Page 50 of Knot Happening

I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head in disbelief."That's...damn, that's impressive," I conceded.I looked at Harlen, a new understanding dawning."Would it be okay with you if I let Torch know?"

Harlen shrugged, the picture of nonchalance."If you trust him, I'm okay with it," he said, his tone casual, but his words carried weight.

Trust.It was a currency that wasn't easily earned in our world, but it seemed we were all learning to trade in it with each other.I nodded, appreciating Harlen's willingness to put his trust in me."I'll make sure he understands the value of having you on our side."

As we continued to discuss our plan of action, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unity growing between Pietro and me.Despite our different backgrounds—him raised in the brutal world of the Bratva, and me in the brotherhood of The Vultures—we were finding common ground.We were two alphas, ready to defend our pack against any threat, working together toward a common goal.

The conversation flowed naturally from there, with Jin and Harlen chiming in with their own insights and suggestions.Darcy listened intently, her sharp mind absorbing every detail.I realized then that this was what a pack was supposed to be—a group of individuals, each with their own strengths, coming together to protect and support one another.

With a final nod to Pietro, I stood from the table, carefully putting Darcy in Jin's lap, ready to set our plan into motion."Let's get to work," I said, the determination in my voice mirrored by the resolve in Pietro's eyes.Together, we would ensure the safety and survival of our pack, no matter the cost.

fifty-one

AXEL

We rodeout under the cloak of darkness, the rumble of our engines echoing off the city's concrete walls like the growl of an approaching storm.Pietro and Torch led the charge, their bikes cutting through the night with a sense of purpose that was almost palpable.I rode alongside them, my hand never straying far from the grip of my gun.Harlen was at my six, his silent presence a comforting shadow in the chaos that was about to unfold.

The Iron Serpents' clubhouse loomed ahead, a grim, two-story structure that had been the source of our troubles for far too long."On my signal," Pietro's voice crackled over the radio, steady despite the adrenaline that I knew was coursing through his veins.

We dismounted, our boots hitting the pavement with a collective thud that signaled the beginning of the end for the Iron Serpents.The Bratva and The Vultures fanned out, weapons at the ready, as we moved toward the building with ruthless precision—a well-oiled machine fueled by vengeance and primal alpha instincts.

The first wave of gunfire erupted as we breached the entrance, the sharp crack of bullets filling the air.I felt the heat of a round whizzing past my ear, the sting of plaster as it exploded from the wall behind me."Stay low!"I shouted over the deafening roar, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

Harlen moved with a lethal grace, his body a mere whisper against the chaos.He took down two Serpents with swift, precise movements, the silencer on his gun muffling the sound of death as it bloomed around us."Clear!"he called out, his tone as cold and detached as the mortician he was.

Pietro was a force of nature, his fists and feet a blur as he engaged three Serpents at once.He took a knife to the throat of one attacker, the blood spraying across his face like a macabre war paint.

I couldn't help but feel a grudging respect for the man.Pietro was a true leader, fierce and unyielding, yet there was an honor about him that reminded me of my own father.At that moment, I understood that our alliance was about more than just strategy—it was about brotherhood.

"Axel, behind you!"Harlen's warning came just in time.I spun around, firing two shots into the chest of an oncoming Serpent.The man crumpled to the ground, his wide, disbelieving eyes staring up at nothing.

The air was thick with the coppery stench of blood and the acrid smell of gunpowder.Bodies littered the floor, a grim testament to the carnage we had wrought.And yet, there was no joy in the victory, no triumphant celebration.This was survival, pure and simple.

"Is that all of them?"Torch's voice was hoarse as he surveyed the wreckage, his face streaked with sweat and grime.

Harlen nodded, his dark eyes scanning the room one last time."We got 'em all," he confirmed, his voice devoid of emotion.It was the voice of a man who had seen too much death to be swayed by its horrors.

Pietro clapped me on the shoulder, a rare smile breaking through his stoic facade."We did it, my friend," he said, the relief in his voice echoing my own.

I returned the gesture, feeling a bond forming between us—a bond forged in battle and sealed in blood."We did," I agreed, glancing over at Harlen."Thanks to you two."

Harlen simply nodded, his gaze already shifting to the next task at hand.We still had to secure the premises, ensuring there were no survivors who might pose a future threat.

As we moved through the destroyed clubhouse, I couldn't help but feel a sense of closure.The Iron Serpents were gone, their reign of terror brought to an end by our combined strength.The Vultures, The Bratva, and Harlen—we had come together as one, proving that when faced with a common enemy, even the most unlikely of allies could become brothers in arms.

The echo of gunfire still rang in my ears as Pietro, with a voice steeped in cold fury, issued a kill on sight order against any Iron Serpent daring enough to show their face in the streets of NYC.The bloodlust in his eyes hadn't fully receded, and the command he barked into his phone was a stark reminder that this war was far from over.

Torch, his face smeared with the grime of battle, let out a hearty laugh that seemed out of place amidst the carnage."I like you, Volkov," he said, clapping Pietro on the back."You've got balls of steel.And if there's anything we can do to repay the debt, you let us know."

Pietro gave a curt nod, acknowledging the camaraderie, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.Then, his phone buzzed, and he glanced at the notification, his jaw tightening as he grimaced."I need to know if you're good on that promise, Torch," he said, urgency lacing his tone."Because right now, a snake, Nikolai, is using this distraction to strike at some of my operations."

Torch's jovial demeanor vanished, replaced by the sharp focus of a seasoned leader.He looked at Pietro, then at the rest of us, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he made his decision."Vultures!"he bellowed, his voice carrying through the shattered remnants of the clubhouse."Get to your damned bikes!We've got another fight to get to!"

The room erupted into a flurry of activity as we scrambled to follow orders.My heart was pounding, the adrenaline from the recent fight not yet abated, now spiked by the anticipation of another confrontation.I could feel the tension crackling in the air, a palpable force that seemed to bind us together, driving us forward.

As we filed out of the wreckage, I fell into step beside Harlen.He was silent but I knew better than to mistake it for indifference.Harlen was calculating, always observing, and his quiet demeanor belied a mind that was as sharp as the blade he wielded.

"You ready for round two?"I asked him, my voice low.

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