Chapter Fifty
THE WAR ROOM was already full by the time Ash finally showed.
Devil sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, face set hard as poured concrete. Mystic leaned against the far wall, quiet and watchful, eyes never still. Thunder paced near the door like a caged animal, boots thuddin’ against the floor with every turn.
I sat rigid in my chair, jaw locked so tight it ached. The coffee in front of me had gone cold a long time ago.
No one talked.
We were waitin’.
The door opened without ceremony and Ash walked in like he hadn’t just stepped into a room packed with coiled violence. Expression calm. Eyes sharp as ever.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said evenly. “Took a minute to confirm a few things.”
“Start talkin’,” Devil said.
Ash nodded once. “Zach is alive.”
The words landed, heavy, but no one reacted. We already knew. Knowin’ didn’t make it sit any easier. I didn’t move. Didn’t blink. But somethin’ in my chest went tight and cold, like a fist closin’ slow.
Ash kept going. “Not just alive. He’s been active for years. After he was caught with Lark back then, the cult didn’t kill him.”
Thunder stopped pacin’. “Then what the hell did they do with him?”
“They transferred him,” Ash said. “Sent him to Gabriel’s place. He worked directly under him.”
My fingers curled against the edge of the table.
“Gabriel,” Devil repeated. “That isn’t punishment.”
“It probably started that way,” Ash said. “But Gabriel tested his loyalty. Over and over. Zach proved himself.”
Mystic straightened. “You’re sayin’ he didn’t just survive.”
Ash nodded. “He advanced. Full Shepherd now. Initiated. Loyal.”
That word scraped somethin’ raw inside me.
Ash shifted his weight, eyes flickin’ to me for half a second before moving on. “And that’s not the worst part.”
I lifted my head. “Then stop circlin’ it.”
Ash exhaled. “Jasper is alive.”
The room went still in a way that felt wrong.
“Who the fuck is Jasper?” I asked.
“Jasper,” Ash said. “Lark’s Shepherd-husband. The one who branded her. Burned her face. He didn’t die like we thought.”
I shoved to my feet so fast my chair screeched back. “Where is he?”
Ash didn’t flinch. “With the ones rebuilding. Higher rank now. And he wants her back.”
“Do they already have her?” Mystic asked the question I was afraid to voice.
“Not as of right now,” Ash replied. “I double checked.”
Somethin’ dark crawled up my spine, feral and mean. I swore viciously, bracing a hand on the table like I needed the contact.
Ash wasn’t finished.
“There’s more,” he said. “Word out of the inner circle is the new Prophet wants Sable dead.”
Thunder lunged forward. “What?”
“Execution,” Ash said flatly. “Kids taken back under control. Malik and Zara are considered assets. Bloodline.”
The room exploded.
“Over my dead fuckin’ body,” Thunder roared, fists slammin’ down. “That’s my woman and my kids. They lay a finger on any of ’em, I’ll kill every last one of those bastards.”
Devil was on his feet instantly. “Thunder.”
“I swear to God—”
“They won’t,” Devil cut in. “Not if we move smart. Sable and the kids are here—safe.”
I hadn’t said a word.
I stood there with my hands planted on the table, head bowed just enough to keep myself together. Zach alive. A Shepherd. Jasper breathin’. Wanting her back.
And I had no idea where Lark was.
Anger burned hot, but beneath it was somethin’ worse. Fear I didn’t want a name for. I didn’t care how pissed I’d been. I wouldn’t let a single hair on her head get touched.
I still loved her.
Ash’s voice cut through the noise. “That’s why I called this. This isn’t scattered trouble. They’re pulling pieces back onto the board.”
“And Lark?” Devil asked quietly.
Ash’s jaw tightened. “If Jasper’s moving, she’s already in play.”
The war room door slammed open.
Every head snapped up.
My daddy stood there, breath ragged, eyes wild in a way I hadn’t seen since I was a kid. His gaze tore through the room, panic sharp and real.
“Where’s Briar?” he demanded. “She ain’t home. Ain’t answerin’ her phone. Last we heard, she and Lark were headin’ here.”
My stomach dropped. “Why was she with Lark?” I asked.
“Because you dumbass,” Daddy snapped, jabbing a finger at me. “Lark’s been at the house since you two blew up. We figured you’d come lookin’ for her to get her side.”
The air left my lungs.
Lark hadn’t been with Zach.
She’d been right under my fuckin’ nose.
“She was here earlier,” Gatsby said. “Looking for Chain. I didn’t see Lark, but she might’ve been outside.”
My mind snapped back to where I’d been. The woods. Sugar. Every piece slid into place all at once, ugly and undeniable.
They hadn’t talked to me because I’d given them a reason not to.
“There’s more,” Ash said sharply. “The man feeding info from inside this clubhouse is your prospect. Jacob.”
The room went dead silent.
Devil swore low. “You sure?”
“Confirmed,” Ash said. “No question.”
“Spinner,” Devil barked. “You and Bolt. Bring Jacob in. He’s working at The Pit.”
One of our own.
A rat.
I looked between them, dread hittin’ full force. “You don’t think—”I was already movin’. “—they’ve got Briar and Lark.”
Devil was shouting orders, but Daddy and I were already out the door.