The sound of high heels on tile was the only announcement the woman gave before waltzing into the office as if she owned it. As if she were the queen of this particular chessboard.

"You summoned me?" she purred, tossing her hair over her shoulder and batting her lashes at the solitary man behind the desk.

"Bianca. You failed to provide a status report," the man replied dryly, not bothering to look up from his paperwork.

Bianca sighed dramatically, the flirtation melting away like snow under a blowtorch. "I tried. I really tried," she said, irritation sharpening her words. "But it was like the man was gay. Then what's-her-face showed up and suddenly she makes progress where no one else could."

The man set his pen down with deliberate care and finally raised his eyes to meet hers.

"Promises were made," he said evenly. "Assurances given. You swore you were capable."

"I was," Bianca snapped, then quickly reined herself in. "I am. I just needed more time. Unfortunately, Ms. Hill slid in like a runner rounding third straight to home." She scoffed. "And for what? That backwater, piece-of-shit pack? There are far more influential territories with better land."

"It's not the land I'm interested in," the man replied calmly. "Nor the pack."

Bianca frowned. "Then what?"

"What lies beneath it."

Her eyes flickered. "The hive? That was destroyed."

He chuckled softly. "What was destroyed was merely the tip of the iceberg. The infestation runs deeper. They're still down there. Waiting. Dormant."

"Waiting for you," Bianca said.

"Naturally."

She crossed her arms. "So what now? My mission's dead. I could try the Beta or Gamma, but neither of them would betray Hale easily." She paused, then added with a shrug, "I suppose I could always kill Allison."

"That would be... unwise," the man said smoothly. "She's proving herself a potential asset. For now." He gestured vaguely. "You're dismissed."

Bianca's brows knit together as she turned away with a sharp huff. She took two steps before stopping.

"You know," she said slowly, turning back with a wide smile, "you've just given me more information than you probably intended."

Her grin sharpened. Hungrier.

"I believe we're due for a renegotiation."

The man stilled.

Bianca mistook it for surprise.

"Oh?" he said mildly. "Do enlighten me."

"I could go straight to Alpha Hale and share your little plan," she said, closing the distance between them. "Or," her voice dropped to a stage whisper, "you can buy my silence."

He studied her for a long moment before standing.

"You have nerve," he said. "I'll give you that. And what would your price be?"

"I want in," Bianca said without hesitation. "Inner circle. Real power. What I was promised when I signed on."

A soft laugh escaped him as he stepped closer. "Many would be... delighted by your ambition."

"It's tempting," she murmured.

"Yes," he agreed. "And almost reasonable."

She smiled just before he leaned in as if to whisper.

"There is, however, one far more permanent way to secure your silence."

Her smile faltered. "Oh?"

"Your mortality."

The snap was quick. Final.

Bianca didn't even have time to scream before her body collapsed in an ungraceful heap at his feet.

"Such a shame," the man sighed, retreating to his desk. He dispensed sanitizer into his palm, rubbing his hands together with meticulous care. "All that potential... wasted."

He glanced down at the corpse with faint amusement.

"But pawns should never forget—"

He sat, picked up his pen, and resumed his work.

"—kings don't bargain. They take."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note:

This is it for this story.

Allison, Gordon, and Bitterroot have reached the end of this chapter in their lives.

Thank you for walking every step of this journey with them.

If you enjoyed it, please leave a comment, vote on the final chapter, and share it with other readers — it helps the story reach more people.

Want more? Extra lore and behind-the-scenes scenes are on Patreon!

See you all for Book 2 - The Luna's Oath <3