Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 55: The Wolf’s Nose and the Tiger’s Command

The rain had turned into a steady, cold drizzle, washing the grime of the city into the gutters.

Vali dropped to all fours. He didn’t care about the mud ruining his expensive velvet breeches. His nostrils flared, inhaling the complex tapestry of the night.

He smelled oil. Rotting fish. The ozone of the storm.

And underneath it all, the sharp, pungent stench of mange and wet feathers.

"Got them," Vali growled low in his throat. He pointed a clawed finger toward a narrow alleyway branching off the main pier. "They went left. They are stopping to eat."

Jax watched the Wolf Cub with a mixture of shock and respect. "You tracked them through the rain? That scent trail is over an hour old."

"I am a Wolf," Vali snapped, his eyes glowing faint red in the dark. "And they touched my pack. I could track them across the ocean."

Arjun bounced on the balls of his feet, cracking his knuckles. "Okay! Formation Alpha! Silas, take the high ground! Jasper, watch the exit! Vali, point the way! I’ll be the muscle!"

Jasper adjusted his glasses, checking a small compass. "Probability of ambush: 12%. Probability of Gnash eating a kebab: 88%."

"Let’s move," Jax said, drawing his hood up. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The unlikely team moved into the shadows. They didn’t move like children. They moved like predators.

Gnash and Krackle were indeed eating. They had bought greasy meat skewers from a street vendor and were huddled under a leaky awning, laughing about their easy victory.

"Did you see the Fox’s face?" Gnash cackled, tearing a chunk of meat off the stick. "He looked like he was gonna cry. Please release her!" He mimicked Jax’s voice in a high-pitched whine.

"Pathetic," Krackle agreed, preening his wet feathers. "Friday night, the bakery burns. And then we get paid double."

"Enjoying your meal?"

The voice was cold, polite, and terrifying.

Gnash spun around.

Standing at the mouth of the alley was Jasper. He stood perfectly straight, holding an umbrella over his head to keep his glasses dry.

"You!" Gnash snarled, dropping his skewer. "The Snake brat. You lost, kid?"

"No," Jasper said calmly. "I am exactly where I calculated I should be. But you... you are in a trap."

"Trap?" Krackle laughed, spreading his wings. "By who? You?"

SHING.

A shadow detached itself from the wall behind Krackle. Silas materialized, his eyes burning a golden color. Before the Vulture could fly, black tendrils of shadow whipped out, wrapping around his wings and slamming him against the brick wall.

"What the—!" Gnash tried to run forward.

ROAR.

Vali launched himself from behind a dumpster. He hit Gnash in the chest, tackling the Hyena to the wet pavement.

Gnash was strong—he was a grown mercenary—but Vali was an Alpha in training. The cub pinned him down, his hands gripping the Hyena’s throat.

Arjun and Jax stepped out to block the only escape route.

"Hi!" Arjun grinned, waving. "We have some questions!"

Gnash struggled, kicking out, but Vali’s grip was iron. The Hyena looked up into the Wolf Cub’s face and saw pure, unadulterated rage.

Vali’s mouth opened. His canine teeth elongated into sharp, white fangs. A low, vibrating growl rumbled through his chest. He lowered his face to Gnash’s throat, ready to tear.

"Talk," Vali snarled, drool mixing with the rain. "Where is the Boss? Where are the hostages?"

"I ain’t telling you nothing!" Gnash spat. "Get off me, you pup, or I’ll—"

Vali snapped his jaws inches from Gnash’s nose. SNAP.

"I will bite it off," Vali whispered, his eyes flashing dangerous crimson. "I will bite your nose. Then your ears. Then your—"

"Vali. Stop."

Jasper stepped forward. He tapped Vali on the shoulder with his umbrella.

"Rule Number Four," Jasper recited calmly. "Primrose said: No Biting."

Vali froze. He looked at Jasper, his chest heaving. "But he took Clover! He deserves the bite!"

"I know," Jasper said, looking down at the terrified Hyena. "But if you bite him, Primrose will be disappointed. And we are being Good Boys, remember?"

Vali trembled. He looked at Gnash’s throat. He looked at Jasper.

Slowly, agonizingly, Vali pulled back. He didn’t bite.

But he didn’t let go.

Instead, he leaned down, his lips brushing Gnash’s ear.

"You are lucky," Vali whispered, his voice sounding like gravel grinding together. "My brother says I cannot bite you. But... I am very, very angry. And if you don’t tell us where the Boss is... I might forget the rule."

He tightened his grip on Gnash’s windpipe just enough to cut off the air for a second.

"And if I forget the rule," Vali hissed, "No one can save you."

Gnash looked into the cub’s eyes. He didn’t see a child. He saw the son of Lord Rurik. He saw a monster barely held back by a thin leash of obedience.

The Hyena broke.

"The Clock Tower!" Gnash squealed. "The Old Clock Tower on the west cliffs! That’s where he is! That’s where the cage is!"

Vali held the stare for one more second, then shoved Gnash’s head into the mud.

"Good dog," Vali spat.

Jax stepped forward, tying up the two thugs with rope Silas had provided.

"The Old Clock Tower," Jax muttered, looking toward the western skyline. "That place has been condemned for years. It’s a fortress."

He looked at the cubs.

"Okay," Jax said, pulling out his dagger. "You guys did good. Go home. Lock the doors. I’ll go get them."

"No," a voice boomed.

Arjun stepped forward. The Tiger Cub wasn’t smiling anymore. He puffed out his chest, looking surprisingly like General Rajah.

"You are going alone?" Arjun scoffed. "That is a bad plan. You are one Fox. They have guards."

"I work better alone," Jax argued. "It’s too dangerous for—"

Arjun grabbed Jax’s tail.

"Hey!"

"Pack stays together!" Arjun declared firmly. "I am the Big Brother. Big Brothers go first."

He looked at the group.

"Jasper! Calculation!"

"Entrance via the main door is 90% fatal," Jasper said instantly. "Entrance via the roof ventilation is 85% successful. Silas can disable the perimeter traps."

"Vali!" Arjun barked.

"I’m ready," Vali growled, wiping mud off his face.

"Silas!"

The Panther nodded silently, already blending into the shadows.

Arjun turned back to Jax, grinning his wide, energetic grin.

"See? We have a plan. Operation: Save the Bunny and Fox little brother is a go!"

Jax looked at them. Four tiny, terrifying warlords in training. He realized, with a sudden clarity, that the Boss had made a fatal mistake.

He hadn’t just kidnapped a rabbit. He had poked a nest of dragons.

"Fine," Jax sighed, a small smile touching his lips. "Lead the way, Big Brother."

They turned toward the cliffs, where the silhouette of the Old Clock Tower loomed against the lightning-streaked sky.