Chapter 26 · The Moon Calls Her Name

"Stand down, Grey." Commander Hayes keeps his rifle aimed at my chest. "You're not a hunter anymore. You're a target."

Six barrels. All silver-tipped. All pointed at me.

Marcus stands three feet away. Hands at his sides. Silent.

The Coldbrook file's still clutched in my left hand, pages crumpled. My father's face stares up from the photo—Donovan Raith, Alpha, executed twenty-three years ago.

Executed by the man who raised me.

"You called them." My voice comes out flat. "You knew they'd kill me."

Marcus finally meets my eyes. "I gave you a chance to walk away."

"By lying to me for twenty-three years?"

"By keeping you alive." His jaw tightens. "Your mother begged me to end it clean. No records. No questions. I could've burned that file the day you were born."

My fingers go numb. The pages slip, scatter across the tent floor. My father's face lands near Marcus's boot.

"Pick it up," I say.

He doesn't move.

"Pick it up."

Hayes steps forward. "Grey, you have ten seconds to surrender your weapons and submit to Silver Oath custody. Resisting will result in—"

"She's not resisting." Cain's voice cuts through, rough and low.