Se connecterThe air on the deck was thick with the mouthwatering scent of searing steak and charcoal, a classic summer symphony orchestrated by Thomas Stark. He stood at the massive stainless steel grill like a conductor, spatula in hand, looking every bit the patriarch of the architectural empire."So, Owen says you’re hitting the books pretty hard," Claire said, leaning back in her Adirondack chair and swivelling her wine glass. "What’s the end goal, Leona? Designing skyscrapers like the men in this family, or something with a bit more soul?"Leona smiled, feeling the warmth of the setting sun on her face. "Actually, I'm going for legal assistant. I love the research—digging through the archives and finding the one piece of evidence that changes everything. I like being the one who knows the truth before anyone else does.""A hunter," Thomas called out from the grill, giving her a nod of approval over his shoulder. "I like that. Accuracy is everything in law and blueprints. Don't let Owen convi
The drawer slid open on silent, oiled tracks. Inside rested a single, black leather-bound ledger. The cover was entirely blank, devoid of the meticulous numbering Damon used for his other experiments.Fennigan lifted the heavy book. He flipped open the thick parchment cover, his silver eyes scanning the first page.The Alpha went completely, terrifyingly still. The pale, fluorescent light reflected off his soot-stained face as a cold, horrified understanding washed over him."It's not a pup," Fennigan whispered into the freezing air. "And it's not one of the silver-haired replicas."Jax slowly stood up from the sea of scattered files, his chest heaving. "Then whose is it?""His," Fennigan answered, turning the leather-bound book around so Jax could see the intricate, hand-drawn anatomical sketch of a wolf on the page. Above the sketch, written in Damon's unmistakable handwriting, were the words: Subject Prime - Autologous Replication."He tried to clone himself," Fennigan explained, h
Suspended inside a massive, reinforced glass jar was a heart. It was unnaturally large, floating in a pale, sterile fluid. But it wasn't a static specimen. With a wet, sickening thump-squelch, the muscle violently contracted.It was still beating.Synthetic, plastic veins were crudely stitched into the valves of the disembodied heart. A mechanical pump whirred softly beneath the table, pushing a horrific, viscous, bright silver goo in a continuous, endless loop to keep the dead tissue artificially, endlessly alive.Fennigan stared at the silver substance pumping through the tubes, his blood running entirely cold. It was the exact same experimental compound that had leaked from Damon's dying veins when Toby had put a bullet in his chest on Fennigan's direct order. That single gunshot had stopped the monster just seconds before he could drag Caspian and Briar down into this subterranean hell.Behind the jar, the cavern walls were completely plastered with chaotic, sprawling diagrams. It
He didn't hesitate. He reached down and snatched the bone ring off the desk, shoving it deep into his pocket so the dark magic was smothered beneath the thick leather of his jacket. He turned, his glowing eyes finding Leela across the room. The fierce, silent promise passed between them through the mate bond: Stay safe. I'm going to finish this.Jax gave Ginny one last, lingering look of absolute devotion before turning to follow his brother.The Alpha and Beta stepped back out into the dimly lit corridor, the heavy door clicking securely shut behind them. They headed straight for the subterranean dungeon levels. The time for grieving was over. It was time to rip the rest of Damon's secrets completely out of the bedrock."This is it," Miller whispered, his teeth chattering in the freezing air as he pointed a shaking finger at the circular groove in the center of the titanium. "The core."Fennigan lifted his hand, staring down at the object resting in his palm.In the dim, subterranean
They burst through the heavy double doors just in time.The freezing night air whipped through the open bay. A heavy transport truck sat idling, its diesel engine rumbling ominously. The three senior guards from the office were already there, their hands gripping the thick, splintering edges of a ridiculously cheap, rough-hewn pine crate. They were just hoisting the heavy, coffin-sized box up toward the truck's tailgate."Drop it!" Fennigan roared, his Alpha command echoing over the rumble of the engine.The guards instantly froze. The heavy pine crate hit the concrete floor of the loading bay with a hollow, violent thud.Without missing a beat, Fennigan crossed the concrete, his glowing silver eyes locking onto a heavy steel crowbar resting on a nearby workbench. He snatched it up."Alpha?" the lead guard asked, stepping back in confusion. "We just finished nailing it shut. The transport is ready."Fennigan didn't answer. He jammed the curved, wedged end of the crowbar right under th
Fennigan didn't retreat. He didn't let the crushing sting of his daughter's terrified rejection push him away from his family.The massive Alpha let out a slow, ragged breath. He slowly lowered his tired body to the floor, right between Leela's knees. He folded his long legs beneath him and gently leaned his broad back against the edge of the cushions, tilting his head back to rest perfectly against the soft swell of Leela’s baby bump.He closed his exhausted silver eyes, letting the steady, thrumming heartbeat of unborn Zephyr against the back of his neck anchor his fraying sanity. He just needed to be near them. Even if he couldn't take the nightmare away in that exact moment, he would be their physical shield.For a long, heavy moment, the only sound in the office was the wet, rhythmic sound of the twins sucking their thumbs and the soft, soothing hum Leela vibrated deep in her chest.Slowly, the frantic, terrified tension began to drain from the toddlers' little bodies. Grounded b







