The apartment had finally quieted after the chaos, shadows stretching across the cracked walls as Ethan wiped sweat from his brow. Lila had curled herself back under the blanket, eyes wide and trembling slightly, but still breathing steadily. Dante leaned against the wall, muscles tense, scanning the door and street outside like a predator waiting for another move.

  Then the knock came. Firm. Controlled. Different from the impulsive chaos of the high schoolers. Ethan froze. His pulse quickened, a cold tension crawling down his spine.

  The door creaked open, and a man stepped inside. Around twenty-one to twenty-four, tall, broad-shouldered, and holding his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. His dark eyes swept the room, lingering on the knocked-down attackers and the two exhausted figures against the wall.

  “Who… who beat them?” The man’s voice was calm but firm, carrying authority without aggression.

  Ethan’s heart raced. He took a step back instinctively. Dante stiffened beside him, muscles coiled, ready for anything. The room was thick with tension, and even Lila’s cough broke the silence, a fragile sound that reminded Ethan of what was at stake.

  “I…” Dante began, his voice steady but tinged with gravity. “I.” He stepped forward, chest out, taking responsibility in a way that made Ethan’s stomach twist. “I’m from the Silver Fangs. I’m here to recruit you—or drag you in myself. The choice is yours.”

  The words hung in the air, sharp and commanding. Ethan’s mind raced. His instincts screamed caution, but his curiosity fought back. Who were the Silver Fangs? Allies? Enemies? And why now?

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  Dante’s gaze flicked toward Ethan, silent but insistent. The responsibility fell squarely on Ethan’s shoulders. He felt his heart hammer against his chest. Every instinct told him to run, to protect Lila, to refuse—but reason and opportunity nudged him forward.

  He stepped closer, finally finding his voice, though it trembled. “If… if we agree… what do you want from us? And… what do we get in return?”

  The man’s eyes softened slightly but remained intense. “Operate under our banner. You will have freedom to make your own decisions, move as you wish—but there will be trials. Prove your skills. Show your loyalty and ability. Only then will the perks be granted.”

  Ethan tilted his head, wary. “Perks?”

  A faint smile flickered on the man’s lips. “Two thousand dollars a month. Resources. Information. Protection. But only if you succeed in the trials. Fail, and the choice is yours—you may leave… if you survive.”

  The weight of the offer pressed down on Ethan. Two thousand dollars a month could help him protect Lila, provide for necessities, and give him leverage in the chaotic underworld. But the trials… they would be dangerous, and the Silver Fangs were clearly not a charity.

  Lila coughed again, softer this time, but enough to make Ethan glance at her with guilt and determination. His decision crystallized in that instant. Protecting her required strategy, resources, and allies. This was an opportunity—and he had no choice but to take it.

  Ethan nodded, voice firm. “We’ll… we’ll join. But we operate in free will. No orders that endanger Lila or go against what we believe.”

  The man’s gaze flicked between Ethan and Dante, then he extended a hand. “Agreed. Welcome to the Silver Fangs. The trials will test you. But succeed… and your world changes.”

  Dante stepped forward and clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “Looks like our first contract just found us.”

  Ethan’s stomach twisted with a mixture of fear, relief, and anticipation. Lila gave a faint, hesitant smile from the couch. Even in her fragile state, the spark of hope shone through. He had made the decision, and now, the path forward was clear—but perilous.

  The man handed over a small envelope of documents detailing the first trial, the rules, and a starter allocation of two thousand dollars for Ethan. “Use wisely. Fail, and you’ll learn quickly how unforgiving the world really is.”

  As the man exited, the apartment fell silent once more. Ethan sat beside Lila, holding her hand, while Dante reviewed the documents, already plotting strategies.

  Ethan’s mind raced with possibilities. Allies, trials, resources, and enemies—all swirling together. But one thing was certain: the Silver Fangs had officially recognized him and Dante, and their lives had just shifted into a new, dangerous orbit.