⚠️ Content Warning:
This chapter contains graphic descriptions involving blood and a severed head. Reader discretion is advised.
The room was quiet—too quiet. Everyone watched as Rin reached for the lid of the box placed on the table. The small, elegant box looked ordinary, wrapped neatly in black silk ribbon, but there was something deeply unsettling about it.
Rin's fingers hesitated on the edge for a brief moment before he lifted the lid.
The smell hit him first.
A thick, metallic scent of blood filled the air—so sharp and suffocating it clawed down his throat and made his stomach churn. The moment his eyes caught what was inside, his body froze. Every color drained from his face, and his hand began to tremble violently.
Kael, who sat beside him, frowned at the sudden change in Rin's expression. "Rin?" he called, his deep voice low with concern. When Rin didn't respond, Kael leaned closer to see what had silenced him—
And froze too.
The rest of the room stirred, chairs scraping the floor, boots thudding as everyone moved closer. A few sharp gasps echoed, followed by a horrified silence.
Inside the box was a severed head.
Its lifeless eyes were wide open, still glistening under the light, staring blankly toward Rin. Dried blood crusted around the cut neck, staining the velvet lining of the box a dark, ghastly brown.
A small card lay tucked beside it.
Rin's hand shook as he reached for it. His heartbeat roared in his ears, his vision blurring with a wave of nausea. The ink on the card was crimson—written in a looping, elegant script that made his skin crawl.
"How do you like my gift?
If you don't behave, I'll send more.
And worse."
— Silas Vale
Rin's hand fell limp, the card slipping from his fingers. Kael caught it before it hit the floor, his jaw tightening, eyes darkening with cold fury.
"Silas Vale…" Kael muttered, the name a growl under his breath.
Lucas and Kanji stepped forward, their faces pale. They crouched beside the box, and Kanji carefully tilted the head to see the face more clearly. When he did, his expression twisted in disbelief.
"Rin…" Kanji whispered, his voice breaking. "This—this is Jay."
The name hit the room like a shockwave.
Suri gasped. Ari went still, eyes wide in disbelief. Tobi cursed under his breath, while Eric's hands clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Jay.
One of their most trusted men. The spy who had worked undercover in Ash Fang territory for months. Loyal, skilled, fearless. And now—nothing more than a decapitated head in a box.
Kanji's eyes burned with unshed tears. "He was the one we planted in Ash Fang. He must've been discovered."
Rin's entire body went rigid. His mind screamed, but no sound escaped him. All he could see was Jay's lifeless eyes—still fixed in that eternal stare, as if accusing him for failing to protect him.
"I'll make Silas Vale regret this," Rin whispered. His voice was low, shaking, but the fury behind it was unmistakable.
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
Jay's body—or what remained—was taken to be buried. The Crimson Vultures mourned quietly, each member drowning in their own rage and grief. Rin, however, withdrew to his room, locking the door behind him.
He sat there for hours, motionless, staring blankly at the floor. His mind kept replaying the image of Jay's face. Every time he closed his eyes, the smell of blood filled his nose again.
By the time evening fell, Lucas entered the room.
"...He's been buried," Lucas said softly, stepping closer. "Properly. With the others watching. We'll make Silas pay for it. I swear."
Rin didn't look up at first, then slowly nodded. "We will," he said, voice hoarse.
Together, they left the room and went downstairs to the living area, where everyone had gathered—including several of the Wolf Mark commanders. Kael sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable.
When Rin and Lucas appeared, all eyes turned to them.
"This explains it," Kael said after a moment, his voice calm but edged with steel. "The fire at your HQ—it was Silas Vale's doing."
Rin's jaw tightened. "Yes," he replied. "Lucas, prepare our backup safehouses. We'll move the others there by tomorrow. Tell them to stay on alert."
Lucas nodded, already making mental notes.
Kael leaned back in his chair, studying Rin carefully. "Or," he said, his tone low, "you could stay here."
Everyone turned toward him. Even the Wolf Marks looked surprised.
Rin blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
Kael met his gaze directly. "Your HQ was in a secluded area, heavily guarded—and yet they burned it to the ground. If you scatter your people again, you'll only make it easier for Silas to hunt you down one by one."
His eyes softened slightly. "Stay here. The Wolf Marks territory is vast, well-fortified. Together, we can keep your people safe—and strike back when the time is right."
Silence followed his words.
Rin stared at him, uncertain. His mind screamed to refuse—he'd always led his own people, relied on no one. But deep down, he knew Kael was right. Silas wouldn't stop.
Kael sighed, seeing the conflict in his eyes. "Think it through," he said, rising from his seat. "Tell me your answer tomorrow."
He walked away, leaving the others in tense silence.
Dinner that night was quiet. The usual chatter was gone, replaced by a suffocating heaviness that hung over everyone.
When it was finally over, Rin returned to his room. The moment he lay down, exhaustion hit him like a wave—but his mind refused to rest. Every time he shut his eyes, he saw Jay's face again.
He sighed and turned on his side, staring at the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains.
Then—a knock at the door.
"Come in," Rin said quietly.
Kael entered, his expression calm but concerned. He walked over and sat beside Rin on the bed. "Can't sleep?"
"Too much happened today," Rin admitted softly.
Kael nodded. "I spoke to Eric," he said after a pause. "He wants to run a few tests on your condition—to check our pheromone compatibility and determine how often you'll need to be marked to stay stable."
Rin looked down, silent.
Kael continued, "It would be better if you stayed here. It'll make the process easier. During the marking phase, you'll need my pheromones nearby—it helps your body regulate and heal."
"That'll be troublesome for you," Rin murmured, avoiding his gaze.
Kael chuckled, leaning closer. "It won't be."
Rin hesitated for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Alright."
Kael's eyes softened. He reached out, brushing his fingers gently along the bite mark on Rin's nape. Rin trembled at the touch, the sensation electric.
Kael's pheromones spread faintly in the air. Rin's cheeks flushed, his breath unsteady.
Kael shifted, pushing him gently to lie back. He lay down beside him, pulling Rin close against his chest.
Rin froze at first, but slowly, his body relaxed. The steady rhythm of Kael's heartbeat calmed him more than he wanted to admit.
They lay like that in silence.
Kael's hand rested on Rin's back, his thumb tracing slow circles as he whispered, "Sleep. You need it."
Rin closed his eyes, inhaling the faint scent that surrounded him—Kael's scent, grounding and steady. For the first time that day, the chaos in his chest began to fade.
And in the dark quiet of the Wolf Marks HQ, surrounded by uncertainty and grief, Rin finally slept.
But even as he drifted off, one thought lingered at the edge of his mind—
Silas Vale would pay.