Chapter 12

Joseph's stare drilled into Zoe's back, boring for the kill shot.

She went rigid, phone crushed in her grip. "David, you blanking on your origin story? Without me, you'd still be dumpster-diving."

Threat hung thick—sweet poison.

David? Called her bluff. "Ha, Zoe, we tip the hat for the saves, yeah? Grateful and all. But thanks don't buy body bags. Whole Galathia Town's wise—Joseph's a straight-up psycho. You sold it: he's yours now, Gina's chopped liver. That's our green light to prune your rival. Recall? One-Eye had your tail in his jaws. We flipped the script—fed him Gina's dimwit pup brother instead. No switcheroo? You'd be ghosting from the other side."

Line dropped, and Joseph's skull detonated—boom.

Shawn, gift-wrapped for the wolves!

"Who you yapping with?" His voice cracked from behind, subzero slash.

Zoe's spine locked; end-call thumbed frantic, smile slapped on. "Joseph—awake? You crashed hard. Why not milk it?"

Sailed past the hook, slick—but he reeled it back.

Eyes storm-dark on her mug. "Try again—who?"

Palms iced, panic spiking, she snaked an arm 'round his waist easy. "Oh, just strays from my rescue litter. Tossing and turning over old dirt—I was dishing pep talks, you know?"

Old Joseph? Swallowed it hook, line, sinker.

Now? Every syllable scorched in, HD.

This wide-eyed innocent? Peddling fibs cool as fresh snow.

Blindered bad—real bad.

She-wolf in the crosshairs? Twistier than a briar patch.

Joseph flashed teeth—grin wolfish.

Zoe figured she'd threaded the needle—then his paw vise'd her throat.

Yelp choked off quick.

"Zoe, color me shocked—you fox! What am I, some wide-eyed mark to fleece? Shawn's takedown? Your prints all over? Ballsy, swinging at my circle. Who died and made you queen? How'd you sack up to gut Gina—sneak-style? Spill—how?!"

Zoe's face ballooned plum, air fleeing, slammed wall-ward like bait.

Nails scraped his wrist wild—no budge.

Black crept in; she braced for the fade—then release.

Gulps ragged, tears gushing, aftershocks quaking.

Pawed him teary. "No! Swear it! Joseph—trust me! David's the snake! Him and his ragtag 'saves'—clocked Gina's shove, went rogue on 'fixing' it. I nixed it—flat-out begged. But they ghosted me, feral to the bone, deaf to reason! Her pup? Zero skin in my game—I'm the mark too! You blanking already?"

Eyes ballooned, weep-swollen.

Hide a bruise-canvas, their tussle tattoos fresh.

Guilt knifed him—twisted, but off-target.

Fist knotted; her yarn held water, sorta.

Knew her charity cases—bankrolled a bunch himself.

Mug sour, he propped her up anyway.

Tone flat-freeze. "Pack's hole-up?"

She hiccuped through sobs. "N-not sure... caught train rumble on the call."

Gaze blade-sharp; jacket snagged, door-bound.

At his six, Zoe's paw fisted silent.

Redial sneaky. "Loot's the ask? Pin a spot—I'll drop it personal."

Joseph nailed the mutts' trail off Zoe's crumb-trail, quick-like.

Rolled in on bedlam—gore-fest, reeking copper.

Brows locked, he fanned the stink, schnoz pinched.

Tail-trail assistant and guards swarmed, poking the slaughter.

"Joseph, pack ate itself—all cooled. Zilch breathers."

Sirens split the air—enforcer circus inbound.

"Freeze! Paws high—wall-side!"

Joseph's peepers slitted; played nice, no tussle.

Sudden as a gut-shot, this caper.

Escorted to the enforcer hive.

Entry cam? Wrecked manual.

Zero peek at his grand entrance.

He'd geared for payback anyway—no soft landings.

Slid in shadow-lane, cam-dead.

Boots propped on the slab, thumbs orbiting lazy.

Mug carved grim, poker-faced.

Brass hustled in post-tip, caps doffed. "Joseph, greenhorn slip—sorry! You, a butcher? Nah."

Joseph blanked the suck-up.

Paw thumped the wolf's shoulder freight-heavy, grin glacial. "Verdict?"

Nod zippy. "Locked: dogpile finish. Grips a fingerprint soup—all self-serve. Pot split sour, bet."

Stare void-deep, chill. Jacket yoinked, bail. "Tag me the tipster."

"Bet!"

Lone wolf on wheels, no heading.

Meandered, braked at a noodle shack—their meet-cute ground zero.

Gina inhaling that bowl, face lit pure joy, gabbing with the slinger, giggles spilling easy.

Nailed him—froze him mid-stride, moon-gazing.

That eve? Hunted her dossier, full spread.

Then bulldozed her orbit, hauling her into his trash-heap saga.

Chasing that spark for his own hide.

Long haul, Gina dished the unattainables.

Till Zoe's howl echoed...

Joseph jawed his cheek, collar yanked slack.

Engine growled awake, dust kicked.

Cruised to ink-black.

Pounded till sloshed—mumbling homeward.

Buddies pegged Zoe's house; offloaded him there.

She cooed caretaker, warm rag on his dial.

Fume-wolf Joseph snared her wrist, clamp unbreakable. "Gina! Gina!" Blurted.

Zoe's mask splintered.

Propping pal? Locked up.

Awkward mane-rub. "Joseph's tanked—water off a duck's back, Zoe! Uh, drop complete—gotta bounce, you two nest!"

Scat like hellfire nipped his tail.

Solo? Zoe pivoted slow.

Rag plopped careless on his kisser; the warm? Yanked, leaving sneer-puddle.

Witching hour, he painted the walls—puke palace, rank as a ditch.

"Revolting!" Brows jammed, nostrils barricaded.

Ripped him fresh, then ghosted—door bang, him to stew solo.