Sometime towards that evening...

About five black vehicles rolled into a street somewhere downtown Gritnia and came to a halt in front of a house.

The doors swung open. From the lead car, Marvin stepped out looking composed, but with fury burning in his eyes.

Melvin followed from the passenger side, and behind them, more doors opened as wolves of the Arcorys family poured out.

Percival stepped out of a separate car entirely, already scanning the building ahead.

Then, without a word, they followed behind Marvin, approaching the house like a storm.

The place looked ordinary from the outside, but it wasn’t. It was a drug den; and one of the many crime facilities owned by the Le Gris family.

The doors burst open, and Marvin walked straight through the front entrance. At the same time, the glass on both sides shattered as Arcorys wolves burst through the windows with inhuman speed.

"What the—" one of the Le Gris reacted.

Chaos erupted instantly, with tables being overturned as bags of powdered white substances scattered across the floor. Glass vials rolled and cracked under boots.

The Le Gris attempted to retaliate, but the Arcorys men hit them hard.

Fists slammed into torsos, and bodies were thrown across the room. One wolf barely raised an arm before being driven into a table that shattered on impact.

They were outnumbered three to one and didn’t stand a chance.

Another tried to flank him after he had just taken the first down, but Percival turned, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him face-first into the wall.

The room was filled with growls, impacts, breaking wood, and muffled screams.

Then a figure emerged from within the house.

His eyes burned with anger, but the moment he saw Marvin, his gaze widened and he dashed speedily toward the entrance, in a bid to escape.

Unfortunately, two Arcorys wolves stood in his way, blocking his path. This then forced him to take several steps back.

And in that moment, Marvin crossed the distance in an instant, grabbing the wolf by the throat and slamming him into the wall so hard the structure cracked behind him.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

The wolf struggled, digging claws into Marvin’s arm, but it didn’t matter.

He was facing an Alpha, but not just any Alpha. An Arcorys, known as the physically strongest of the seven wolf families.

Strength was the family’s trait.

Marvin leaned in, tightening his grip. "Partnering with capable members of the vampire families isn’t something that would happen without your Alpha’s awareness."

"But I’ve been to your main family house, and every other place I could think of to find him, and I still can’t find Aron."

His gaze hardened. "But you, Shaw, are his right-hand man, so you can answer my questions just as clearly."

Shaw swallowed hard, straining his throat under Marvin’s hold.

"So now..." Marvin continued, "...tell me. Why was my brother taken and mutilated?"

"I—I have no idea, Marvin—" Shaw said in a strained tone.

Marvin didn’t respond. Instead, his head turned slightly to the side. "Hand me the plier."

One of the wolves stepped forward immediately and placed it in his hand.

Marvin then turned his head to his other side. "Percival, look away."

Percival hesitated.

"Now!" Marvin commanded, and right then he did as asked.

Shaw’s eyes widened and Marvin’s hand holding the plier moved closer to his mouth. "No—no, no, no—"

The plier was forced between Shaw’s fangs, then yanked forcefully, tearing the tooth free.

Shaw screamed, and his body jerked violently as his eyes took on an amber glow as he tried to transform.

But Marvin’s eyes ignited as he let out a guttural roar over Shaw’s face, forcing him into instant submission.

Shaw’s transformation collapsed immediately, his strength draining away as he let out a weak wolf-like whimper.

Marvin let the plier hang loosely in his hand.

"Now," he said calmly, "are you ready to tell me?"

Shaw trembled, with blood dripping from his mouth.

"I’LL TALK—!" He blurted out with a trembling nod

Marvin lowered it slightly. "Then talk."

Shaw spoke quickly, though his voice still shook. "They’re taking... body parts... anything with DNA.. from every strong vampire and wolf... from the main families..."

Marvin’s eyes narrowed. "Who is?"

"The Desdemonas!" Shaw said immediately.

Marvin’s expression shifted slightly. "Why?"

"I—I don’t know everything—" Shaw said quickly. "But the family leaders... they want to create something... something that can kill Mikael, they know he’s still alive"

Marvin’s eyes widened because he knew Mikael was Eduardo.

Percival looked somewhat confused. The only time he’s heard of this name were from the stories they were told as children.

Marvin’s grip remained firm over Shaw’s neck as he stared into his eyes. "So you’re telling me... every other family leaders know of this?"

"Not all," Shaw replied quickly. "But most. Some weren’t spoken to... because of bias... or relationship with Mikael...Like you, Marvin."

Marvin shook his head. "Have the family leaders by now not known that Mikael cannot be harmed by them?"

Shaw swallowed. "This is different. Every family involved...has put everything on the line for this... to see that it works."

"Where is Aron?" Marvin asked then.

Shaw said nothing, which made Alpha sigh as he lifted the plier into view again.

Shaw tensed. "They’re heading toward Orchard Avenue, 9th District. They’ve already made arrangements to lure Mikael there tonight, and put an end to him for good."

Marvin’s eyes widened. "What time?"

Shaw shook his head. "It’s... probably already in progress..."

Marvin cursed. "Shit."

Percival turned slightly. "What’s going on?"

Marvin didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stared at Shaw for a second, then punched him, knocking him out cold.

The Alpha reached into his pocket and pulled out his arcphone. But when he saw there was no signal to reach either Eduardo or Ethan, he cursed again. "Damn it!"

Then he turned to his pack and Melvin. "Guys, something is happening... and it’s something we must prevent tonight."

"I’m sure every one of you heard the address."

They nodded.

"That is where we are headed."

Immediately, the wolves released the remaining Le Gris men they were holding and began moving out.

"Percival," Marvin called, stopping him in his tracks. "You’re not coming."

Percival’s eyes widened. "What? If something is happening, then I’m—"

Marvin’s eyes flared. "Are you questioning your Alpha?"

Percival lowered his gaze, with a deep frown on his face. "No."

Marvin’s expression then softened into a smile as he stepped forward and placed a hand on percy’s shoulder.

"Percival, you’re my son. And the safety of my children is the most important thing to me."

Percival looked up.

Marvin continued, "But I have a task for you. Take a car and get out of this area, there’s no cell service here. Once you get a signal, call Ethan. Tell him the address and let him know Eduardo is in real danger."

Percival’s eyes widened. "That’s not possible. Eduardo is very strong"

"Yes," Marvin cut in. "He is, and he may have already dealt with those idiots as we speak."

Then his voice lowered. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"But if there’s even the slightest chance he’s in danger... I won’t sit back knowing we could’ve prevented it."

Percival nodded firmly, turned and ran toward the car.

Now that he was Inside the vehicle, he paused for a second, looked at his father through the windscreen and gave a nod.

Marvin returned it, watching him go for a second as Percival reversed the car and sped off.

Then he turned back to his men. "Let’s go."