Third-person POV: Astralis College. "Thora, where's Shirley?" Ashton asked curiously. Ever since they'd left the basement, Shirley had vanished like smoke—no one had seen her. Thora glanced around. "Relax. She's just hidden herself." Harvey and Ashton exchanged a look. Hidden? Did Shirley have stealth skills like Thora too? Thora led the way, every step cautious. Harvey and Ashton stayed close on either side, while the rest followed her command, spreading out and disappearing into cover around them. "Thora, two targets at the left corner, one in the upper right hallway," Luke's voice came through her earpiece.Thora stopped and raised a hand signal. Everyone dropped low, taking positions and gripping their guns tight. From the rooftop, Shirley adjusted her aim, finger resting lightly on the trigger. Heavy black combat boots hit the floor with precision, long legs moving fast and sure. Suddenly, Lance stopped and looked up toward a shadowed corner. A faint red dot blinked in the dark. At his monitor, Luke's pupils shrank. His throat tightened. "Thora, I've got visual on the Greywolf leader..." Thora, who had just finished taking down a mercenary and stripping his weapon, asked in a low voice, "Where?" Lance's eyes flickered. He raised his pistol and fired upward. Bang! The sharp blast echoed. Luke flinched hard, chair scraping backward as his heart jumped. "What happened?" Thora caught the sudden change in his breathing. Luke steadied himself quickly, staring at the grid on his screen that had gone completely black. "They found us." His voice came through the earpiece, low and serious. If they'd discovered the hacked surveillance, it meant they'd lose all visual contact soon. And worse—Luke's team could be in danger. "What's going on?" Harvey asked, rushing up. Thora's tone turned icy. "Head straight to the library. Pull them that way, or Luke's location will be hit." Harvey's dark brows furrowed, but he nodded. "Got it." Thora turned to the other boys.They'd heard every word. Without hesitation, each of them nodded firmly. There was no way out now. The sons of the werewolf military line never retreat. And after everything they'd seen, they knew Thora was someone worth trusting. Even if her wolf spirit hadn't awakened, her combat skill alone could crush anyone in her path. Thora's lips curved slightly, eyes filled with approval. "I chose right." Her words weren't loud, but they struck deep, sending a rush of heat through their chests. Her praise felt heavier, more real, than any award or compliment they'd ever received. "Names," she said, voice solemn. Their blood surged. One by one, the eight boys called out like soldiers reporting to their commander. "Randy Ball!""Zaid Potts!" "Memphis Cabre!" ... Each name echoed with pride and fire. Thora gripped her silver handgun tightly and gave her word. "If I led you out alive, then I'll take you back alive." If not for the hostages and the enemy's overwhelming numbers, she would've gone alone. But since she had borrowed their lives, she would return them whole. That was her promise. Her words made the boys tighten their grips on their guns, hearts pounding as they stared at her. Something fierce stirred inside Harvey, heating his blood. He didn't know what it was—only that he had to speak. He stepped forward, locked eyes with Thora, and said firmly, "I'll guard your promise." Ashton, usually the joker of the group, lifted his gun and stepped up beside him. "Count me in!" Thora's expression barely changed, but something flickered in her eyes. She turned toward the distance—where a small figure perched high above raised a thumb in silent approval. Thora smiled faintly, then turned back. "Move out." None of them knew it yet, but something was already set in motion— A fate that would bind their loyalty for life, and mark the rise of a werewolf army that would one day make the entire Blue Star tremble.