Chapter 3

Marcus opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Suddenly, a deafening engine roar came from outside.

The headlights of three black armored SUVs sliced through the dead of night like swords.

The whole warehouse shook.

An SUV with the Council's Alpha Pack plates braked brutally at the lab entrance.

The High Council's wolf crest gleamed under the streetlights. Blinding.

The doors burst open before the cars even fully stopped.

Hector stepped out. Perfect black overcoat. Crisp white collar. Radiating that overwhelming Alpha aura.

Two massive, fierce pack guards flanked him. And a woman in an expensive cashmere coat.

It was Chloe.

Ten years. She still looked just as fragile and pitiful.

Hector's precious childhood sweetheart. The one he’d spoiled for over twenty years.

He held her gently as she stepped out in designer stilettos. Looking so fragile, a stiff breeze could snap her in half.

It was them.

I turned and looked at Marcus.

Fear and fury battled on his face.

He clenched his fists. His eyes glowed with rage. A primal growl rumbled deep in his throat.

"Valerie, they brought backup..."

"Doesn't matter." I slipped on my lab coat. Buttoned it up slowly. Slipped on a thick medical mask. "Let's go."

Hector stood in the courtyard. His eyes swept over the rundown lab with disdain.

Rusted gates. A warehouse full of chemicals. Frozen pipes in the biting wind.

His lips curled in obvious disgust.

Then, his eyes landed on me.

He looked for less than a second before looking away coldly.

He didn't recognize me.

After all, the gentle, long-haired mate from ten years ago now had a sharp bob.

I wore a mask to block scents. Only my dead, freezing eyes showed.

Plus, my scent was completely masked by nine years of chemicals and silver dust.

Even my voice was ruined.

To him, I was probably just some cripple who couldn't even shift.

"Who is Valerie?"

Hector spoke. His voice was laced with Alpha authority and impatience.

Marcus glanced at me on instinct.

I took two steps forward. "I am."

Hector finally bothered to look at me properly.

His gaze went from my eyes down to my calloused, acid-scarred hands.

"You?"

"Just me." I stared right back.

He scoffed. He turned and muttered something to a guard.

Then he looked at Marcus. Ice in his eyes.

"You're Marcus? Your daughter is doing quite well at the Far North watchtower."

Marcus's eyes flared red. He nearly charged like a furious bull.

I threw my arm out and stopped him. "Don't."

Hector laughed even harder watching me hold Marcus back.

Hector's Alpha aura slammed into Marcus like a boulder, forcing him to his knees.

"I said I'd give you two hours. You refused. So I had to come invite you myself."

Chloe stepped forward in her heels. Sadness and innocence plastered on her face. Releasing a sickeningly sweet, distressed Omega scent.

"I know you think we're being harsh. But that's my daughter! She's only eighteen. She just had her first shift. She's been suffering in the ICU for sixteen hours!"

Her eyes watered. She reached out to clutch Hector's arm for protection.

Hector patted her back. He looked at me, eyes like daggers.

"Twenty million. Transferred right now. You leave with me immediately."

"I already told you. I can't take this job." I refused calmly.

"Are you still bargaining with me?"

He tilted his head. Voice full of mockery.

"Fine. Name your price. Forty million? Sixty? I've seen plenty of your kind. Just looking for a bigger payout. I'll humor you."

I watched his sickening display. "It's not about money."

"Then what is it?" He took a sudden step forward. His Alpha aura cast an invisible net over the entire space.

"Not money? Then what? Do you have a grudge against me? Do I even know you?"

I stared straight into his eyes. I stood my ground, fighting off the Alpha command that would force any lower-ranking wolf to their knees.

The tenderness he used to look at me with was long gone. Washed away by time. Leaving only Alpha arrogance and impatience.

"Never."

"Then there's no damn reason." He waved a hand. An ultimatum.

"I don't care who you are. I don't care about your attitude. My daughter is dying in there. You are the only one who can save her."

He signaled his guards to step up.

"Choose. Take the money and leave right now."