Christopher stopped the car in front of the entrance, and two large men immediately approached him. They asked for his phone and smashed it before leading him inside, up the stairs, and down a corridor to a large hall.
Patrick was waiting, seated by a lit fireplace with two guards at his side. He stood up and walked toward him, observing him closely.
Christopher studied him. He was very different from Nereus—slightly shorter, with a longer face, brown hair, and a haughty gaze.
"Let the two hostages go."
Patrick tilted his head and gave a nod. One of the men left the room and returned shortly with Madison and Mu Yang. Their hands were tied behind their backs, but they appeared to be in good condition.
Christopher let out a breath of relief when his eyes met his companion's. She walked in with her head held high, her expression proud—though a flicker of concern crossed her face when she saw him.
"They'll stay a while longer to keep us company," Patrick said.
"That wasn't the deal."
"I never said I'd let them go… immediately," he replied with a smirk. "First, you'll tell me where your home is and where your men are hiding. Then, I'll exterminate your family."
Christopher growled and clenched his fists. "You're nothing but a coward."
"I don't like long wars when there's a convenient shortcut, as there is in this case. There was a time I might've exiled them, but I fear such customs are out of fashion—and they offer no guarantees. My brother's life for yours. The others to guarantee mine."
"The pack will never accept you as leader!"
"Nobles are easy to persuade—you just have to press the right buttons for each of them. As for the civilians… I don't think they care. You overestimate yourself, Christopher Barclay. We're no longer in the era of clans. Honor and valor are dead."
"The fact that you have neither doesn't mean they don't matter anymore."
"We'll see. In fact, I will see."
He approached Madison and slowly ran a knife across her face, bringing the blade close to her skin.
"Do you want me to scar her?"
"Leave her alone!" Christopher growled.
The blade pressed against her cheek. Madison glared at him.
"Christopher will never betray the pack—not even for me!" she shouted, casting her mate a warning glance.
The pack leader took in the situation. There were four armed werewolves in the room besides Patrick. He didn't know where Michael and the others were, but he feared he couldn't wait any longer.
The knife grazed her chin, and a thin line of blood appeared on her pale skin.
Christopher looked at Mu Yang, who gave him a barely perceptible nod.
Then, Christopher moved.
Swift and deadly, he struck the nearest guard in the throat and grabbed the pistol from his holster.
Mu Yang shoved Patrick, catching him by surprise, and Madison broke free, retreating several steps.
One of the guards fired and grazed the pack leader with a bullet.
Christopher took aim at Patrick, but the latter had already grabbed Mu Yang, using him as a shield while shouting orders to his men.
Gunfire erupted. Christopher shielded Madison with his body and fired back.
He saw Patrick flee the room with the doctor, just as Michael, Lucian, and Jia Hao burst in.
When the room had been cleared of Patrick's men, Christopher handed Madison over to Lucian.
"Get her to safety."
"You're hurt!" she said, as he untied her hands.
Chris smiled. "I'm fine. Go with Lucian. I'll see you soon."
He called to his brother and the vampire, then left the room to go after Patrick.
---
He entered the next room, eyes scanning frantically for Mu Yang—but saw no sign of him.
Relentless and focused, he killed the enemy werewolves one by one.
Then he heard the pack leader calling him and Michael.
In a flash, he was at his side. "Patrick took Mu Yang. Let's split up and search."
Jia Hao watched the two males disappear down separate corridors, then headed upstairs.
Other werewolves were scouring both the inside and outside of the building, taking out Patrick's soldiers.
Gun in hand, he reached the top floor. It appeared deserted. He moved cautiously until a breath of cool air brushed his face, and he froze.
A vertical line marked the wall in front of him.
He stepped closer and pushed—it opened. A steep staircase descended into darkness.
Noises came from below. Without hesitation, he followed them.
A shot splintered the wooden step just beneath his foot, grazing him.
Then he heard a struggle. He couldn't see— the staircase was too narrow, and the noise came from the lower flight.
"Mu Yang!" he shouted.
"Jia Hao! Get out of here!"
Another shot rang out. Then, briefly, a blade of light pierced the dark.
The vampire dashed down the stairs and threw open the door.
A bullet hit him in the chest.
As he crumpled to the ground, he heard Mu Yang's angry growl.
Pushing himself up, he saw a wolf—gray, brown, and white fur—sinking its teeth into Patrick's wrist.
He rose to his feet, focusing on the scene, not noticing the two armed werewolves entering from the front.
A yelp rang out as the wolf dropped, struck by a bullet.
Jia Hao fired, taking down one of the attackers, while Patrick fled under cover of the other's gunfire.
The vampire threw himself over the wolf until the shooting stopped.
Despite the searing pain in his chest, he gathered the wolf in his arms and returned to the hidden stairwell.
The ground floor was empty. He stepped outside.
Dr. Silver and Lucian ran to him.
"Let's get him under cover," Madison said, moving aside. "Lay him down."
Jia Hao carefully set the wolf down on the grass.
"The bullet pierced a lung."
Jia Hao felt the color drain from his face as Mu Yang's ragged breathing drowned out every other sound.
"I'll get the kit from the car," Lucian said as he turned and ran.