Chapter 2
Jayce led Viktor to the edge of Piltover’s bustling trade district, where wealth clashed with shadows, and secrets were bought as easily as commodities. The alchemist’s workshop was a squat, unassuming building tucked between glittering storefronts. Its grimy windows oozed secrecy, and the faint scent of sulfur and copper lingered in the air.
Jayce adjusted the strap of his warhammer as they approached, his eyes scanning the darkened street for signs of movement. Viktor followed silently, his gaze sharp and calculating.
“Are you sure this is the place?” Jayce whispered.
Viktor raised an elegant brow, the corner of his lips quirking up in a ghost of a smirk. “Do you doubt my intellect or your senses, wolf?”
Jayce bristled, but before he could retort, a flicker of movement caught his attention. A shadow darted across the workshop’s dimly lit windows, too fast to be human.
“Inside,” Jayce said, his voice low. He pushed open the heavy wooden door, the creak cutting through the silence.
The laboratory reeked of sulfur and something far more sinister, a cloying metallic tang that clung to the back of Jayce’s throat. Shelves groaned under the weight of jars and vials, their contents ranging from innocent-looking herbs to powders that seemed to shift and glow unnaturally. Liquids shimmered in the low light, their colors too vivid, too alive, as if they held secrets waiting to escape.
At the center of the room, a worktable stood in chaotic glory, its surface littered with tools crusted in residue and parchment scrawled with jagged diagrams that made Jayce’s head throb just looking at them..
“This place is wrong,” Jayce muttered under his breath, his wolf stirring uneasily.
“Singed prefers to think of it as… inspired,” Viktor said, his tone tinged with amusement as he swept his gaze over the chaos.
As they ventured deeper, the shadows seemed to press in closer, the air growing colder and more oppressive. It wasn’t long before they reached the heart of the den. The faint sound of bubbling liquid drew his attention to a cauldron at the far end of the room, its surface roiling with something thick and black, tendrils of steam curling upward like ghostly fingers. Surrounding it were shelves lined with vials, jars, and beakers, their contents ranging from vibrant liquids to substances that seemed to writhe and pulse as if alive
At the far end of the room stood Singed himself, hunched over a workbench. His lanky frame was cloaked in a tattered lab coat, his bald head gleaming in the dim light. He didn’t look up as they entered, his gnarled hands deftly mixing a concoction that smoked ominously.
“Singed,” Viktor called out, his voice calm but commanding.
The alchemist froze for a moment, then slowly turned to face them. His face was gaunt, his features sharp and angular, with eyes that burned with a mad intensity. “Ah, Viktor,” he rasped, his voice like sandpaper. “I wasn’t expecting company.” His gaze flicked to Jayce, and a twisted smile spread across his face. “And you brought a pet. How charming.”
Jayce bristled, his grip tightening on his hammer. “We’re here for answers,” he said sharply. “Not insults.”
Singed’s smile widened, his yellowed teeth flashing. “Answers? Oh, how delightful. But answers come at a price, my dear boy. Are you prepared to pay it?”
“Enough games,” Viktor said, stepping forward. He reached into his coat and produced one of the vials they had retrieved from the archives, holding it up to the light. The liquid inside shimmered ominously. “We found this among the humans’ experiments. Your handiwork is unmistakable.”
Singed’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the vial. For a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then, he laughed—a harsh, grating sound that sent a chill down Jayce’s spine.
“Oh, Viktor,” Singed said, shaking his head. “You always were too curious for your own good. Yes, that’s mine. A prototype. Crude, but effective.”
Jayce’s stomach turned. “You’re admitting to helping them? You’re working with the humans?”
Singed’s grin faded, replaced by a look of cold amusement. “Working with them? No. They’re far too short-sighted for my tastes. But they have resources, and I… have expertise. A mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“Beneficial?” Jayce growled, his voice rising. “You’re creating weapons to wipe out both our factions. How is that beneficial to anyone?”
Singed shrugged, unbothered by the accusation. “Progress requires sacrifice. You of all people should understand that.”
Viktor stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “What is their endgame, Singed? What are they planning?”
The alchemist’s gaze flicked between them, his twisted smile returning. “Why, survival, of course. The humans have always feared what they cannot control. They see you as threats—predators lurking in the shadows. My work merely gives them the means to level the playing field.”
