Vasquez returned exactly three weeks later. Walked into Silvercrest territory alone. Requested immediate quarantine and examination.
Tenzin assessed her for two hours. Sage ran mystical scans. Luna took blood samples.
“She’s clean,” Tenzin finally announced. “No integration. She maintained herself.”
Only then did Vasquez speak. “Get everyone. What I found changes everything.”
They assembled in the secure room—Sera, Marcus, Torres, Sage, Luna, Cade. Vasquez looked exhausted but sharp. Present. Herself.
“The gathering had eighty-three integrated wolves from seventeen territories. They’re not hiding anymore. They’re organizing openly within their own communities.”
“Eighty-three,” Torres said. “We’ve only identified thirty-seven in our territory.”
“Because you’re only testing authority
