CHAPTER 3

I watched through the digital feed as Jonah Price shifted uncomfortably. I could practically smell the cold sweat on him through the screen. Cameron Steele’s voice cut through the air like a winter gale. "Speak, Jonah. Tell me you didn’t sabotage the Great-Pack settlement funds for your own amusement."

"I... I would never, Alpha Steele!" Jonah’s voice cracked. "I followed the protocols Margaret Steele set in place. Every transaction was verified. It makes no sense for a rogue to bypass our firewalls over a few missing villas."

"Is that so? Then bring me the blood-ledger for the Northland redevelopment. I want to see the audit trail myself."

Panic flared in Jonah’s eyes. He knew he was trapped in a thicket of his own making. What could he possibly say when Cameron realized that out of the entire territory, only one name—Sierra Vaughn—had been flagged for 'non-compliance'?

At that moment, the doors to the Steele Industries inner sanctum swung open. Lexi Hart walked in, her heels clicking like claws against the marble. "Cameron, don’t trouble your wolf with such trivial disputes. Mr. Price and I have the situation under control."

"What brings you to the war room, Lexi?" Cameron’s tone was frigid.

"I heard there was a breach in the pack’s digital defense. I was concerned," she purred, trying to mask her scent of desperation with expensive lavender. "We are family, after all. I came to help you track this scavenger. Ask Rowan Steele to trace the scent; no hacker can outrun a Steele genius. That rogue has a death wish for poking the Alpha."

Despite seeing me in the Pacific Street Cafe with my terminal, Lexi refused to believe a 'relic' like me possessed the power to shatter a high-level corporate firewall.

Cameron’s gaze didn't soften. "Stay out of this. My pack, my problem."

He had already deduced the truth. He knew I was the one behind the screen, and secretly, a flicker of dark pride warmed his icy heart. He wanted to see just how far his 'omega' ex-wife would go. He turned back to Jonah. "The ledger. Now."

Lexi bit her lip, her frustration radiating off her in waves. "Cameron, this has nothing to do with the Vaughn Estates. Those residents are nothing but omegas and relics. How could they possibly orchestrate a digital siege? You’re chasing shadows."

The mention of the caste system made Cameron’s expression turn lethal. "Omegas? Have you forgotten that even a wolf in the shadows has teeth? Or have you forgotten your own bloodline’s humble origins?"

Lexi’s face paled. "That’s... that’s not what I meant. Let me handle the residents. I’ll make sure they stay in line."

Cameron was too sharp for her games. He knew I wouldn't have launched a digital assault on Steele Industries without a damn good reason. He had a strange, lingering faith in my integrity—a faith that came far too late.

Just then, a technician let out a startled yelp. "Alpha! The intruder is back. They’ve bypassed the encryption and dropped a voice-capture into the main channel!"

"Play it," Cameron barked.

Lexi’s heart skipped a beat. She remembered the sharp exchange we had at the cafe. Could I have recorded her? The audio flared to life, filling the office with the clear, haughty voice of Lexi Hart threatening to choke my resources and force an apology.

Lexi’s facade crumbled instantly. "Cameron, that’s... that’s a deep-fake! It’s a trick by the Vaughn Great-Pack!"

Cameron loomed over her, his shadow swallowing her whole. "Do you take me for a pup? I know your scent, Lexi, and I know your voice. You sabotaged a Great-Pack settlement because of a personal grudge? You’ve put the entire Steele Pack at risk of a blood-feud with the Vaughn Circle!"

He turned his fury on Jonah Price. "Speak! If you don't explain why you followed an unbonded female's orders over mine, you’ll be hunting for scraps in the wasteland by sunset!"

As the office was cleared of underlings, Lexi and Jonah stood trembling. "Cameron, we were just... checking the blood-purity of the recipients. Sierra’s documents were flagged for review," Lexi stammered.

Cameron snatched the digital tablet from the desk and shoved it toward her. "Flagged for what? Every Vaughn document was verified by the High Council before it reached your desk. You’re lying to your Alpha."

Lexi realized the pit she had dug was too deep. "I have a history with her, Cameron! She’s trying to steal my place in this territory! I had to send her a warning."

"A warning?" Cameron laughed, a sound like cracking ice. "You targeted a member of the Vaughn Circle. Randy, hand in your resignation to the Pack Elders. If you don't apologize to Sierra Vaughn personally, I’ll let Landon Vaughn’s lawyers—or his claws—deal with you."