Jayce took a step forward, his hammer raised. “You’re playing with fire, Singed. And when this all blows up in your face, don’t expect anyone to save you.”
Singed chuckled, unfazed. “Blows up? Oh, my dear boy, that’s the plan. Chaos is the crucible of innovation.”
Viktor’s golden eyes burned with frustration. “Where are they producing the final weapon? Tell us, or I’ll ensure you never touch another experiment again.”
Singed’s smile faltered, a flicker of fear crossing his face. He took a step back, his hands raised defensively. “Fine, fine. The humans are consolidating their efforts in a facility beneath the Upper District. A secure location, heavily guarded, but you already knew that.”
He paused, his grin returning. “If you want to stop them, you’ll need more than brute force. You’ll need ingenuity.”
Jayce lowered his hammer, his amber eyes narrowing. “We’ll see about that.”
Without another word, Viktor turned and began walking toward the exit, his coat sweeping behind him. Jayce followed, casting one last glare at the alchemist.
As they disappeared into the shadows, Singed called after them, his voice echoing through the den. “Good luck, gentlemen! You’ll need it!”
As Jayce and Viktor began their ascent out of Singed’s den, the oppressive air of lab seem to thicken around them. Viktor, calm as ever, adjusted his coat and glanced over at Jayce. “This is where our ingenuity will be tested,” he said, his voice carrying a faint edge of amusement.
Jayce barely registered the words, his grip tightening on his hammer. His thoughts churned with Singed’s cryptic warnings and the growing weight of his decisions. He opened his mouth to respond, but a sound cut through the stagnant air—a howl.
Low and guttural at first, it grew into a chorus, sending a chill down Jayce’s spine.
“Your pack,” Viktor said quietly, his golden eyes narrowing.
Jayce stiffened. “Damn it.”
The howls multiplied, closer now, accompanied by the unmistakable thunder of boots against stone. Out of the shadows emerged a wall of wolves, their amber eyes glowing with feral intensity, their forms poised to strike.
At their head stood Caitlyn, her blue eyes blazing with fury, her posture rigid with authority. Vi flanked her, her expression torn between anger and sorrow. Behind them, the rest of the pack spread out, their growls vibrating through the air.
“Jayce,” Caitlyn said, her voice cold and cutting. “You’ve gone too far this time.”
Jayce raised his hands, his hammer lowered but ready. “Cait, I can explain—”
“Explain?” she hissed, her claws flexing. “You betray the pack, bring a leech into our territory, and you think there’s anything you can say to make it right?”
“It’s not betrayal,” Jayce said firmly. “The humans—”
“I don’t want to hear your excuses!” Caitlyn snapped, her voice rising. “You disrespected me, disrespected the pack. You’ve put all of us at risk!”
Jayce’s voice grew desperate. “Cait, listen to me. The humans are building weapons—alchemy mixed with blood magic. If they finish what they’re working on, it’ll kill us all. Wolves, vampires, everyone.”
“And you thought teaming up with him was the solution?” Caitlyn spat, her gaze flicking to Viktor. “You’ve lost your damn mind.”
Viktor took a step forward, his presence commanding despite the danger. “If you care about your pack’s survival, you’ll listen. The humans’ weapon isn’t just a threat—it’s imminent. Your anger will doom us all.”
Caitlyn’s lip curled in disdain, her claws gleaming as she pointed at Viktor. “You don’t get to speak here, leech. You don’t belong.”
“Caitlyn, please,” Jayce said, stepping between them. “We don’t have time for this. I’m trying to protect the pack.”
“Protect us?” Caitlyn’s laughter was sharp and bitter. “You’ve done nothing but put us in danger. And now you’re standing here, pleading for a vampire? You’ve already made your choice, Jayce.”
Vi’s voice cut through the growing tension. “You should’ve come to me,” she said, her voice trembling. “I would’ve helped you. I would’ve had your back.”
“Vi—” Jayce began, but she shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears.
“You don’t get it,” she snapped. “You don’t understand what you’ve done. You were my best friend, Jayce. You were supposed to be better than this.”
The silence that followed was suffocating. Caitlyn broke it with a cold, steely command. “Jayce Talis, for your betrayal and disrespect, you are no longer part of this pack.” She raised her hand, pointing directly at him. “Take them down.”
