Darrow and the Howlers raid the Den’s armory to prepare for a covert strike. Sevro insists on seeing his daughters first, and Darrow agrees, deciding to see Pax as well. Victra confronts Darrow, begging him not to take Sevro, extracting a promise to bring him back, and agreeing to support Mustang politically despite her distaste. The pack departs in somber silence through the rain.

At Lake Silene, Darrow wakes Pax and bonds with him over a hoverbike the boy built with borrowed money from Victra. They ride to a lake island, where Pax pleads for Darrow to stay. Darrow cannot abandon his mission; the farewell leaves Pax hurt and distrustful, and Darrow grief-stricken.

Outside, Mustang confronts Darrow, calling his plan treason and urging him to uphold the Republic’s laws and work with her. When he refuses to reveal his destination or relent, she summons the Republic Wardens. Wulfgar arrives with a mixed-Color squad to arrest Darrow. Darrow balks at imprisonment; two Wardens who served with him defect to his side, and a fight explodes.

Darrow targets disabling blows while Wardens employ nonlethals. Wulfgar kills a Gray veteran who aided Darrow. Amid the chaos, Darrow duels Wulfgar and gains the upper hand; a stray stun shot shoves Wulfgar sideways into Darrow’s thrust, killing him. The battlefield falls silent as wounded Wardens stare in shock; the two who aided Darrow lie dead, and Darrow realizes the political catastrophe he has caused.

Sevro urges immediate escape. Mustang, horrified by Wulfgar’s death and Darrow’s defiance, can only watch as Darrow and Sevro lift off. Pax witnesses his father’s departure from the shadows, underscoring the personal cost and looming fallout for the Republic.