The scent hit Eric the moment he stepped into the center of the room. Omega. Sharp, mature, and all too familiar. His breath caught.
He knew who it was before he even saw her face.
Clara sat on the metal chair, her hands bound neatly this time. Yet the way she held herself didn't read like a prisoner. Shoulders back, chin slightly lifted, dark eyes watching Eric without fear or guilt.
Eric stopped right in front of her.
"Clara…"
She gave a thin smile—not relief, not sadness. The kind of smile that belonged to someone who had finally reached the end of their plan.
"You look disappointed," she said softly. "I thought you'd understand."
Noah swallowed hard. Levant and Liam exchanged uneasy glances. The aura in the room shifted—no longer just tense, but dangerous.
"Ferom 9," Eric said, his voice low but shaking. "The boat… all of this… you planned it from the start?"
Clara chuckled softly, short and cynical.
"Planned?" She tilted her head. "No, Eric. I built all of this. From scratch."
Eric felt like he'd been slapped.
"Why?" he asked, almost whispering. "How many will be destroyed because of this?"
Clara leaned back; the chains clinked softly. "Because they deserved to feel what I felt once. Loss. Destruction. No one came to save me."
Her gaze cut into him. "This world only understands one language. Pressure. Fear. Power."
Liam stepped forward. "You're willing to kill thousands for revenge?"
Clara glanced at him briefly, then back at Eric. "If that's the cost to make them submit… yes."
Eric shook his head slowly. "This isn't you."
"This is the real me," Clara replied without hesitation. "The version you knew… was still hoping."
Eric's mind flicked to Cael. Carl. The pieces fell together.
"Carl told us to turn back," Eric said. "He knew you'd gone too far."
Clara's expression didn't change. "Carl's weak. Cael too." Her tone was cold. "They aren't willing to do what's necessary."
Eric felt his chest collapse.
"You used everyone," he said softly. "Including me."
Clara studied him for a long moment. "I chose you," she said at last. "Because I knew you'd come. And I wanted you to see the result yourself."
Silence swallowed the room. No one moved. No one spoke.
Eric realized one thing with stark clarity.
Clara was not the victim in this story.
She was the architect of the destruction that was unfolding.
And this mission was no longer just about stopping Ferom 9.
It was about stopping someone willing to burn the world—without remorse.
---
Eric drew a deep breath, forcing all the thoughts swirling in his mind aside. This wasn't the time to hesitate. Not time for personal questions. What stood before him now was simple—mission.
"Fine," he said finally, calm but firm. "We proceed."
He turned to his team. "One focus. Capture Clara. Alive. We want answers, not corpses."
Liam and Noah exchanged a glance before nodding. They could feel the shift in Eric's tone. This was no longer a leader weighing options—it was a leader who had made a decision.
Eric then faced Carl.
"You're coming with us," he said without pause. "After this, you will be interrogated. Everything you know. No filters. No protecting anyone."
The tone was not an empty threat. It was an order.
Carl stood rigid. His face gave no protest, but no agreement either. He just tilted his head slightly, eyes fixed on the floor. Silent.
"That's not a choice," Eric added, lower, sharper. "If you try to run, or hide anything… I'll make sure you're detained myself."
Carl finally raised his head. His expression was blank, as though he'd anticipated this moment for a long time. He didn't answer. Didn't nod. Didn't resist. His silence said it all—he would comply, even without willingness.
"Noah," Eric continued, "clear the back exit. Liam, you and Levant follow me. We secure the area."
They moved in unison. Their footsteps echoed in the narrow room, each moment heavy. Outside, the hum of the engines and the crash of the waves mixed, as if the world kept turning, indifferent to what was about to explode inside.
Eric knew one thing in his heart. Capturing Clara wasn't just about stopping Ferom 9. It was about unveiling a truth long buried. And he was ready, even if the answers would break more than just the mission.
They stopped in front of a massive iron door. Behind it, something waited.
Eric raised his hand, signaling readiness.
"Go."
And as the door opened, none of them knew whether they were stepping into the end… or into a far darker beginning.
---
All eyes fixed on the figure in the center of the room—Clara. Her smile was sharp, vengeful. Eric's heart tightened. The strong omega scent enveloped the space, stirring instincts and memories. He knew who they faced, but he was not ready.
Clara moved slowly, almost like she was dancing in the dim light. "Do you think you can stop me now? Ferom 9 has long reached the target countries. The boat you chased? Fake," she whispered coldly. "Everything is already too late."
Eric swallowed, restraining the anger and the ache in his chest. He studied Clara, looking for a weakness—but she was too calm, too controlled. Liam, Noah, and Levant braced, weapons raised. Yet no one dared step first—Clara held all attention.
"Even if you capture me now, it won't matter," Clara added with a cynical smile. "Whatever you plan, it's already beyond your control."
Eric drew a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "You're coming with us for questioning," he said firmly, each word trembling with controlled rage.
Clara laughed softly, a sound like a knife slicing through the tense air. "Oh, Eric… you still think you're in control? You don't know what's happening. All your plans… useless."
Without warning, Clara raised her hand and struck Eric's head. Before he could regain balance, shadows emerged from a corner—a group of criminals surrounding Liam, Noah, and Levant.
They were trapped. Eric's eyes widened, his chest tightened.
"This is just the beginning," Clara said, looking at him with sharp satisfaction. "If you think you can stop me… just wait."
In an instant, tension peaked. The quiet dock became chaotic; shadows, Clara's cold smile, and the omega scent signaled the start of a night that would change everything.
No one knew who would walk out alive. One thing was certain: capturing the owner of Ferom 9 was no longer only critical—it was intensely personal, a risk they'd never faced before.
Eric's gaze locked on Clara, and deep down he knew—everything now depended on their next move. Ferom 9's secrets thickened, and that night would mark a turning point that none would forget.