The wolves surged forward as one, their howls piercing the air. Jayce cursed under his breath, raising his hammer just in time to block the first strike.
“Run!” he shouted to Viktor, swinging his hammer in a wide arc to force the wolves back.
“I don’t run,” Viktor replied, though his golden eyes flicked toward an escape route.
The pack surged forward, their claws and teeth flashing in the dim light. Jayce swung his hammer in a wide arc, forcing them back. Viktor moved like a shadow, his blade a flicker of silver as it found its marks. The two fought back-to-back, their movements eerily synchronized despite their differences.
Reluctantly, Viktor darted toward the shadows, his movements swift and calculated. Jayce followed, his hammer a blur as he fought to keep the wolves at bay.
“Jayce, we can’t hold them here,” Viktor said, his voice sharp.
Jayce nodded, his heart pounding. They needed an escape—and fast. His gaze darted to the workshop’s back wall, where a small window offered a narrow chance of freedom.
“This way!” he called, breaking toward the window.
Viktor followed, his movements unnaturally fast and fluid. The pack roared behind them, their howls filling the night as they gave chase. Jayce smashed the window with his hammer, clearing the way for Viktor to slip through first.
“Go!” Viktor hissed, his hand reaching back to pull Jayce through.
“Go after them, now!” Caitlyn barked, her voice slicing through the air like a whip. She pointed sharply toward Jayce and Viktor, her eyes blazing with fury. The wolves hesitated only for a moment before surging forward, their forms blurring as they shifted mid-stride.
“Coward!” Caitlyn shouted after Jayce, her tone venomous and unrelenting. “You’ll pay for this, Jayce. I swear it!”
Vi hesitated, her fists trembling as she watched Jayce disappear into the darkness. She turned to Caitlyn, her voice breaking. “Cait, stop. This isn’t—”
“Don’t defend him, Vi,” Caitlyn snapped, her tone colder than ever. “He made his choice.”
Vi swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing down on her. “He’s still my friend.”
Caitlyn’s gaze softened for a moment, but her resolve didn’t waver. “And he’s a danger to the pack. Remember that.”
As the wolves pursued Jayce and Viktor through the winding streets of the Undercity, Jayce’s heart pounded in his chest—not just from the chase, but from the shattering realization that the pack he had given everything for was now hunting him.
And Caitlyn, the leader he had always respected, wouldn’t stop until he was brought down.
The moment Jayce’s boots hit the ground outside, they ran—through alleys and over rooftops, their breaths mingling in the cold night air. The pack was relentless, their howls echoing closer with each passing second.
“Do you have a plan,” Viktor asked, his tone infuriatingly calm despite the chaos around them, “or are we simply running until your legs give out?”
Jayce shot him a glare. “Working on it!”
They rounded a corner and came face-to-face with a dead end—a towering wall of steel and stone. Jayce cursed under his breath, spinning to face the oncoming wolves.
“They’ll be on us in seconds,” Viktor said, stepping beside him. He drew a second blade, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. “If this is where we fall, make it count.”
Jayce’s pulse thundered in his ears. He wasn’t ready to give up—not yet. His mind raced, searching for an answer, and then it hit him.
“The rooftops,” he said, pointing to a fire escape just within reach. “Can you climb?”
Viktor arched a brow. “I’ll manage.”
Jayce boosted Viktor onto the ladder, then leapt after him, his claws digging into the metal rungs as the pack closed in. Snarls and howls filled the alley as the wolves reached the base of the fire escape, their claws raking against the steel.
“Faster!” Jayce urged, shoving Viktor upward.
The two scrambled onto the roof just as the wolves began their climb. Viktor turned, his blades flashing as he sliced through the ladder’s supports. The structure groaned under its weight before collapsing with a deafening crash, sending the pack tumbling back to the ground.
Jayce stood at the edge, his chest heaving as he looked down at the snarling mass below. Vi’s gaze locked with his, her expression a mix of anger and betrayal.
“This isn’t over, Jayce,” she called, her voice cutting through the distance. “We will find you.”
Jayce swallowed hard, his heart aching at the sight of her. “I know,” he said softly.
Viktor placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him away from the edge. “We need to keep moving.”
Jayce nodded, the weight of his choices pressing heavily on him. Together, they disappeared into the night, leaving the pack behind—but not their pursuit.