At dawn, the next day,

"At dawn, the next day,

"Are you sure, Velor?"

"Yes, Alpha. Pebble and Blair have already captured him and placed him in the underground dungeon."

Yesterday, they had discovered a vampire with a fake identity, pretending to be a Delta during routine checks for any suspicious individuals.

Two Deltas and one Beta had been injured. The worst part? This vampire could transform into a rough-looking man, identical to the Delta he had killed.

Since he had managed to bypass all the protective barriers and strict security, there was only one likely explanation:

Someone within the pack had betrayed them.

"Damn it, vampires are moving faster than we thought," Velor gritted his teeth.

Augustus clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. How could this have happened under his watch? His duty was to protect the pack, yet cracks were forming where he least expected. He could already feel the eyes of the pack turning to him, questioning his decisions, his strength.

The Silver Moon Valley Pack, being the largest and strongest, was always on the front line. If they fell, it wouldn't take long for the vampires to defeat the werewolves by sowing discord among the smaller packs.

Previously, vampires hadn't been a significant threat. That changed when the new Vampire Queen refused to renew the centuries-old peace treaty between vampires and werewolves.

Apparently, a spy within the vampire ranks had informed them that humans and vampires had formed an alliance.

This made the situation even more dangerous.

Humans and vampires had been enemies for centuries. How many vampire hunters were revered as heroes in the hearts of humans? For them to ally with the vampires could mean one of two things:

Either the vampires were forcing them, or human greed had reached new heights.

"Want to bite off more than you can chew," Augustus sneered inwardly.

"Here we are, Alpha."

Augustus looked at the metal gate set into the cave-like structure leading to the underground dungeon. Two Beta warriors stood at attention on either side.

The underground dungeon was actually a tunnel carved beneath the rocky hills of the Silver Moon Valley Pack.

"Let's go."

Inside the dungeon, there weren't many prisoners, and the cells on both sides were mostly empty. Augustus followed Velor's guidance through the dark tunnel, leading to the deepest part of the dungeon. They stopped in front of an ordinary cell guarded by a Sigma, a Delta, and several Beta guards.

"Greetings to the future Alpha and future Beta of the Silver Moon Valley Pack," they greeted with a slight bow.

After Augustus nodded, Pebble began to explain the latest situation in her crisp voice.

"Alpha, we've tried all kinds of torture on this prisoner, but it still refuses to speak. Not only that, but this vampire seems resistant to silver weapons."

Augustus' eyebrows rose as he stepped closer to the metal bars of the prison.

Silver weapons were the most effective against vampires, which was why human hunters always carried silver bullets and daggers.

The prison was eerily dark, unlike the outside tunnel illuminated by candles and fire torches. Still, Augustus' sharp eyes could outline the huddled figure in the corner.

"This vampire doesn't seem to be an original," Pebble continued. "If our investigation is correct, he infiltrated the pack two months ago. During that time, he didn't appear to contact many people, but..."

Blair's cold voice trailed off. Sensing her hesitation, Augustus asked, "But what, Blair?"

Blair paused, and Pebble stepped forward. "Alpha, this vampire worked under a Delta identity and was stationed during the acceptance of immigrant werewolves from the Blackberry Pack. They came seeking refuge after an earthquake and drought devastated their region."

Velor's eyes widened at the report. He quickly confirmed, "You mean the werewolves we accepted last month—the ones who were dying from starvation, Pebble?"

"Yes. We suspect this vampire may have helped other vampires cross the pack's barrier."

When accepting a new pack, the pack's barrier was lifted in a small area to allow people in.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible to cross the borders with just one wolf's help. But this vampire was special—who knows what tricks he used?

Augustus lowered his gaze, deep in thought. Any rash decision—like blaming a pack that had come seeking shelter by suggesting they were entangled with vampires—might destroy their reputation.

Handled poorly, this could also create discord, make other packs lose trust in them, and spread panic among the common wolves.

Pffft...hahahahaha."

Suddenly, a crazed laugh pierced through the silence of the dark dungeon.

Augustus looked into the prison cell from where the sound came, only to find the pale, bloodied face of the vampire twisted into an ugly expression. His mouth was wide open as he laughed at the top of his lungs.

"Hahaha!!! Augustus, do you really think you can find a way out now?!"

His voice was hoarse and dry, grating on the ears of those who listened, while his bulging eyes shone with maddened glee.

The sight was so horrifying in the dim light that it could have made an ordinary person break into a cold sweat.

But Augustus didn't flinch. He remained silent, waiting for the vampire to say everything he wanted to.

Seeing Augustus' calm expression, the vampire's twisted smile faltered.

Then, suddenly, he sneered and said, "Do you know how I came to look like this?"

He grinned maliciously, continuing, "It's quite simple. First, we captured that Delta, then ruthlessly killed him, and then... we peeled off his skin. Layer by layer, we stripped him until there was nothing left of the corpse to spare!"

"You!!"

Velor's face turned red with rage as he stepped forward, as though he was about to tear apart the metal bars with his bare hands and rip the vampire limb from limb.

His entire body shook as his claws extended involuntarily. A low growl rumbled from his throat, and his sharp fangs were now visible, glinting under the faint light.

Augustus raised a hand, stopping Velor in his tracks. Then, in a calm voice, he asked the vampire,

"What about you?"

The vampire frowned, his madness momentarily replaced by confusion. "What?"

"What about your skin?" Augustus said, his voice steady. "From the way the Delta's skin clings to you, even under torture, it doesn't seem like something worn over your own. If the werewolf's skin was taken off after he was killed, was your skin removed while you were still alive?"

His words hung heavily in the air, sending a shiver through the guards. If the vampires were experimenting with this level of cruelty, what else were they capable of?

In an instant, the vampire's already pale face turned completely bloodless, and his whole body began to tremble.

Pebble, Blair, and Velor's eyes widened in shock.

Judging from the vampire's reaction, their suspicions were confirmed: this was an experimented vampire.

"You... You..."

The vampire's lips trembled as he tried to speak. But no words came out of his hoarse, damaged throat. Finally, he closed his eyes, as if resigning himself to his fate.

Augustus' face twisted as he realized what was happening. He barked out a command, "Quick! He's trying to kill himself. He's hiding poison in his mouth!"

But before they could open the metal door and rush in, the vampire was already taking his last breaths.

Augustus darted forward and caught him. "Hurry up!"

Despite the movement and urgency around him, the vampire seemed oblivious.

"I miss you, wife," he whispered.

For a moment, the madness in his eyes faded, replaced by something more human—a flicker of longing, regret, and sorrow. The smirk that had once twisted his face softened, leaving only a shadow of pain behind.

With that, he closed his eyes, exhaling his final breath.

The vampire fell into an eternal sleep, never to awaken again.