Chapter 3

“If you hurt Brielle again, Elara, I will kill you.” The murderous rage in Nolan's eyes made everyone around us retreat.

“She insisted on grabbing me. If she fell, she deserved it.”

He raised his hand again. This time, I caught his wrist before he could strike.

“Hit me again, and explain it to the Council.”

Nolan tried to pull free. I held his gaze, then shoved his hand away.

No one interfered. The Moon Summit would determine appointments to several important positions, and no one wanted to offend Nolan for the sake of a stranger.

“I had no idea the High Council Institute allowed its researchers to assault guests whenever they pleased.”

Nolan's face darkened. “I am warning you, Elara. Leave now. If you interfere with my appointment, I will stop being polite.”

“Then I would love to see what you consider impolite.”

Calculation flashed through his eyes. The next second, Brielle suddenly stumbled into a Council official standing nearby.

“I'm sorry! This is my cousin. She came in without an invitation.” Brielle stepped in front of me and pretended to be anxious. “She has always loved my mate. She probably lost control because she heard Nolan would receive his appointment today. Please don't arrest her.”

The official's expression hardened immediately. “Where is security? Remove this unidentified woman at once!”

Everyone believed Nolan to be Dr. Marcus Hale's most valued student and the man most likely to assume control of the silver-toxin regeneration project that evening. When the official turned toward Nolan, even his voice became more courteous.

“Dr. Hale invited me,” I said. “Before you touch me, I suggest you consider the consequences.”

The official hesitated and glanced at Nolan.

“My mentor met her once because he mistakenly believed I planned to bond with her,” Nolan said with a sigh. “Then circumstances changed. She left with another man on the night before our vow ceremony.”

The official's remaining hesitation disappeared. “Throw her out.”

“I am Dr. Hale's student and the presenter of tonight's new project.”

The security officers stopped. Marcus held enormous authority in the field of lycan medicine, and no one dared casually offend someone who might truly be his student.

Malice flashed in Brielle's eyes. She suddenly raised her voice. “Elara, hand over the research files you stole! This is the High Council Institute. Leaking classified material is an act of treason against the packs!”

Every core research file at the Institute affected the medical security of multiple packs. Silver research was especially sensitive. If it fell into the hands of a hostile pack, it could change the outcome of an entire territorial war.

The gazes around me changed at once.

Brielle leaned closer and whispered, “Kneel and apologize to me, and I can tell them I was mistaken.”

I gave a cold laugh. “Have you forgotten how you became Nolan's mate?”

Her face turned white, but her smile soon returned. “Who do you think they will believe?”

Then she raised her voice again. “She used to make secret calls and send encrypted files behind the family's back. She talked about experimental data and project reviews. I didn't understand any of it then, but now I think she may have been collecting intelligence for hostile packs for years.”

Those calls and files had been my research reports to Marcus.

Nolan immediately seized on her accusation. “So that is why you insisted on bonding with me. You wanted to use my position to enter the Institute and steal classified information. Thank the Moon Goddess I did not choose you, or you would have implicated all of Ironwood Pack.”

I clenched my hands. I had already stepped aside and given them everything they wanted in this life. Still, they intended to brand me a traitor to the packs.

“Have the two of you forgotten what truly happened at that bond ceremony?”

“You left the territory with Dorian Cross and stayed out all night, so Brielle completed the vows in your place,” Nolan said with a sneer. “What is there to hide?”

So that was the lie Brielle had told him.

“We are investigating your theft of classified material now. We gave you the opportunity to leave, and you refused. It is too late to change your mind.”

“I already told you. I am a researcher invited to tonight's summit.”

The security officers seized my arms anyway and locked restraints designed to suppress a wolf's strength around my wrists.