“It could be legit,” Jake offered slowly. “Derek was never in Marcus’s inner circle from what I remember. He Kept his head down, did his job, avoided the political games. That’s either because he’s a good actor or because he genuinely didn’t approve of Marcus’s methods.”
“Or it’s a trap,” one of the Iron Fangs muttered. “They join us, we let our guard down, and then their sleeper agents blow everything up from the inside.”
“Or,” I said carefully, feeling multiple eyes turn toward me, “it could be exactly what Derek said—a pack looking for a second chance under leadership that won’t get them all killed or imprisoned. Which, by the way, happens to be the same ‘reformation opportunity’ we spent the last hour preaching to the Tribunal.”
Kane’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite
