Pache

lt like solid stee

nt light filtering from the streetlamps, the she

heekbones and a jawline so sharp it looked carved from grani

lar of his damp trench coat hung slightly open, reve

hing more than cold mountain rain. In our territory, only one kind of wolf looked like this:

was a low, raspy rumble tha

eve and looked straight into his glacial eyes. "Do you need

k amusement crossed his features as he looked down at

o shake. "Walk inside with me right now. I will pay you a hefty compensation fee. We s

n, his large hand turned, his fingers wrapping ar

led me through the double gla

counter, the night clerk, Gary Kowalski, was slouched over a crossword puzzle.

d-Oath registration?" Gary bega

ted toward the man

ds began to shake uncontrollably, and he scrambled out of his swivel

appearance. Stepping slightly in front of my companion, I placed my hands o

ectly behind me. He cast a si

ke a broken bobblehead. "Y-Yes!

parchment and the silver tool onto the counter. In our world, silver was the sole lethal element capable of burning

fixedly at the desk, "a provisional Blood-Oath is legally binding once blood i

ger without hesitation, pressing a dark drop of blood

to look a

ed his own sharp, elongated claw across his skin. A thick drop of dark cr

l red light flared across the paper, pulsed once, and sa

er," Gary whispered

co," I stat

he man mutt

. No famil

d surname was exactly what I needed-someone completely outside the corpo

and shoved them across the marble counter wi

ain had finally stopped, leaving a chilling breeze

e deep pocket of his trench coat, pulled out a matte-black ke

I asked, looki

aid flatly. "Crestvie

st secure luxury residential tower in the central district. Even Finl

ar on his neck. "Where did you get this?

d forward and pressed the heavy

t mine, a strange, electric spark shot

his deep voice carrying an undeniable weig

the shadows of the alley befo