Chaos erupted into the gym like a storm breaking over Harbor's fragile peace, Spike's warning still hanging in the sweat-scented air as howls—inhuman, guttural—pierced the night from the alley beyond. Alex felt them before seeing: a primal tug in his blood, shadows writhing across the ring floor in agitated waves, his blackened veins throbbing with warning fire. Lena gripped her pipe knuckles white eyes locked on the door where Rico's shout joined Spike's: "Boss! Wolves—big ones—tearing Razor apart!"They burst out into moonlit pandemonium the alley a frenzy of claws and screams. Draven's pack ten hulking brutes warped by weaver toxins fur-matted limbs unnaturally elongated fangs dripping green venom lunging at Razor's remnants. One pinned Rico against a dumpster jaws snapping; Scarface wrestled another's bulk blood slicking his arms. Spike darted shadows nipping heels but outmatched.Alex charged power surging unchecked. "Shadows bind!" Tendrils exploded from pavement coiling like living chains snapping around a wolf's maw yanking it off Rico crushing ribs with dark force. The beast howled thrashing free venom sizzling shadows to steam but staggered wounded.Lena fought fluid beside him pipe cracking skulls her intuition dodging claws like she'd danced this before. "Flank left!" she yelled as a brute leaped; Alex's sense-ping guided a shield-wall slamming it airborne into crates splintering wood.Elena appeared then scooter screeching sari billowing shadows weaving from her palms finer than Alex's lashing eyes of beasts blinding them momentarily. "Pack beasts Draven's failed experiments core-tainted rage no minds left!" Her weaves mended Scarface's gash mid-fight vitality pulsing back into him.Razor emerged bloodied swinging chain fury incarnate downing two wolves alliance sealed in slaughter. The pack alpha loomed massive scarred pelt glowing runes—Silas's kin?—lunging for Alex jaws wide. Power peaked veins burning; Alex thrust both hands a vortex forming sucking shadows from every crack alley swallowing the beast whole compressing to dust howling silenced.Venom splashed residual burning flesh; Alex dropped kneeling agony lancing. Pack remnants fled yelping into fog Draven's howl distant mocking. Crew panted victorious numbers holding Razor fully integrated now thirty strong Harbor's shield forged.Lena knelt cradling Alex venom searing his side. "Hold—Elena's mend!" Elena channeled core-echo healing knitting wounds but shadows recoiled wilder hungrier backlash claiming toll.Draven watched feeds eyes gleaming. "Weaver bleeds. Next wave elders come."Alex rose pain sharpening resolve blood fully awake.
