The wind howled through the red dunes like a mourning spirit.
Ares crouched behind a ridge overlooking an abandoned human research facility nestled deep within the Valles Marineris canyon system. The structure was old—partially collapsed, its solar panels rusted from decades of exposure to the elements—but it wasn't empty.
Lights flickered inside.
And something else pulsed beneath the surface.
A lab.
Not just any lab.
One that had been repurposed for genetic experimentation.
Beside him, Dr. Sophia Patel adjusted her scanner, her expression grim. "They're running full-genome sequencing. And they've got access to Martian tech."
Ares narrowed his eyes. "How long have they been here?"
Sophia exhaled sharply. "Long enough to start changing things."
Ares clenched his fists. He could feel it in the air—an unnatural energy, like the ruins themselves recoiled from what was happening below.
"This isn't just research," he murmured. "It's transformation."
Sophia nodded. "And not the kind we want."
---
Elsewhere – Human Outpost Delta-3
Commander Linh Reyes sat at the central command terminal, reviewing intercepted transmissions from across Mars.
She tapped a command into the console, bringing up a dossier labeled **Project Eclipse**.
"Damn it," she muttered.
Captain Sera Vance entered, arms crossed. "What did you find?"
Reyes turned the screen toward her. "There's a new group forming. Calling themselves the Eclipse Order. They believe the only way forward is to merge human and werewolf DNA using ancient Martian technology."
Vance frowned. "You mean… create hybrids?"
Reyes nodded. "Exactly."
Vance hesitated. "And what do they plan to do with these hybrids?"
Reyes met her gaze. "Take control of Mars."
---
Back at the Facility – Infiltration Begins
Ares led the infiltration team under the cover of darkness.
His wolves moved silently, their forms blending into the shadows of the canyon walls. Sophia followed close behind, carrying encrypted data drives and portable scanners.
Inside the facility, voices echoed down the corridors.
"We're close," one scientist said. "The first successful hybrid sequence completed last night. If we can stabilize the neural pathways, we'll be able to replicate the process indefinitely."
Another voice responded, colder, more determined. "We don't need replication. We need dominance."
Ares exchanged a glance with Sophia.
He didn't like the sound of that.
They moved deeper into the facility, past rows of containment cells—some empty, some occupied by figures wrapped in restraints, their bodies twitching unnaturally.
Ares stepped closer to one of the cells.
The figure inside was neither fully human nor fully wolf.
Its skin bore the same symbols that now marked Ares's own body.
But they were wrong.
Twisted.
Unstable.
Sophia whispered, "They used fragments of your DNA."
Ares swallowed hard. "They shouldn't have done this."
---
Meanwhile – Rogue Wolf Territory
Renn stood atop a jagged outcrop, watching the distant glow of the facility.
Vex approached cautiously. "You knew about this?"
Renn smirked. "Of course I did."
Vex frowned. "Then why haven't we stopped them?"
Renn turned to face him. "Because they might be right."
Vex stiffened. "You think we should merge with humans?"
"I think we should survive," Renn replied. "By any means necessary."
Vex hesitated. "And Ares?"
Renn studied the horizon again. "If he stands in our way… then he's no longer our brother."
---
Inside the Lab – The Directive Revealed
Ares and Sophia reached the central lab.
Rows of monitors displayed genetic sequences, neural maps, and experimental results. One screen showed a live feed of a containment chamber where a test subject writhed on an operating table, veins glowing faintly blue.
Sophia scanned the files rapidly. "They're using Mara's tech to rewrite biology itself."
Ares stepped forward, reading over her shoulder.
"Subject E-7 demonstrates stable hybridization after gene integration. Neural adaptation complete. Physical transformation sustained without lunar cycle dependency."
He clenched his jaw. "They're trying to eliminate the need for transformation altogether."
Sophia looked horrified. "They're turning us into weapons."
Ares shook his head. "No. They're turning us into something else entirely."
Then came the voice.
"You're too late."
A man stepped into view—tall, clean-cut, wearing a white coat stained with blood.
Dr. Elias Voss.
Former Earth Federation geneticist. Now leader of the Eclipse Order.
He smiled coldly. "Mars will never be ruled by the old ways again."
Ares took a step forward. "You're playing with forces you don't understand."
Voss shrugged. "That's why we needed your DNA."
Ares bared his teeth. "You stole from me."
Voss's smile widened. "We improved upon you."
With a snap of his fingers, the lights dimmed.
Alarms blared.
Doors sealed.
And from the containment chambers, the hybrids stirred.
---
On the Surface – Kael's Pack Arrives
Outside, Vira led a small force of loyal wolves, waiting for Ares's signal.
When the alarms sounded, she didn't hesitate.
"Move!" she shouted.
Her warriors surged forward, scaling the outer walls, breaking through windows, storming the facility.
Chaos erupted.
Gunfire. Howls. Screams.
The war had come to the Eclipse Order.
---
Inside the Lab – The Fight Begins
Ares lunged at Voss, but before he could reach him, one of the hybrids intercepted him—faster than any werewolf, stronger than any human.
It struck with precision.
Ares barely dodged in time.
Sophia ducked behind a console as gunfire erupted around her. She tapped into the lab's mainframe, searching for a way to shut the whole thing down.
"Ares!" she called. "I found the core systems!"
Ares fought off another hybrid, his claws tearing through synthetic muscle and bone. "Shut it down!"
Sophia slammed her hand on the override panel.
The entire facility shuddered.
Warning sirens blared.
EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN INITIATED. CONTAINMENT FIELD ENGAGING.
Voss screamed in rage. "You fool! You've doomed us all!"
Ares grabbed him by the collar. "No. I'm saving us."
Then he threw Voss against the wall, knocking him unconscious.
---
Later That Night – Aftermath
The facility burned behind them as Ares and his team retreated into the wilds.
Sophia carried the stolen data, her hands shaking.
"They won't stop," she murmured. "This was just the beginning."
Ares stared at the distant glow of Olympus Mons.
"No," he agreed. "But we know what they're planning now."
Vira approached, wiping blood from her claws. "What happens next?"
Ares looked toward the Hollow Moon above.
"We prepare."