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"Leo! We're being attacked!" I shout into the phone, scrambling away from the door. "We're on…"

A sharp sting hits me on the side of the neck, followed by spreading numbness. I look down to see a needle protruding from my skin…

Chapter 21 - Evan

"Ineed to stop working so late."

I rub my eyes and stare at the blurry spreadsheets on my computer screen. The numbers have started dancing, which means I've been at this for too long. My office feels like a prison tonight with no way to escape.

My phone buzzes against the desk, and Leo's name flashes across the screen.

Dahlia may have found the cure. Mara's blood is clear, and the other infected shifter's too. But we are still monitoring their vitals.

My heart jumps into my throat as I read the message for the third time to make sure I haven't hallucinated from exhaustion.

"Holy shit," I whisper to the empty room. "She actually did it."

I type back quickly:I'm on my way.

I am pushing away from my desk and grab my jacket from the back of my chair. For the first time in weeks, maybe months, I feel something close to hope. If Dahlia's cure is successful, we can halt Hammond's containment plan. We can save thousands of lives. We can make things right.

I'm halfway to the door when it swings open without warning.

"Going somewhere, Blackthorn?"

The voice freezes me in place. General Hammond stands in my doorway, flanked by two men in dark suits. His military uniform is impeccable as always, and his medals gleam under the office lights.

"Hammond," I manage. "This is unexpected."

He steps into my office without invitation, a predatory smile on his face. "Long time no see, old friend. It's almost like you've been avoiding me."

I force myself to stand taller and square my shoulders. "I've been busy."

"So, I've heard." He gestures for his men to wait outside, then closes the door. "You're running a pharmaceutical empire, playing hero to the dogs." He spits the last word.

"If you're referring to shifters, I'd appreciate if you didn't use slurs in my office."

Hammond laughs and it sounds like gravel under boots. "My, my. Look how far you've fallen. You're defending them now?"

"What do you want?" I move back behind my desk.

"What I've always wanted." He walks to my window and looks out at the city below. "What we both wanted once."

"I never wanted what you're doing."

He turns, eyes cold. "No? You didn't want power? Recognition? To rise above your... limitations?" His gaze flicks down my body, a reminder of what he knows about me.

"You lied to me," I say, curling my fingers into fists. "You said we were creating something to help shifters enhance and control their abilities."

"And we did! Just not in the way you imagined." He shrugs, unapologetic. "Control comes in many forms, Evan. Sometimes it's giving someone the reins. Sometimes it's taking them away entirely."

"You wanted to create a weapon."

"No. I wanted to create a tool." Hammond sits on the edge of my desk. "One that would have put the government in the palm of our hands. We could have ruled the world together, you and I."

"By killing innocent people?"

"By controlling a threat." His voice hardens. "But your precious morality had to stand in the way. You pulled out just when we were making progress."