The night was heavy with anticipation, the kind that seemed to settle in everyone's chest the moment the Crimson Vultures stepped through the gates of the Wolf Marks' headquarters. Engines cooled outside, boots echoed against the concrete floor, and a strange stillness stretched across the hall where both gangs had gathered. Everyone was dressed sharply, masks in hand, weapons hidden, the air charged with tension.
Rin walked at the front of his men, his posture straight despite the faint pallor clinging to his features. He looked calm, but his sharp eyes missed nothing. The Wolf Marks stood ready as well, each member waiting for the signal to move.
"Lucas," Rin's voice cut through the silence, soft yet commanding. His eyes flicked toward the man. "Are your men in position?"
Lucas gave a firm nod. "All set. They're covering the perimeter and waiting for the signal."
Rin nodded once, then turned his gaze to Rowan and Jax. "And yours?"
Rowan crossed his arms and exchanged a glance with Jax before speaking. "Our men are ready too. Locked into position and waiting."
"Good." Rin's tone was clipped, efficient. "Lucas, Rowan, Jax—you know your positions. Hold them."
The three men nodded without hesitation before turning to leave.
As they did, Milo stepped forward, opening the slim case she'd carried. Inside lay several tiny metallic disks, so small they looked like buttons. She carefully handed them out one by one.
"These," she explained, her voice quiet but steady, "are nano-cameras. Stick them to your jackets, near your buttons. They'll feed us a direct stream from your perspective."
Kael examined the tiny device between his fingers before attaching it to his coat. Talon frowned as he pressed his in place.
"Wouldn't these get picked up by security scans?" Talon asked, skeptical.
Before Milo could answer, Tobi's voice carried across the room. He had been leaning against the wall, arms crossed, listening with mild impatience. "Not unless their scanners are ten years ahead of the market. These are brand new tech—undetectable by standard checks. They'll never know you're wired."
Masks were passed around next—sleek, elegant pieces designed like masquerade masks, concealing enough of their faces without being cumbersome.
The auction had strict rules: every attendee was required to wear a mask, a masquerade-like covering that concealed their identity. No one was allowed to show their true face, ensuring that every guest remained anonymous behind the elegant façade.
Kael's mask was stark black, edged with faint silver, sharp enough to highlight the danger in his eyes. Rin's was a deep crimson, ornate and subtle, casting shadows over the curve of his pale face. When he finished adjusting it, he straightened his shoulders and gave a single nod.
"Let's move."
They departed separately, slipping into different cars to avoid drawing suspicion. The city lights blurred past as engines roared quietly against the night. Each vehicle carried its own weight of silence, broken only by the occasional static check of their comms.
When Rin's car rolled to a stop outside the club, the building loomed tall and shadowy, pulsing faintly with bass that seeped through its walls. The exterior was deceptively ordinary—no sign of the kind of gathering that was about to take place inside.
A doorman approached, bowing slightly. "Invitation, sir."
Rin slid a sealed envelope from his coat pocket and handed it over without hesitation. The man inspected it, then gestured politely. "This way."
Rin followed, his steps steady and deliberate as he was led deeper into the heart of the building. The further they went, the dimmer the lighting became, until the corridors gave way to a grand hall bathed in shadows.
The hall was vast, with a raised stage at the center. The air hummed faintly with tension, laced with the smell of expensive liquor and pheromones.
Rin's escort stopped at one of the seats and gestured for him to sit. Rin sat down, his body relaxed but his eyes sharp as they swept across the hall.
It didn't take long before his gaze met Kael's across the room. The Alpha sat on his left side, posture rigid, the silver-edged mask shadowing the intensity in his eyes. For a brief moment, their stares locked. Kael gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, and Rin returned it with equal subtlety.
The connection was brief but clear.
Far away, in Wolf Marks HQ, the rest of their allies were already at work. Tobi and Milo worked side by side, fingers flying across keyboards as they hacked into the club's private server. Nico and Ari lingered nearby, tense but alert, while Eric leaned against the wall, arms crossed as his sharp gaze flicked between the screens.
Inside the club, Rin sat back in his seat, scanning every corner of the hall. His eyes caught on a figure near the front—Kane. The man stood with his back half-turned, speaking to someone with casual authority. The sight of him made Rin's jaw tighten, his eyes narrowing with contained hatred. Kane's presence here was no surprise, but it only confirmed what Rin already knew: this auction wasn't just a business deal—it was the Ash Fangs' statement of power.
Still, Rin's gaze shifted, searching. Silas was nowhere to be seen. The absence didn't ease him; it only confirmed that the man was hiding, watching from the shadows, pulling strings in silence. Rin's lips pressed into a thin line.
Then, the lights shifted.
The hall darkened, and a single spotlight bathed the stage in stark brightness. The low hum of chatter stilled as a man stepped forward, dressed immaculately in a black suit, his mask gleaming under the light. He spread his arms with theatrical ease.
"Ladies and gentlemen," his voice rang out, smooth and commanding, "welcome to tonight's special gathering. It is an honor to host such distinguished guests."
Polite applause rippled through the hall.
From his seat, Rin's eyes flicked once toward Kael's seat, then back to the stage.
As soon as the host appears, Kael sends a signal to Milo to tell them to start searching for the omega and to hack the security of the club.
The two immediately obeyed, launching their hack into the server. "Copy," Tobi muttered, eyes narrowing as streams of data scrolled across the screen.
Back inside, the host continued, his smile sharp.
"Tonight," he said, "we offer only the finest and most exclusive products. Treasures worth every coin and every drop of loyalty you bring to the table."
Rin's grip on the armrest tightened ever so slightly. His eyes locked onto the stage as the host raised one hand, signaling.
"Bring out the first product of the night."
The curtains at the side of the stage drew back. Something—someone—was led forward into the spotlight.
Rin's stomach twisted violently the moment his eyes fell on it. His mask hid his expression from the room, but behind it, his face darkened, his jaw clenching as his eyes burned with quiet, deadly rage.
The auction had begun.