“He’s… important to me. I—” I stop. Can’t explain how complicated this is. Not to Merric. Not yet.
“I know,” Merric says quietly. Understanding in his eyes. “That’s why I’m gonna get him out.”
He shifts. Wolf form exploding outward. The others follow, charging toward the facility.
I’m left with the rescued hybrids, with Rook and Sienna helping the injured. With the impossible task of staying here when my wolf is fighting with me to go to him.
The bond pulses stronger. He’s fighting. I can feel it. Dragonfire and combat and desperation.
Sounds of battle build from the facility. Not gunfire. Something bigger. Loud roars. The distinctive sound of fire meeting fire. Walls collapsing.
He’s in full dragon form, going up against other dragons.
Have to get there, have to—
“Nadia.” Rook’s voice. “We need help with this one.”
A female hybrid. Unconscious, her breathing shallow and labored. I force myself to focus, to help Rook and Sienna move her carefully. I check her vitals. She’s clinging to life.
Then I hear it. Helicopters. Two of them. Circling the facility from the north. Heavy military transports. Armed.
Syndicate reinforcements? Aurora?
One helicopter descends, touching down in the clearing east of the facility. The other hovers, providing cover.
The door opens. Viktor emerges.
Viktor. Here. With a full tactical team behind him. Armed. Ready.
He sees me immediately and crosses the distance with long strides. His expression is controlled, but I can see anger underneath. And concern.
“Commander Frost,” he says. Formal. Using my rank even though I’m a fugitive.
“Sir.” What else can I say?
“We intercepted your call to Merric. Tracked the signal. Figured out what you were planning.” He looks at the facility. At the rescued hybrids. At the chaos. “We couldn’t let you do this alone. Despite your actions.”
Despite my treason. Despite breaking Jericho out. Despite choosing him over Aurora.
“The victims—” I start.
“We’ll get them medical attention. Extraction. Safety.” He gestures, and Aurora medics move forward. Efficient. Professional. Taking over care of the injured hybrids. “But right now, I need to know what we’re walking into.”
I brief him quickly. Facility layout based on Jericho’s intelligence. Dragon guards. Syndicate teams. The fact that my pack is already inside fighting.
And that Jericho went back for one more. The girl named Kaylin, who wasn’t with the others.
Viktor listens. Processes. Makes tactical decisions with the speed that made him a commander.
“We’re going in. Full assault. Extraction of all victims and your people.” He pauses. Looks at me directly. “Including Allon.”
Including Jericho. Relief floods me.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“We’ll sort out the rest after.” He turns to his team. “Move out. Lethal force authorized. Priority: rescue and extraction.”
Aurora operatives pour into the facility. Coordinated. Professional. Everything my pack isn’t trained for, but Aurora excels at.
