Draven.
A soft knock at my door dragged my thoughts away from everything about the call with Brackham and the upcoming war that cannot be ignored.
"Co in," I called, my voice low.
Dennis and Jeffery entered, quiet but deliberate, the door clicking shut behind them. Both took the chairs in front of my desk—Dennis slouching a little, as always, Jeffery straight-backed, eyes attentive.
I studied them for a heartbeat, then leaned forward. "Reports?"
Dennis spoke first, jaw tight. "About the secret lab—we’ve combed every public hospital, private facility, even the small clinics in the inner and outer city. Nothing. Absolutely nothing shady. If the lab exists, it isn’t in any of those places."
A heavy silence settled between us. I didn’t like that answer—not one bit—but Dennis continued before I could speak.
"Our conclusion," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "is that it’s underground. Literally. Sowhere hidden, off the books."
Jeffery nodded, expression grim. "That’s why we’ve found nothing, Alpha. No records, no rumours among staff, nothing. It would explain why it’s been so hard to trace."
My fingers drumd once on the polished wood. "We have underestimated them," I admitted, voice low. "They’re smarter than we thought. Much smarter."
My thoughts, however, weren’t only on the hidden lab. Brackham’s voice still echoed in my head—the smug certainty that spoke of a man who knew far more than he ever admitted. The man ordering my people to be stolen like livestock.
Jeffery’s gaze sharpened. "Running it underground ans they’re hiding sothing worse than we even guessed."
"I don’t doubt it," I muttered. "And if it’s underground, it likely isn’t sowhere with easy access. Not in the heart of the city."
Dennis nodded quickly. "Probably in an abandoned place. An old facility, sowhere no one would bother to look."
I pointed at him, leaning back slightly. "Exactly. That’s my thinking, too."
They waited. I could feel it—the unspoken question of what I’d ask them next.
"I want a curated list," I said finally. "Every abandoned building, structure, old facility—anything with underground sections. Both those still standing and those that have fallen into ruin."
Dennis winced slightly. "That... won’t be easy. Only the Duskmoor governnt would have full access to a list like that. And they sure as hell won’t share it with outsiders."
I t his eyes, my voice cold and unyielding. "Then steal it."
My gaze shifted to Jeffery. "And this task is yours. You’re already working closely with them in the fake investigation team. Find a way in. Quietly."
Jeffery didn’t flinch. He gave a single nod. "Understood, Alpha."
"Good." I let out a controlled breath. "Once you have that list, you and Dennis go through it. I don’t care how hidden it is—don’t miss anything."
They both nodded, determination settling over them like iron.
"And be careful," I added. The words ca out softer than I intended, but neither missed them.
A brief silence passed, then I told them that I had spoken with Brackham over the phone a few minutes ago.
Dennis asked, almost dryly, "Did he co begging again today, and giving his usual incompetent excuses?"
I gave a humourless huff. "Close enough."
Their attention sharpened. I leaned back, voice steady. "He claid he couldn’t find proof that what’s killing his humans is the sa thing killing our people."
Dennis snorted, anger flashing in his eyes. "So the old man wasted your ti again."
I ignored his tone and went on. "Then he told to check my email. Sent a video."
Jeffery frowned. "What was on it?"
"A figure caught on cara. Pale skin, black hair covering its face. Then claws—long, sharp, not human. And the creature attacked the cara."
Jeffery cursed under his breath, his face twisting. "They’re putting CCTV caras in the woods?"
"This is Duskmoor," I reminded him. "The land belongs to the humans. They can do what they want. But it ans we all need to be careful now. They’re obsessed with these caras."
Dennis groaned, rubbing his temple. "Great. Like we didn’t have enough problems."
"But for what it is, it’s a good thing that they have no idea it was a Vampire they caught on the cara," Jeffery said.
"And Brackham’s plan," I continued, voice cold, "is to catch this creature, torture it, and force it to tell him what it is and where the others are hiding."
Both Dennis and Jeffery turned to sharply, realization dawning.
"Yes," I confird darkly. "Brackham is the front man. He’s leading the team capturing our people and experinting on them."
Dennis shot to his feet, eyes blazing. "That bastard! Acting like he cared about the treaty while he—"
"Calm down," I cut in, voice hard. Though every part of wanted to rage, too, this wasn’t the ti. "He’s not here. Wasting breath on anger won’t change anything."
Dennis slowly lowered himself back into the chair, fists clenched so hard his knuckles blanched. Jeffery’s expression was cold as iron.
"But listen," I continued. "Those caras in the woods? The vampires will hate them. Hate being watched. When they realize they’re being spied on, they won’t just hide—they’ll co out. Into the city. And they’ll start killing humans in the open."
Jeffery’s gaze sharpened, understanding. "And when the vampires rampage, Brackham and his people will be too busy trying to fight them off."
"Exactly," I said. "They’ll be distracted. And while they’re distracted, that’s when we strike."
Dennis smirked, a dangerous satisfaction in his gaze. "Finally. Let the humans taste what they’ve been playing with."
Jeffery’s voice was calm but tight. "Which ans we have to know the lab’s location before then. And strike at the exact right mont."
"Yes," I said, my voice dropping. "Dennis, Jeffery—you find that lab. Every stone, every corner. We don’t have the luxury of failure."
Both of them nodded sharply, determination etched into every line of their faces.
As they rose to leave, the silence that fell over the study felt heavy, not with hesitation, but with a shared purpose.
"Move carefully," I reminded them quietly. "And move quickly."
They left without another word, closing the door behind them.
For a mont, I sat in the stillness, the ghost of Brackham’s smug voice lingering in the corners of my mind. My jaw tightened, blood pulsing in my temples.
This isn’t over.
And he wouldn’t even see us coming.
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