Chapter 8 · Marked Registry - Chapter 8: Early Disposal

The speaker crackled again. Ella Gray, Marked ID 47-A, report to processing bay three for early disposal.

Ella's stomach dropped. Cain's hand tightened on her arm, just for a second, then let go.

"Move," he said. Loud enough for the cameras. His face was blank, that investigator mask locked in tight, but his eyes flicked to the corridor behind them. The one they'd come from. The one that led back to the server room.

She didn't move.

"I said move." He stepped closer, blocking her view of the other cages. The ones where Mia had been dragged past ten minutes ago, bruised and half-conscious. "You want me to drag you?"

Ella's wolf clawed at her ribs. Not from fear. From rage. Because Mia was here. Right here. And Cain wanted her to walk away.

"Processing bay three," the speaker said again. "Final call."

"Go," Cain said, quieter now. His jaw was tight. "I'll find her. I'll get her out. But you need to move."

"Bullshit." Ella's voice came out flat. "You want the files. That's what you're here for."

His mouth twitched. Not a smile. Something worse. "Yeah. I want the files.