The Bite of a Wolf

The sun had barely risen over King's Landing, casting the city in a golden haze, but Jon Snow was already awake. He hadn't slept well—not that he expected to, given the mounting tension. The walls of the Red Keep felt like they were closing in on him, the air thick with intrigue. His conversation with Jaime Lannister from the night before replayed in his head, mingling with the venomous words of Littlefinger and Janos Slynt.

Jon had no allies here, at least not openly, and yet, he needed to act. He could no longer afford to wait, to let the plots swirling around him tighten their grip. He had a plan in mind—a dangerous one, but necessary.

He was done being a silent observer.

---

Jon's first stop that morning was the barracks of the City Watch. It was risky, but he needed to understand how deeply Janos Slynt's influence reached within the gold cloaks. If Slynt had plans to make a move against his family, Jon wanted to know exactly where the threat would come from.

He walked with purpose, Ghost at his side, the direwolf drawing uneasy glances from the gold cloaks standing guard. His presence here wasn't entirely unusual, but it certainly wasn't expected. He'd been avoiding this part of the Red Keep since arriving in King's Landing, preferring to remain distant from the political struggles between the crown and the City Watch. But now, the stakes were too high to ignore.

Inside the barracks, Jon kept his expression neutral as he scanned the room. The gold cloaks went about their routines, though more than a few shot suspicious glances in his direction. His eyes locked on a man sitting near the back—a captain by his insignia. The man was cleaning his blade, but his eyes flickered to Jon as soon as he entered.

Jon approached him directly.

"Captain," Jon greeted, his voice steady. "I need a word."

The captain looked up, his eyes narrowing in faint recognition. "Jon Snow, the Stark bastard. You don't belong down here. What do you want?"

Jon could feel the tension in the room increase as the captain's voice carried. But he didn't waver, stepping closer, his tone low but firm. "I hear you answer to Janos Slynt."

The captain's eyes hardened, but he didn't respond immediately. Jon pressed on, his voice dropping to a whisper, making sure only the captain could hear.

"I know what Slynt's planning," Jon said, his eyes cold. "And I know you're part of it. But if you think siding with him will protect you, you're mistaken. When this is all over, Slynt won't be around to protect anyone. The question is, where will you stand when that happens?"

The captain's eyes flicked from Jon to Ghost, clearly unsettled by the massive direwolf at his side. But the man's pride won out, and he sneered. "I don't know what you're talking about, boy. You'd better watch your step. This is King's Landing, not Winterfell. You're out of your depth."

Jon stared him down, unblinking. "We'll see."

Without another word, Jon turned and walked away, leaving the captain to stew in his own thoughts. He hadn't learned much, but the captain's reaction confirmed one thing: Slynt's influence ran deep within the City Watch, and that made the situation far more dangerous.

As Jon left the barracks, he felt Ghost's steady presence beside him. The direwolf was his only real ally in this city, a reminder of the North and of the strength that still flowed through his blood.

You're not alone, Jon reminded himself. You're never alone.

---

Later that day, Jon made his way to the small council chambers, where his father, Lord Eddard Stark, was expected to attend a meeting. Jon had avoided these political gatherings thus far, preferring to keep his distance from the scheming and backstabbing that defined the court. But today was different. Today, he needed to warn his father, to let him know that the game was tightening around them.

He reached the entrance to the council chambers just as the meeting was ending. Lords and advisors filed out, each lost in their own thoughts, their faces guarded. Jon's eyes searched for his father, and soon, he saw him—Ned Stark, his expression as grim and resolute as ever.

"Father," Jon said, stepping forward.

Ned's gaze softened slightly at the sight of him. "Jon, what is it?"

"We need to talk," Jon said, lowering his voice. "Privately."

Ned gave him a questioning look but nodded. "Come. We'll speak in my chambers."

As they walked, Jon's mind raced. He hadn't planned out exactly how to approach this, but he knew time was running out. Littlefinger's web was tightening around the Starks, and if Jon didn't act soon, his family could be caught in it.

Once they were inside Ned's chambers, Jon wasted no time.

"I overheard a conversation," Jon began, pacing slightly as he spoke. "Between Littlefinger and Janos Slynt. They're plotting against us, Father. I don't know all the details yet, but I know they plan to use the City Watch to move against you. They're manipulating the situation, trying to paint us as threats."

Ned's expression darkened as he listened. "Littlefinger has always been a snake, but Slynt... I should have suspected his loyalty was for sale."

Jon stopped pacing and faced his father directly. "We need to act. If we don't move first, they'll use the City Watch against us, and we'll be powerless to stop it."

Ned sighed, his face lined with weariness. "Jon, this is not the North. We cannot simply fight our way out of every problem. I've been trying to gather evidence, to expose the truth behind the corruption in King's Landing, but if we act too hastily, we risk losing everything."

Jon's frustration boiled to the surface. "And if we don't act, they'll stab us in the back before we even see the blade coming!"

Ned looked at Jon with a mixture of sadness and determination. "I know you want to protect this family, Jon. But there's more at stake here than just us. This city is a pit of vipers, and I'm trying to navigate it without losing my honor, without sacrificing what we stand for."

"Honor won't save us," Jon said, his voice bitter. "Not here. You're dealing with men who will do anything to win. You can't fight them by playing by the rules."

Ned's jaw tightened. "I've lived my life by those rules, Jon. I won't abandon them now."

Jon fell silent, knowing there was no convincing his father. Ned Stark's honor was unshakable, but it was also his greatest weakness in this city. Jon felt a pang of guilt—he admired his father's principles, but he had seen enough of King's Landing to know that principles alone wouldn't protect them.

After a moment, Ned placed a hand on Jon's shoulder. "I appreciate your concern, Jon. Truly. But I need you to trust me. I will find a way to protect this family. Just... be patient."

Jon nodded, though inwardly he doubted patience was something they could afford.

---

Later that night, Jon stood alone on the balcony of his chambers, gazing out over the city. The warm wind rustled through his hair, and Ghost sat beside him, his red eyes scanning the darkness. Jon's thoughts were a storm of conflicting emotions—his desire to protect his family clashing with his frustration at his father's unwillingness to act.

He couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Jon turned, surprised. He wasn't expecting anyone. Ghost growled softly, but Jon silenced him with a gesture.

"Enter," Jon called.

The door creaked open, and to Jon's surprise, Varys stepped into the room, his soft, slippered feet making no sound on the stone floor. The Spider's presence immediately put Jon on edge.

"Lord Snow," Varys greeted, his voice as smooth and unthreatening as ever. "Forgive the intrusion. I thought we might speak."

Jon narrowed his eyes. "About what?"

Varys moved closer, his expression inscrutable. "About the future. Yours... and that of your family."

Jon's hand instinctively went to Longclaw's hilt. "What do you want, Varys?"

The Master of Whisperers smiled faintly, though his eyes remained cold. "I want to offer you an opportunity. You see, the game we play here in King's Landing is one of survival. And I believe, Lord Snow, that you are beginning to understand that."

Jon remained silent, waiting for Varys to continue.

"I have... certain interests," Varys said carefully, "that align with your desire to see your family safe. Littlefinger and Janos Slynt are dangerous, yes. But they are not the only ones moving pieces on the board. If you wish to protect your family, you will need allies."

Jon's grip on Longclaw tightened. "And what do you gain from helping me?"

Varys' smile widened, though it did not reach his eyes. "I gain nothing if the wrong people hold power in this city. My loyalty is to the realm, not to any one family. I believe your family's continued presence in King's Landing serves the realm's interests. For now