Thomas's POV
My old bones protested with every step as I crept through the underbrush. Dawn was still an hour away, and the forest wore darkness like a cloak. Perfect for an old wolf like me to move undetected—at least that's what I kept telling myself.
I reached the ridge overlooking the northern border, my breath coming in short puffs of white in the cold morning air. Below me stood the concrete monstrosity Scott had built years ago—his "emergency bunker." What a joke. The only emergency that bastard ever prepared for was losing his grip on power.
I settled behind a fallen oak, my knees cracking loudly. Pulling out my binoculars, I scanned the perimeter. Eight men patrolled with military precision, each carrying what looked like AR-15s. The distinctive metal cases strapped to their be
