Klarissa flinched, and let out a shuddering breath, nodding once.“I should have known it would be hard for my father to hide that.”Her gaze dropped again, shoulders curling slightly as the weight of memory pressed down, and the scene continued.
Klarissa’s gaze dropped, shame flickering across her face.“I was taken by my father—again—eight months ago.I was held against my will in that house, and if your friends did not find the lab in the basement, then it meant it was more important to my father to take the equipment and the findings than it was to dispose of the b-bodies.Which absolutely is his way of thinking.”Kamon’s heart stuttered at the pain in her voice, and the way she stuttered over the word bodies.“Once I had recovered, I’ve been fighting to escape ever since I was taken.Five days ago, I finally managed it.I had to get here—to tell you what was coming.But...”her hands trembled as she lifted them, curling into fists, “my freedom came at a price.More blood on my hands.”
Violet whistled softly.“Well, that explains the look in your eyes, sweet girl.Don’t beat yourself up too hard, Red.Some bastards only understand the language of a knife between the ribs.”
Jacob chuckled darkly, shaking his head.“That’s our mate for you.Always the ray of sunshine.”
Mason leaned back, arms folded.“She’s not wrong, though.Sometimes survival is ugly.”
Josie leaned forward, her eyes kind.“You did what you had to do.Don’t carry that weight alone.Any one of us would have done the same.”
Liam nodded firmly.“Aye.No shame in living when the alternative is letting monsters win.”
Kamon’s tiger bristled with pride and rage both at the same time.His mate was strong, strong enough to escape where most would have broken.But the thought of her standing alone, surrounded by her father’s men, cut him deep and left him feeling raw.
Keiran had been silent until now, his gaze heavy and unyielding.Finally, he spoke.“Taking lives to save lives is sometimes the price that must be paid.But don’t think it won’t take a toll.Those who do it carry the scars long after the fight is over.”
Klarissa’s eyes glistened, but she nodded.“You want the truth of it?Then you’ll have it.”She drew a ragged breath.“Eight months, I was kept in that house.I was beaten and starved when I refused to cooperate.Cut when I fought back.I endured ‘tests’ that left me with scars you can’t see.But I never gave him what he wanted.Not once.Five days ago, I saw my chance.I-I used my skills to create an airborne virus that would kill, but I designed it so that it had a short life, dissipate fast, and would not linger.It was airborne.I set it off and killed the three guards who watched over me.Then five medical staff, those hired to help my father distort my life’s work and turn it into abominations against humanity walked into the room.They caught the end of the virus, but it killed them nonetheless.So, I stole a car, and drove here, bringing with me a message of death and with blood on my hands.”
Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to continue.“I didn’t come here because I wanted to.I came because I had to.Because if I didn’t, more would die.And there is only so much blood a person can have taint their soul before they wither and die.”
The room went silent.Horror flickered across Josie’s face, anger across Liam’s.Violet swore under her breath, pacing.Jacob and Mason exchanged grim looks.Rune’s hand tightened on Klarissa’s, his jaw tight enough to crack.
Kamon felt everything at once—rage, sorrow, pride.His mate had survived hell.She had carved her way out with nothing but willpower and blood.She was scarred, yes, but unbroken.And it filled him with something so fierce it nearly split him apart.
He leaned closer, his voice rough.“Waan jai, I swear to you—you will never face that alone again.From this day forward, you are safe.You are cherished.And anyone who tries to take that from you will answer to me.”
“To us.”Rune’s gaze met his over Klarissa’s bowed head, and Kamon saw the same vow written there.Silent, but ironclad.His brother had made the same promise.Klarissa would never again stand alone in the dark.They would burn the world down before they let it happen.
She lifted her eyes, meeting both of theirs.“I don’t know why you’d want me,” she whispered.“But I want to believe you.”
Kamon’s chest clenched.He brushed a strand of hair from her face.“Believe it,waan jai.Because it’s already done.”
Rune’s voice joined his, low and certain.“You’re ours.And nothing will change that.”
The Pride might not yet realize it, but a line had been drawn in that room.Klarissa was theirs, and they were hers.Whatever war her father brought, they would fight it together.
****
Vincent Caruso stoodat the window of his new safe house, staring out at the thick trees that hid it from the world.Remote, fortified, and far better equipped than the Nashville site had ever been, it was a fitting place to regroup.But for the first time in years, frustration gnawed at him.
His government allies were wavering.Support was drying up as whispers of failure began to spread.They didn’t like how long this was taking.They didn’t care that perfection took time.They wanted results—proof that shifters could be erased like vermin.Caruso’s jaw clenched.How dare they question him?Still, he needed them, so he would play the game.
The phone on the desk rang.He snatched it up, his voice clipped.“What?”
On the other end, one of his backers demanded an update.Caruso ground his teeth but forced his voice level.“Progress is being made.The toxin will do what you paid for.It will kill shifters.The formula is delicate, but we are refining it.I will take the fight to them in Chicago soon.A month—perhaps less.”
The lie rolled off his tongue smoothly.In truth, he was ready to strike tomorrow.The formula was already lethal enough.Shifters would burn, and any weak humans who couldn’t withstand it ...well, that was natural attrition.Nature had always chosen the strong.
He ended the call without waiting for a reply, staring down at his hands.He needed more men before he could unleash it.That was the only delay.Soldiers, mercenaries, zealots—he didn’t care.With numbers, he could march into Chicago and drown the Pride in their own blood.
Caruso’s lips curved into a cold smile.Soon, he thought.Soon his daughter would regret defying him.Soon the shifters would learn what true extinction looked like.And when it was done, the world would be carved in his image.
He turned from the window, the darkness swallowing him whole.
