked by exhaustion and pain. The three remained in front of the body for a few seconds without saying anything, simply looking at the man who had raised them.Boris was dressed in simple clothes of his own lineage. The colors of the Demidovs were present, discreet, but no weapon had
Andrei drove with firm hands on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the snow-covered road. Feliks sat in the front seat in silence, his face turned toward the window. Yulian remained in the back seat, beside Boris’s body, covered by Andrei’s coat.None of the three had said much during the drive — there was nothing to say. The silence was heavy, interrupted only by the sound of the tires on the snow and by each one’s controlled breathing.Boris looked as if he were sleeping, and it was almost cruel how much he resembled it. For a few seconds, Yulian even thought that if he closed his eyes, he could pretend nothing had happened. That they were simply taking the old man back home after one more of his mysterious outings. But the smell of blood was still there, soaked into the cold air, and there was no way to pretend it did not exist.Andrei parked the car in front of the main entrance of the Demidov mansion. None of them moved immediately. Feliks slowly released his breath, his eyes
Mikhail remained in front of Boris, unable to lift his eyes. The silence between them was far too heavy, loaded with years of loyalty that were now dissolving like smoke.Boris was still trying to understand how that reality could exist. Mikhail had been inside his house, at his side, for years. He had known his habits, his men, his conversations. He had known stories Boris would never have told any other person. And all of that had reached someone Boris deeply despised.“Where is your family?” Boris asked, his voice low but firm.Mikhail remained still. The question seemed to hit him differently, as if he had not expected Boris to care about that after everything.“They are safe.”Boris narrowed his eyes.“I didn’t ask that. I asked where they are.”Mikhail did not answer. Boris took a step toward him, his silver eyes hardened.“Where are they, Mikhail?”“I don’t know.” The answer came hesitant, and Boris’s instinct awakened immediately. Something was wrong — very wrong.“How do you
Boris knew something was wrong even before he reached the address. The place was far too isolated — an old building, set away from the main roads, surrounded by snow-covered trees and by a silence that felt artificial, as if the environment itself were holding its breath.There was no movement in the vicinity, no cars passing, no lights in the neighboring houses. But there was scent: Lycans, many of them, scattered across the grounds.Boris got out of the car slowly, closing the door behind him with a dry click. He did not need to ask who was there — his instinct had already answered. He walked a few meters, keeping his eyes alert to the surroundings, every sense on high alert.He had brought no one with him; the message had been clear enough for him to understand that any attempt to appear accompanied could put Mikhail in danger. Or at least that was what he believed, until he felt a different presence — stronger, older, more accustomed to command.Boris stopped. Footsteps rose behin
“This is going to be a problem, Alpha.”The Lycan murmured in his mind, its voice low and drawn out, like a warning whispered through clenched teeth.Dmitry didn’t respond. He moved his wrist discreetly, checking his watch as if trying to remind himself that time still followed rules. It was an exc
The large meeting room at Rurik Motors exuded power. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows offered a privileged view of Moscow, while the dark wooden oval table dominated the center of the room. The black leather chairs, the discreet shine of the metal details, and the absence of any decorative excess
The glass-walled room on the top floor of Rurik Motors offered a silent spectacle of Moscow at night — cold, pulsating, and indifferent. Dmitry stood before the wall of glass, shoulders straight, a lit cigarette between his fingers, releasing the smoke with the same slowness with which time seemed
Standing in front of the imposing Rurik Motors building, Susan tried to ignore the wave of anxiety that was overtaking her. She took a deep breath and adjusted her glasses on her face before entering the building.The mirrored facade reflected the gray sky, giving an even more austere appearance to







