The night was alive with the hum of activity as Alaric made his way through the shadows of the city, the air thick with rain that mirrored his mood. He was no longer just a man with ambitions—he was a force, a growing storm that would soon leave its mark on the city’s power structure.

  The Kendrick family had been careful with their moves. Their influence was vast, but they had made one critical mistake: they had underestimated him. Alaric had spent years in the shadows, watching, learning, and building the alliances that would now serve him in ways they could never have anticipated.

  Inside the quiet confines of his office, Alaric stared at the detailed map of the Kendrick estate, meticulously marked with routes, key locations, and critical vulnerabilities. Balen had secured the information they needed, and now the time had come to act.

  “Everything is in place,” Balen said, walking in with a set of files. “The event tonight will be their biggest yet. We’ve positioned ourselves where we need to be. But they’ll be expecting trouble. We’ll have to move fast.”

  Alaric looked up, his gaze cool and calculating. “Then we make sure they don’t know what hit them. Every move, every step, needs to be precise.”

  He leaned forward, the weight of the decisions pressing against him. “Tonight, we take control. And we make sure the Kendrick family understands who they’re really dealing with.”

  Later that night, Alaric and his team—led by Balen—moved into position. The Kendrick family’s private event was in full swing, guests mingling and laughing in an extravagant ballroom, their laughter and chatter echoing through the marble halls.

  Alaric stood in the shadows, observing the scene before him. His target was clear: Lord Kendrick and the key members of his family. He needed to make them realize that they were no longer the untouchables they believed themselves to be.

  As he watched, Alaric’s mind flickered back to the conversation with Celeste earlier that morning. The tension between them had been palpable, and he knew she wasn’t happy with the choices he was making. She had told him, in no uncertain terms, that she didn’t want to lose him to this world.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  But Alaric knew he had already crossed a point of no return. There was no easy way out now. The family, his bloodline, the city—everything was connected, and he couldn’t afford to lose focus. Not when everything he had worked for was hanging in the balance.

  “Alaric,” a voice whispered through his earpiece. It was Balen, speaking in quiet, urgent tones. “The target is in sight. Lord Kendrick is in the back room with a few key guests. Now’s your chance.”

  With a deep breath, Alaric nodded and moved into the ballroom. He was careful, deliberate, and unseen. Every step was calculated. As he approached the back room, the tension in the air seemed to thicken.

  The doors opened with a soft click, and Alaric entered.

  Lord Kendrick looked up in surprise, his smile faltering as he saw the man standing before him. Alaric didn’t wait for pleasantries.

  “I came to offer you a choice,” Alaric said, his voice low and cold. “You can continue your game, hiding behind your wealth, your power. Or you can accept the truth. You are no longer in control. The city has shifted, and your position is no longer guaranteed.”

  Lord Kendrick sneered, his hand moving instinctively to the pocket where he kept his emergency phone. “You think you can just walk in here and—”

  “No,” Alaric interrupted, his voice cutting through the tension. “I think it’s time for you to face the consequences of your actions.”

  Before Lord Kendrick could react, Alaric’s hand moved in a blur, striking with precision. A quick motion, a pressure point, and the man’s phone slipped from his grasp, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

  The Kendrick family members in the room watched, paralyzed, as Alaric made his next move. He turned to one of the bodyguards standing by the door, sending a message with a glance. The guard, once loyal to Lord Kendrick, now understood his true position.

  The game had changed.

  As the night unfolded, Alaric took control of the situation with surgical precision. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t need to. The city’s elite were now watching the true heir to the Vane bloodline step into his power.

  Back in the ballroom, whispers of the confrontation spread like wildfire. The Kendrick family’s once-untouchable reputation began to crumble, and the guests in attendance began to realize just how much power Alaric truly wielded.

  Later, as Alaric walked back to the elevator, his thoughts were interrupted by the familiar sound of his phone vibrating. He pulled it out, finding a message from Celeste.

  “You’re pushing them too far, Alaric. You’re pushing us too far.”

  He stared at the message, the words hitting harder than he had anticipated. But he couldn’t afford to stop now. Not when everything was on the line.