It had always been rumored that there was a delicate balance of power in the country, an unspoken arrangement that kept certain forces from openly clashing. On one side stood the White Rose organization, and on the other, the power of the Kings.
The White Rose never openly challenged the Kings. It wasn’t out of respect, but out of calculated caution. Everyone understood that if they moved against one King, the others would likely unite to destroy them in retaliation. It was an almost mutual agreement: ignore each other unless there was an absolutely certain chance of victory.
It was this very reason that, even when the White Rose had agreed to help Gary in the past, they had done so with extreme restraint, sending only a single operative rather than committing their full strength.
Still, whispers persisted that the White Rose was the strongest organization in the country, stronger than any single King’s forces. The core of their rumored strength lay in the three Chiefs at the very top of the hierarchy. Some claimed that each of these Chiefs possessed power equal to that of a King.
Whether the rumors were truth or clever propaganda, no one could say for certain. Few had ever seen a Chief fight, and those who had rarely spoke of it. Perhaps the rumors had even been seeded by the White Rose themselves.
Regardless, the perception endured: the White Rose had the capability to wipe out any of the Kings if they chose to. The only thing stopping them was the fear of being struck down in return.
There was, however, one group of people who considered the idea absolutely ridiculous,
the Kings themselves.
And yet, even for such rumors to circulate, didn’t that mean at least one of the White Rose leaders had to be strong enough to back them up?
“Don Tinge...” Broodie’s voice carried an edge of disbelief. “I have no idea why you’re here. The White Rose, the government’s lapdogs, have finally decided to act, have you? After being abandoned and left to rot on the streets?”
His lips twisted in a smirk. “You’ve joined sides with one of your so-called enemies, someone you supposedly despise. I guess the White Rose truly meant nothing in the end.”
Hearing the words, Don’s smile widened, broad, confident, and unshaken.
“I think you’re right,” he admitted without hesitation. “For a long time, we were restricted in what we could do. We were the ones who were expected to set an example for the rest of the world, to follow the rules, to uphold the order. If we didn’t, then we wouldn’t be seen as the model we were meant to be.”
His tone shifted, hardening. “But now? All of that is gone. I can finally do what I’ve wanted to for a long, long time. I can finally go after you Kings and tear down the entire corrupt system from the outside.”
A slow grin crept across his face. “And when it’s all over... I’ll vanish quietly. Live out the rest of my life on some island far away from all this.”
Don’s deep laugh rolled out across the battlefield, carrying the weight of both freedom and threat.
“I think it would’ve been better for you to have stayed out of this fight,” Broodie said, his voice carrying across the battlefield with cold certainty. “The White Rose was broken down for a reason. You had your chance to live. But now? You’ll all lose your lives here, forgotten, never to be remembered again.”
Even Austin, locked in the chaos of his own battle, felt the weight of Broodie’s words. He knew of Don Tinge, knew more than most, thanks to countless conversations he’d had with Kai. If Don was here, if he had been convinced to step into this fight... Austin could only imagine that it was Kai’s doing.
It made him wonder: What did Kai say to sway him?
As far as Austin was aware, they had already approached the White Rose for help, and the answer had been no. Kanu had even said outright that they were tied up with their own affairs. The world was turning against Altereds, and every group was scrambling to protect its own.
If anything, the disbanded White Rose, especially those at the top, should have been enjoying their retirement, far from the frontlines of a war . But here Don was, standing at the heart of it.
And that made Austin realize something.
If a man this powerful was here, maybe he was in the wrong place.
“Don!” Austin shouted over the din of the fighting. “You should head to the park, inside Slough! Go to the restaurant! That’s where you’re needed!”
With the amount of time that had already passed, Austin was certain the strongest of the werewolves had made their way there. There was even a good chance Lupus himself was already on-site.
If they now had some of the most powerful Altereds in the world fighting alongside them, they might actually have a chance to shift the tide. Austin wasn’t sure if he and Chen alone could hold this position forever, but Don’s strength could make the difference where it mattered most.
Don tilted his head slightly, his gaze shifting upward to the helicopter already pulling away from the area.
“Don’t worry,” Don said, his voice steady. “There’s someone just as strong as me heading there right now.”
Broodie’s eyes narrowed, his confidence unshaken. “Then I suppose... it’s time for us to learn whether you truly have the strength of a King or not.”
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