Kieran and Marsel step back into the room, their expressions unreadable.
The meeting with the alphas went as expected, some skepticism, some reluctant support- but now, their focus shifts to the real task ahead.
The moment they enter, Max and Elira stand from their seats, urgency in their posture.
"There’s some motion, some changes," Max announces without preamble.
Kieran’s gaze sharpens. "What? Did they do it?"
Rika moves forward, her expression grim. "No, but we checked again. Richard and his wife are really going for that public ceremony. But before they left, Adele left instructions with the nurse in Blake’s room. She said doctors will come to pick Blake up and take her to that place."
"The lab," Kieran mutters darkly.
"Did she say that they will be taking her to the lab?" Kieran asks.
Max hesitates before nodding. "Not directly. But she gave the nurse strict orders. That she wants to get rid of ’that thing’ inside her daughter once the public ceremony is over. Once she comes back, and she wants to find her ready."
Kieran speaks, "Once the girl is inside, we won’t get her out without a fight. So we can’t wait until they get her in. We can’t let it come to that," he decides.
Everyone watches him, waiting.
"We go exactly when those people are supposed to go," Kieran states. "We intercept them before they reach Blake and take their place. Max and Elira you are going to go inside dressed as doctors. The rest of us will stay close, ready in case things go sideways. I mean, everyone knows there role."
"Then we should really start going before they go ahead of us, they said they are going to take her at 3 pm, that means we only have two hours left." Rika says.
The room becomes a whirlwind of movement.
The one who was sent the Lab coats, masks, and fake ID tags had arrived few minutes ago.
Kieran checks everything, checked, and double-checked. Max and Elira carefully go over the details of how to blend in, how to speak, how to move so they don’t raise suspicion.
Ace remains still, watching them. His mind races with the weight of what’s about to happen. He wants to go, but... He knows more people more risky.
That’s why he didn’t even argue with Kieran when he asked him to stay.
Now everything is done and they are ready to go, Outside Jun holds Car keys.
When they start walking away, Ace reaches out and grabs Kieran’s wrist.
Kieran halts immediately, looking down at him. Kieran has been avoiding to even look at him because he knows how Ace must be worried now, when he sees that, it will just make him hesitant.
Ace wants to say something- anything. But the words won’t come.
Kieran seems to understand. Kieran forces himself to stay composed, "Don’t worry. I’ll make sure everything goes well." He says reassuringly.
Ace’s fingers tighten slightly around his wrist. "Be careful," he murmurs.
Something flickers in Kieran’s expression- warmth, someone is waiting for him to come back, safe and sound. He has never had that in his entire life. He smiles, a real one, small but genuine. "I will, baby."
Brushing his ringers against Ace’s cheek, Then, without hesitation, he leans down, pressing a kiss to Ace’s lips. It’s brief but filled with silent promises. When he pulls away, his voice is steady. "I love you."
Ace doesn’t answer. He just holds Kieran’s gaze, as if memorizing him in this moment.
Kieran steps back, turning toward the others.
Ace shifts his gaze to Jun, then Marsel, then Rey. One by one, they nod at him in reassurance. He exhales sharply and lets go of his worry, letting then go in peace.
Before they leave, Ace signals to Rika and Max. His silent message is clear: Be careful.
Max smirks slightly, but there’s a seriousness in his eyes as he nods back. Rika does the same.
Then, just like that, they set off.
Ace and Elira remain behind.
They aside their worry and begin preparations for what coming.
_
The road leading to the Crawford estate is eerily quiet.
Inside the car, no one speaks.
Every second that passes, the tension thickens.
Kieran’s grip on the steering wheel is firm, his fingers pressing lightly against the leather as he keeps his eyes on the road ahead.
Max sits in the back, adjusting his sleeves, while Rika remains unnervingly still, her breathing controlled, her posture straight.
They know what they have to do.
After an hour and a half, the Crawford residence finally comes into view.
The estate is massive, sprawled across acres of private land, surrounded by towering iron gates that gleam under the dim lights mounted on the high stone walls.
Beyond them, the mansion looms, a grand structure, its dark windows giving nothing away, the tall columns at the front entrance casting long shadows across the driveway.
It’s the kind of place that exudes power and control, its architecture meticulous, its surroundings unnervingly perfect.
The air itself feels different here, colder, heavier, like the very walls of the estate are suffocating any warmth before it can settle.
Rey, Jun and Marsel find a way to hide, right inside the car.
Two armed guards stand at the entrance, their stances straight, their eyes sharp. The Crawford family is known for their influence, and security this tight only reinforces that.
Kieran slows the car, pulling up to the checkpoint. The guards step forward immediately, one of them gripping a security scanner while the other rests his hand near his holster, watching them carefully.
Kieran rolls down the window, offering a neutral expression as he hands over their forged identification.
"Doctor Allen, Ridgeway Institute," he says smoothly, his tone giving nothing away. "We’re here For Blake Crawford- on Mrs. Crawford’s order."
Rika subtly adjusts the ID clipped to her coat, keeping her eyes downcast just enough to avoid unnecessary scrutiny.
Max, seated in the back, does the same, though his fingers tap lightly against his leg... an almost unnoticeable sign of restlessness.
The guard holding the scanner barely glances at the IDs before giving a curt nod. He steps back, pressing a button on a small panel mounted on the gate.
With a low, mechanical hum, the iron gates begin to slide open.
No questions. No suspicion.
It’s almost unsettling how easy it is.
Kieran doesn’t hesitate. He drives forward, the tires rolling smoothly over the cobblestone driveway as they enter the estate.
The moment they pass through the gates, the weight of the place settles over them like an unseen force.
No turning back now.