Chapter 27 · Vera's Last Call

The gun didn't waver.

Vera stood maybe ten feet away, barrel steady, eyes locked on me like I was already dead. The orange glow from the burning cabin lit half her face. The other half stayed dark. I couldn't read it.

Cain stepped in front of me. Not all the way. Just enough that if she pulled the trigger she'd have to decide who to hit first.

"Move," Vera said.

Her voice came out flat. Cold. Like she'd said it a thousand times before and meant it every time.

Cain didn't move.

"Vera." His voice cracked on her name. I'd never heard him sound like that. "Don't."

"Don't?" She tilted her head. The gun stayed level. "You brought a newborn wolf into my jurisdiction. You broke your exile terms. You made me look like a fool in front of the entire eastern division." She paused. "And you want me to walk away?"

"I didn't ask you to come."

"Derek Morris filed a missing person report three days ago. Described her perfectly. Height, weight, that scar on her collarbone." Vera's eyes flicked to me for half a second. "Said she was unstable. Dangerous to herself.