EL'S

door, I was standing under the spray of the sho

s working. My wolf, Apollo, was pacing inside my chest. I could feel him scratching at the back of my ribcage, restless and irritated. He hated being this h

I muttered to

chest. I looked at the mirror. My eyes were already flashing that bright, unnatural silver. I blinked hard, forcing

ce was massive, more of a penthouse apartment than a place of business. I had

. He didn't even look up when I walked in. That was the benefit of having a Beta who

plastic fork. "There is a container of spicy chicken here for you. E

m to the closet. I pulled out a fresh whi

o in there running on empty, you might accidentally rip someone's throat out fo

y fingers felt clumsy. "I just feel... off. Somet

rity logs myself. No breaches. No rogue scents. You're just bored. You ne

eave. The

re staring at spreadsheets or not," Marcus

d was strong, garlic, chili oil, soy sauce. Usually, I loved this place. But tonigh

lo is waiting for someth

o argue, but then he stopped. He tilted his h

the screen. "Your analyst is on her way up. Emma

d immediately. "I don'

's already in

CEO of Blackwell Global, not a werewolf on the verge of a breakdown. I sat down and

it hi

ent that fe

ain outside. But then it grew stronger. It smelled like ozone. Like the air right before a rainf

nd up. He slammed into

A

but a roar that vibrated t

y desk. The wood creaked under m

tanding up. "What is it

ice sounded wrecked. "Ge

to me. What'

" I roared, my c

ted for the side exit that led to the private stairwell. The door cli

ack them. I stood up, then sat back down. I couldn't stand when she walked in. If I was

ed. She is here. S

oak door

ere sh

chest like it could save her from me. Her skin was a rich, warm caramel color that made my hands itch to touch it. Her ha

d into the room,

underneath it, wrapped around the sweetness, was so

d like a l

her had spent twenty years trying

rong, he whined. M

d. She looked at me, and I saw her eyes. They were brown, b

asn't

asn't a w

as a

s by the Council. There was a kill-on-sight order for any creature carrying mixed DNA. If the Council fo

e was

d her. If I marked her, her scent would change. Every wolf in the city would know she belon

k. I needed to scare her. I needed to make her run away from me s

see the pulse jumping in her throat. She w

asked. My voice

hispered. Her voice shoo

vading her space. I let my eyes flash s

ftly. "That's n

w her shiver. "You smell like a science experiment,

fear. "I... I don't know what you're t

with a cruelty I didn't feel. I forced myself to reach out. I grabbed her chin, my fing

d out. Don't hurt

cting her,

ough to knock her over, but hard enough to make her stumble. "Get out of my office. Leave

losing. Tears welled up in her eyes. The

I sh

oor, fumbling with the handle before throwi

my desk. I put my head in my hands. The scent of her was everywhere. It was o

e looked at me, then he looked at the empty ha

his voice very quiet.

said, not

ontinued, walking closer. "I smelled t

him. "She's m

g, silent minute. Then he walked over t

bomination," Marcus said, turning back to me, "they won't just kill her. They'll

yes completely. I let my claws extend, sharp point

e full power of the Alpha command, "I will rip your he