c P

table, my fingers steepled in front of me. To my right, in the seat that had once been

y. They were staring at the presentation on the screen with

was saying, her voice bright and enthusiastic, "we project a fo

ide and smiled, turning to

le

ncomfortab

ad air. "Brilliant, Breanne. Absolutely brilliant. A bo

hesitant smattering of applause. Most

isk management and a Gamma of consid

, the financial models in this proposal are... optimistic. The data is based on a

ered. A flush of pin

lay is immense. If this fails, it could jeopardize the pack's entire financial stability. I would str

me. He

dare he bring her up, here, in front of everyone? H

didn't speak. I just let a sliver

ck into his chair as if shoved, his face pale. The ai

oft. "Timid. They are not the future of this pack. Her name wil

d "Yes, Alpha" wen

, her voice trembling slightly, playing the part of the wronged party

anging up on her, these old wolves, r

ce loud enough for everyone to hear. "They are just afraid of progress." I shot a look of pure venom at

eir whispers silenced only by my presence, I felt a crack form in the foundation of my authority.

od by the door, his arms cros

n?" I asked, my p

has the loyalty of half the war

rrected him. "It's

ng her. Her phone goes straight to voicemail. She hasn't logg

ough me. Three days? That wa

said, forcing a confidence I didn'

quietly. "That letter... her

able. "I am tired of hearing about her! She i

y to reassert my control. A way to prove to everyone,

w. Tell her she is to report to the office tonight. She wi

t be serious. She's on leave. And you want

niable power of my command. "You will find her. And you will give her this message: Tell her if she wants to

wered his head in sub

left, his shou

nce ringing in my ears. I had reasserted my do

old dread coiling in

y

ll had a ghost access to Blackwood's internal servers, a backdoor I'd built years ago for

roject approval. I saw the massive, reckless reallo

lking right

n smile tou

rd that dominated one wall. It was covered in flo

a red dry-

over the box labeled "Blac

unt w

-