The alley settled into uneasy hush broken only by labored breaths and the distant lap of harbor waves against scarred pilings remnants of Draven's pack reduced to twitching husks under flickering streetlamps their green venom pooling iridescent deadly. Alex slumped against a crate venom searing his side like liquid fire shadows recoiling inward twisting his veins into knots of agony while Lena pressed cloth to the wound her face pale but hands steady whispering urgencies. "Stay with me venom's fighting shadows don't let it win."Elena knelt swift weaving intricate shadow threads finer than spider silk piercing the wound drawing poison out in smoky wisps her own face straining with effort. "Core's echo in you resists but backlash grows—power feeds on will not rage." Crew circled protective Rico binding stragglers Scarface hauling bodies Razor barking orders to his vets now fully woven into Kane's fold thirty souls bound by blood and battle Harbor's makeshift legion staring at their shadowed don with reverence laced fear.Pain ebbed slowly Alex gasping as black veins receded leaving puckered scars pulsing faintly. Lena helped him stand her arm around his waist firm anchor eyes searching his. "That vortex... you're leveling up fast too fast." He managed a nod gratitude warming through haze. "Partners right?" She smiled fierce. "Damn right."Back inside gym Elena brewed bitter tea from hidden herbs journal open beside her pages turning unbidden revealing sketch: jagged core relic throbbing with trapped shadows Vinny's note scrawled Hide it in plain sight heart of iron. "Gym's secret?" Alex murmured. Elena nodded. "Vinny hid it here ring's base awakens full blood but draws elders like moths."Spike scampered in breathless. "Scouts Skyline tags on walls elders' sigil circle with fang Draven calls council." Murmurs rippled crew tensing. Razor spat. "War proper now."Lena's phone buzzed headline brewing Shadow Don crushes beast pack saves Harbor. "Suppress it?" she asked. Alex shook head. "Let it spread myth shields us." But as sleep claimed him venom dreams haunted: elders' faces ancient merciless core pulsing in his grasp.Dawn pierced windows Draven's tower a scout reported cloaked figures arriving portals flickering. "First elder hunts."Alex woke shadows tame but eager blood singing readiness.
