The Crimson Vultures' headquarters buzzed with unspoken energy.
In the main living room, Rin sat alone on the long velvet couch, already dressed and ready. A sleek black turtleneck hugged his frame, paired with slim-fit trousers and a tailored maroon overcoat draped elegantly over his shoulders. Legs crossed, expression unreadable.
He had the look of someone prepared for a war, not for a meeting.
He has a file in his hand—the one Tobi gave him with the information of Ash Fang's core members. Rin decides to share the information they have on Ash Fangs with the Wolf Marks. Kael took the first step to show his sincerity, and Rin decided that they should share their information with them to show that they are also sincere about this alliance.
The living room was quiet, but the silence didn't last long as Ari came running from his room, in a black shirt and black pants, with different colors of coats, jackets, and blazers in his arms.
" Riiinnnn."
" Help me decide which one I should wear. I can't decide." Ari marched toward Rin while placing all the clothes on the sofa beside Rin.
"Okay—what about this one?" He held up a shiny silver bomber jacket. "Too much?"
Rin's eyes barely shifted toward him. "You'll blind the entire Wolf Mark HQ."
Ari huffed and held up a deep green suede jacket. "This one?"
Tobi entered the living room, already buttoning up a dark, formal wear. "We're going to form an alliance, not film a fashion show, Ari."
"I'm trying to look presentable," Ari argued, now holding up a white fur-lined trench coat.
Lucas appeared after Tobi, already dressed in smart formal wear. "You'll look like a snowman in that one."
Ari gasped and put the coat back while rummaging in the pile of clothes to look for something suitable to wear when Kanji and Suri arrived. Kanji was adjusting the collar of his charcoal black coat. Suri also wore a black suit.
Rin sighed lightly and stood up. He sifted through the pile of coats without a word, then plucked out a muted burgundy jacket with a structured cut. It was stylish but restrained—perfect for Ari's level of chaos.
"This one," Rin said. "Put the rest away before you make me regret taking you."
Ari grinned. "You do love me."
Rin didn't say anything and sat back down as Ari dramatically hugged the chosen coat to his chest and skipped off to get dressed.
"I'll go and get the cars ready," Kanji said, checking the time.
Rin nodded once. "Good. We don't want to arrive late."
—
Ten minutes later, the team assembled in the front courtyard.
Two sleek black cars waited near the steps—shined to a mirror polish, windows tinted, engines already humming.
Rin slid into the back seat of the first car without a word. Lucas took the driver's seat. Ari got in next to Rin, now wearing the jacket Rin picked, looking smug and satisfied.
"I feel like a hot mafia prince," he said, adjusting the jacket.
Lucas just sighed and started the car.
Behind them, the second car also started, in which Tobi and Kanji sat in the back seat and Suri sat in the driving seat.
The engines revved in tandem. The Vultures' convoy slid into motion.
—
The sun had started to dip beyond the skyline, casting a warm gold hue over the expansive grounds of Wolf Mark HQ. The headquarters stood like a fortress—modern steel blended with exposed stone, surrounded by a gated community that hummed with quiet strength. Neatly lined houses with private gardens dotted the property.
Inside the main building, however, the atmosphere buzzed with something different: anticipation.
Kael stood at the front steps, dressed in a crisp, black mandarin-collar coat, the silver trim on his shoulders glinting under the evening light. The others stood behind him.
Jax stood off to the side, clearly trying to contain his excitement. He was dressed in a navy suit, which he chose after trying on every piece of clothing in his closet. "Do my clothes look okay?" he asked Talon under his breath.
" After making me see you change hundreds of clothes, you still have to ask questions like this?" Talon replied with a huff, arms crossed.
Rowan, dressed in an emerald suit, stood silent as always, watching the gate with calm detachment. Kade adjusted his gloves and stood near Rowan, dressed in casual yet stylish pants and a shirt.
Milo wore an all-black ensemble with gold jewelry, which made her look even more stunning, and stood beside Nico, her sharp eyes occasionally darting toward the driveway.
Milo leaned closer to Nico, who was dressed in a gray suit, and murmured, "What time is it? Why haven't they arrived yet?"
Nico looked at his watch to check the time. "They should be here any moment now."
Milo was going to say something, but before she could speak, the sound of engines reached them.
The gates slowly opened.
Two sleek black cars rolled in.
Everyone stood a little straighter.
The first car came to a smooth stop in front of them, the door clicking open as Lucas stepped out, tall, muscular, composed. He glanced around quickly like a bodyguard on alert, then moved to the other side of the car.
Ari jumped out along with Lucas, his expression serious with no trace of the usual youthfulness he shows at home.
From the second car, Kanji exited, eyes scanning every detail of the headquarters with practiced calculation. Suri followed. Tobi emerged last.
And then Lucas reached for the final car door.
He opened it with a nod and stepped aside—
—and Rin stepped out.
For a beat, no one spoke.
The air shifted.
Rin's eyes—piercing, glacial, impossible to look away from—swept slowly across the Wolf Mark lineup.
He was effortlessly poised, a presence that demanded silence without saying a word.
Kael's eyes narrowed, not with surprise, but quiet calculation. He had seen Rin's face before, but with a face like this, it will always be a feast for the eyes.
Milo's lips parted slightly, Talon couldn't move his eyes away, Nico froze, Kade tilted his head, Jax stood straight, his eyes fix on the figure that came out of the car, and Rowan, being the calmest, stood without any change on his face.
The man who had just stepped out looked like he belonged on a magazine cover, not in a gang war. There was something magnetic about him—like he was the eye of a storm that hadn't touched the ground yet.
"The hell…" Nico whispered under his breath, voice low enough for only those near him to hear.
Milo nudged Rowan with her elbow. "Who's who? And who's the one that just came out of the car?"
Rowan, arms crossed, didn't take his eyes off the Vultures ."I know the first three," Rowan murmured, tapping fingers to his arm in order. "The tall one who got out first is Lucas—the second-in-command, he's the one who usually appears in meetings in place of his boss. The one who came out after Lucas is Ari. Then Kanji. The other two are new. Except for Lucas, I'm not sure about the others' position."
"Well, that's understandable since we didn't know anything about them. And it frustrates me," Milo frowned.
"It's okay, it's not like others knew; they just have quite talented people in the team," Rowan said.
Milo didn't say anything. Talon, who couldn't keep his curiosity, asked, pointing toward Rin," And who's he?"
Before Rowan could say anything, Jax straightened with a grin that looked far too pleased with himself.
"Oh come on," he said loudly, eyeing Rin like he was announcing royalty. "You don't even have to guess. That is Rin Asano."
Rowan exhaled slowly, confirming with a slight nod.
Milo's brows shot up. "That's him?"
"That's him," Jax said, practically bouncing now. "Crimson Vulture's Leader. Beta."
"He's gorgeous," Talon muttered before catching himself. "I mean—objectively."
"Didn't I say that he's too stunning for a beta?" Jax smirked.
Rin ignored the voices that he could hear clearly, and his gaze settled on Kael, cool and unreadable.
Kael took a step forward.
"Welcome," he said, extending his hand. "We're honored to have the Crimson Vultures here."
Rin's lips curved just slightly. "We are honored to be here."
They both shook hands.
"Come inside," Kael said. "We'll have a formal introduction inside."
And together, both gangs crossed the threshold—predators in suits, walking side by side.