o, none of you

e center of the hall. The words hung in the air, heavy and unyieldi

t pale. His face cycled through shades of white and green. His chest heave

is palm on the table

llion in funds and the border cooperation agreement will be withdrawn

e forced to lower their heads, whimpering under the pressure that radiated

ross the long table and dropped it in the center, her pen tip landing precisely on the swappe

e years." Darcy lifted her eyes, her gaze cold and steady as she fixed the

e breathed. Every wolf in the room was watching the e

turned his head to look at Darcy. The dark gold in his pupils reflected her image, deep and consuming, as if trying to pull her in.

t asked her to explain the numbers, hadn't demanded

, his gaze cutting like a blade across

million. Pull

se. His voice dro

will be charged to my personal account. D

hall. Several Elders exchanged stunned glances. The af

ed. And yet, throughout the entire exchange, he hadn't voiced a single doubt about Darcy's professional judgment.

tened around his ironwood staff until his knuckles went white. He ground

a high-ranked wolf to guarantee you, you can't stay here for even on

n clauses about "body marking" and "private dependency." Every line of it was designed to re

ront of her wi

lat against the paper. H

wo lines. T

t "marking" and "emergency control rights" with three long, deliberate strokes that nearly tore through the page

s a written request for dissolution. Position and authority shall not be continge

d Asher. She pushed it slowly, deliberately,

are my

gh the paper to erase. The gold in his pupils flickered w

like thes

But the muscle jumping in hi

ust s

tive had slumped back into his seat, his brief moment of defiance thoroughly crushed. The air in the entire counc

tful. Some simply confused. She calmly put her pen away and placed the document carefully into her b

t. Her heels struck the floor in a steady, unhurri

rs were sealed behind the heavy w

didn't walk beside her. He stayed two steps behind, unhurried, his massive frame and the lingering cold pressure of his pres

fter the other, echoed through the silent hallway.

ng cold fluorescent light across their feet. Darcy stepped through first. Ashe

shut. All outside noise

around her, making her chest tighten and her pulse quicken despite herself.

d looked at his right ha

Marks he'd left on himself all night, forcing down his wolf and

tepped forward half a pace

mor rumbled deep in his throat. But he let her pull his

palm, one careful stroke at a time. The white fabric darkened w

ng through until she could feel it on her fingertips. H

und hers. Slowly. Deliberately. Gently. The restraint in his grip was measured,

says I can't

is burning, heavy gaze. His pupils were dark

say I can't as

i

p floor rushed in through the gap, dispersing t

ngers. She slid her fingertips against hi

merger is

heels striking the floor in a crisp

st before the gap disappeared entirely, his vo

r you to chan

d her came the heavy thud of

, staring at his empty palm. The warmth of her touch was sti

ine was so short it made his blood bu

n glow of the city filtered through the windows,

She placed the heavily amended guarantee agreement insi

could close

i

. Blazing red error warnings cut through the dim l

Registrat

e: Contrac

ct Mate relationship with the guarantor. The self-term

udicial Revi

through the silent room, th

relationship." Her fingers, still resting on the edge of the

o trap her back into the same cage. "Mate" or "Dependent." Nothing in bet

in her eyes gradually shifting. Not to fear. N

, screenshot the error, a

cancel the guarantee

pause. She sen

ts for anything, tomorrow at 9 a

e

eared at the bottom of her screen, star

Officer has acc