Chapter 1459: Shadows Over Centerfield

When Marie had climbed into the taxi with Kai, she was more than a little surprised by the location he gave the driver. They were heading to Centerfield.

Centerfield, the heart of the central government, was where the highest-ranking politicians lived and worked. It was the kind of place that prided itself on being untouched by the chaos of the outside world. Here, the streets were usually spotless, the air clear, and the citizens shielded from the constant violence and crime of gang-infested cities.

Those in power had always kept themselves far removed from the danger, turning a blind eye to the rest of the country’s problems as long as Centerfield remained safe. And the main reason it had remained safe for so long was the presence of the White Rose base.

So when Kai told her they were going there, Marie’s first assumption was obvious, he intended to see the White Rose.

“Didn’t you already try to speak to them, though?” she asked, turning in her seat to look at him. “And didn’t they reject your request? Besides… isn’t the White Rose practically non-existent now?”

“You’re right,” Kai replied without hesitation. “Because of the protests, legislation was already being pushed through to defund the White Rose. Not just cut their budget, but to abolish the whole thing, immediately.

“The thing was, the central government was still afraid. They couldn’t just disband the White Rose outright. First, they had to pass the law that outlawed the creation of Altered. Only after that could they officially begin dismantling the organisation.

“Seeing which way the wind was blowing, the top leaders of the White Rose decided to retire themselves. So yes… the White Rose practically doesn’t exist anymore. And now you’re wondering why we’re heading to Centerfield?” A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Well, doesn’t that mean there are a bunch of highly trained, extremely strong Altered… with nothing to do?”

They rode in silence after that, the cityscape shifting outside the taxi windows. Eventually, they crossed into Centerfield proper, and the sight that met them was nothing like what either of them expected.

They’d been here once before, but this time the district felt like a shadow of its former self.

Barricades had been set up along the main roads. Windows were shattered, graffiti scrawled across stone walls, and nearly every street corner bore some sign of destruction. The air was tense, heavy with the kind of quiet that follows chaos.

“What happened to this place?” Marie asked, her voice low.

“There were clashes,” Kai explained. “Protests between those who wanted to get rid of Altered and those who supported them. In situations like that, it’s the city and the people living here who take the worst of it. And honestly,” he added with a glance out the window, “I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily a bad thing.”

Marie frowned at his tone, but she didn’t press. She knew Kai well enough to understand he was speaking from knowledge, knowledge about the kinds of people who lived in this district.

“The area got out of hand for a while,” Kai continued. “But now, things are… under control. There are almost no pro-Altered protesters left. So, as you can see, things have become pretty one-sided.”

Marie didn’t comment, though a strange unease sat in her chest. The whole situation felt… off. It was as if the entire world had flipped after the Harvor case. And it wasn’t just here, countries all around the world had shut down the White Rose program.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Kai said, breaking her silence. “It’s strange, how fast it all turned around.” His voice dropped lower, more deliberate. “I’ve been thinking about it too. And based on my predictions… I’m almost certain this is the vampires’ doing.”

“The vampires? But why would they want to get rid of Altered?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Kai replied instantly. “A vampire is stronger than a human in every way. But with Altered around, the balance of power shifts. They probably never liked the current king situation in the first place.

“We already know they were behind the Altered Hunters. Maybe that was their first attempt at wiping out Altered. And when that didn’t do enough, they moved on to creating the White Rose as well. Now that things are going the way they want, they can crumble the very structure they built.

“I’ve been trying to figure out the level of influence the vampires really have, and it’s… tricky. With their strange abilities, they were able to clear out all of Slough. Which means they can, in one way or another, control or manipulate people.

“Politicians, government officials, people in high positions without real power, are the easiest to sway. And that’s scary to think about as a human… but maybe even scarier to think about as a werewolf, since they already hate us.”

For a brief moment, Kai imagined himself in Lupus’s place. The constant paranoia, the feeling of living under a shadow that could strike at any moment. Back against the wall, with no way out but to bite back.

Finally, the taxi dropped them off by the river. A balcony overlooked the water, with a running track stretching along the side. There, standing at the railing, was a man gazing out over the current.

“Don Tinge!” Kai called out. “I’ve been meaning to meet with you.”

The old White Rose leader turned. He wore a large jacket over a crisp shirt and trousers, ordinary clothes that did nothing to hide the weight of his presence.

“So, you’re the one who’s been digging into my background all this time,” Don said, his voice deep and calm. “I didn’t bother changing my routine. I figured you’d show up eventually.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “It seems the situation’s changed quite a bit. You’re from the Howlers, correct?”

“Correct,” Kai said. “And I have a proposition for you.”

****

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