Chapter 30 · First Payment

The darkness isn't empty.

I can hear them breathing. Four guards somewhere to my left. Marcus closer, his exhale sharp like he's trying not to panic. Mara on the floor behind me. And Ethan right next to me, his hand locked around mine so tight I can feel his pulse hammering against my wrist.

Outside the medical wing, something scrapes against concrete. Then another sound. Claws on tile. A low rumble that makes my teeth ache.

"How many?" I whisper.

Ethan doesn't answer right away. His fingers twitch against mine. When he finally speaks his voice is flat. Dead. "Too many."

"Vane." One of the guards, trying to sound steady and failing. "Sir, we need to move—"

"Shut up." Marcus snaps it out. I hear him take a step. Glass crunches under his shoe. "They're tracking the scent. If we move they'll know exactly where we are."

"They already know." Ethan's grip on my hand loosens just enough that I know he's thinking about letting go. About putting distance between us. "You called every wolf in the city into one building and told them there's a hunter bloodline active. What the fuck did you think would happen?"

Marcus doesn't answer.