y

indow, not seeing any of it. My mind was a machine, clicking through a checklist

building, my steps even and measured. The doorman smi

e entryway. The sound was jarringly loud. I didn't turn on the lights. I walked straight through the

p my MacBook. The screen's blueish light il

things

rypted servers with a muscle memory honed over seven years. I accessed th

of intellectual property I had ever created for them. The ones with my name on them, and more importa

t up. It buzzed once. I didn't need to look

m:

tomorrow night. 7 pm. The Vand

lement of it, the sheer arrogance, sent a fresh wave of cold fury t

ng alien. A corner of my mouth lifted in a sneer. I didn'

document. The blan

of all emotion. It was a legal

F MATE R

ognized by all packs, I, Kay Silva, formally and irrevocably r

on is final

the complete and total seve

sharp sting pricked the back of my neck, right over the spot where his mark sh

it and h

apartment. It was the sound of a life being unmade. Th

Group's official letterhead envelopes I kept for work. It had the embossed wolf seal. I folded

on, to him trying to use his Alpha presence to force me into submi

ure. I opened my LinkedIn profile. It was painfully out of date. I started drafting a

ages, I saw it. An unread email, sent three days

n Jarvis, CEO

ategic Consu

ex G

ggest rival on the East Coast, a shadowy, powerful conglomerate run by a man spoken of only in whi

lightly as I click

Si

tegic analysis on the Sterling-Cross acquisition and the risk-mitiga

a strategist with your unique foresight. I am prepare

current salary at Blackwood. Relocation to ou

ts are being wasted.

.

ec had taken credit for. His intelligence network had to be terrifyi

omething else ignited within me. A feel

ida

ng Vertex Group's recent market activity, cross-referencing their known holdings with their latest SEC filing

y closet. The gala. I had to go. It was

e, severe, black sheath dress. It wasn't d

and fake smiles. I took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and

as in the center of the room, holding court, a king in his ca

a high, tinkling sound, and leaned into him, whispering something in his ear. She s

nd coming up to steady her, his fingers spla

elt nothing. No jealousy. No pain. Just a profound, pitying disgust for t

rfect togethe

n, stood beside me, a malicious glint in her e

id, her voice dripping with faux admirati

eyes, the desperate need to be on the winning side. We had been fr

t calm sett

voice quiet but cutting.

holding

nd a dog u

mouth, but no sound came out. She was stunned into silence by th

I turned and walked away, lea

ing for Ethan. I found him near the restrooms, speak

his call and tu

. You should be with Alec. The

d, my voice devoid of warmth. I h

me, his brow furrowed in

as an order. I pushed the envelope against his ches

stion, I turned and walked towa

ook a deep breath, the scent of exhaust fumes and damp

rembling. I opened the email from Hamilton Ja

ecisive tap, I

Ja

invitation f

-