Charges placed,Conall reported when he returned to the laboratory.Full structural collapse, complete evidence destruction.
Then let’s get out of here,Anders said.We’ve got what we came for.
They evacuated the facility, Anders’s team providing security while the intelligence package was secured for transport.As they reached the minimum safe distance, Conall looked back at the concrete building that had housed Gregory’s ambitions.
Ready?he asked Nadine.
She stared at the facility for a long moment, her complex emotions weaving their way through the bond—grief for the father who might have been, satisfaction at the justice finally served, relief that Gregory’s victims were finally free.
Ready,she said.
Conall triggered the detonator.
The explosion lit up the desert night, Gregory’s laboratory disappearing in a pillar of fire and smoke.
The man who had tried to reshape shifter society through fear and manipulation was truly gone now, along with every tool he’d built to enforce his vision.
As they drove back toward Sunburst territory, Conall reached for Nadine’s hand.Through their bond, he felt her exhaustion giving way to something that might have been peace.
Conall’s phone buzzed as they reached the highway.Anders’s name appeared on the display.
Hi, Anders,Conall answered, putting the call on speaker so Nadine and Quinton could hear.
We’ve got him—the traitor.Anders’s voice held dark satisfaction.Robert Mitchell.Una spotted him first.She was running some routine security checks for me when she noticed someone accessing classified files during an unauthorized shift.
Conall felt Nadine’s mixture of vindication and sorrow.She’d been right about there being a traitor, even if she’d initially suspected the wrong people.
How much did he compromise?Quinton asked from the back seat.
We’re not completely sure yet.Security protocols, leadership discussions, operational schedules—he had access to everything through his communications role.Anders’s disgust was evident.Anyway, Malcolm wants a full report once you’re back.
On our way,Conall confirmed, ending the call.
The truck fell silent as they processed the revelation.Robert Mitchell—someone the twins had known for years, someone who’d grown up with Malcolm and Larissa—had been systematically betraying them while maintaining the appearance of loyal service.
I’m sorry,Nadine said suddenly.
For what?Conall asked.
For suspecting Quinton.For not seeing the real threat.She turned to look at Quinton in the back seat.You were protecting the pack from a legitimate security breach, and I accused you of being the traitor.
Quinton met her gaze in the rearview mirror.You were following the evidence.It’s what any good investigator would do.
The evidence was planted,she said.Gregory knew how to make it point wherever he wanted.
But you also knew when to trust what you could see,Quinton replied.When it mattered most, you chose to protect the pack instead of pursuing revenge.That’s what made the difference.
They had serious work ahead of them—debriefing with Sunburst’s alphas, coordinating with other packs, helping the freed assets adjust to their recovered identities.
But for the first time since she’d appeared in his life, the future felt full of possibility rather than threat.
Gregory Torrance was dead.
Chimera was powerless.
The Prometheus Group was finished.
And the woman who had been shaped to destroy everything Conall loved had instead chosen to save it.