Jonah scrambled for Lexi’s support. "Ms. Hart, I only did what you asked! You told me the Alpha wouldn't care!"

Lexi looked away, refusing to throw him a lifeline while her own status was sinking. Once Jonah was dragged out, she whispered, "Cameron, please. Let me fix this."

"You have no authority here, Lexi. Why are you so obsessed with Sierra?"

Lexi’s gaze turned sharp and bitter. "She’s a threat. She stood between us, didn't she? I only wanted to remind her of her place."

Cameron’s mind flashed back to the Design Competition, where I had been stripped of my title at the last second. He had believed Lexi when she said it was a clerical error. Now, he saw the truth. It was a calculated strike.

He let out a heavy breath, the weight of his mistakes pressing down on him. "Lexi, I told you I was reconsidering your place in the Steele Residence. I want you to sign the pack-severance papers now."

Lexi gasped. "But we aren't even officially mated yet! You said you’d protect me until the Steele-Hart alliance was solidified!"

Without a word, Cameron pulled a silver-trimmed folder from his desk. "Sign it. You’ve become a liability. You’ve targeted a wolf of the Vaughn bloodline, and I will not let you drag my pack into your petty wars."

Lexi stared at the documents, her eyes burning with resentment. "Are you doing this because of that bitch, Sierra?"

Cameron’s eyes flashed gold for a split second. "Watch your tongue, Lexi. You’ve grown arrogant and careless. You’re no longer fit to carry the Steele name."

"Is she that special? Connor Vaughn is under her spell, and now you? She’s nothing but a nomadic liar who played with Liam and now she's using the Vaughn Circle!"

"Enough!" Cameron’s voice was a physical blow. He stood and delivered a sharp reprimand that left her reeling. "You talk of etiquette and status, yet you act like a feral scavenger. You’re done."

Lexi’s world was collapsing. If she lost her Steele affiliation, she would be nothing in the Northlands. She tried to reach for him, but he wrenched his hand away.

"I’ll give you a week to pack your things," he stated coldly. "Any reasonable request for relocation will be granted. But you are finished here."

Lexi grabbed the papers and stormed out, her heart black with hatred. She wouldn't leave that easily. Sierra Vaughn had taken everything from her—her status, her mate, and now her family.

Downstairs, I was preparing to leave the building when a manager named Naomi Brooks hurried toward me.

"Ms. Vaughn! There was a... massive oversight in the finance runes. The Great-Pack settlement has been fully cleared and transferred to your family's vault. I offer my deepest apologies for the delay."

I knew my digital "nudge" had worked. I played it cool, checking my terminal. "One moment. I need to verify the arrival."

I called Patricia Bloom. "Aunt Patricia, did the vault notification ping?"

"Yes, Sierra! It just came through. It’s a fortune! How did you do it?"

"Just a little negotiation with the management," I replied, glancing at the bowing manager. It seemed they were terrified of what else I might leak.

As I walked toward the exit, Lexi Hart emerged from the elevator, her face a mask of wounded pride. "Don't think this is a victory, Sierra. You used cheap tricks."

"They worked, didn't they?" I replied, my gaze steady. "And if you keep testing me, the next thing I broadcast won't just be audio. It’ll be the full footage of your 'fake heiress' routine. Consider the audio a courtesy."

Lexi was livid. "You think you’re so clever, seducing hackers to do your dirty work?"

I smiled faintly. "Believe what you want, Lexi. But remember—I don't need to seduce anyone to protect what’s mine."

I turned and walked out into the crisp Northland air, leaving her fuming in the lobby.

Upstairs, Cameron watched me from his window. He pulled out his phone and sent a screenshot of the hacked system to the "Vaughn Circle" private link.

“Sierra’s handiwork,” he messaged. “She dismantled my subsidiary’s security in under an hour. She’s going to be the most dangerous wolf in the Northlands.”

Miles Vaughn replied instantly, “Of course she did. I taught her everything she knows. The girl is a natural-born Alpha.”

Landon Vaughn chimed in, “Why did she have to hack your system specifically, Cameron? What are you hiding?”

Cameron sighed. He had a lot to answer for, and only a week to get Lexi out before he could even dream of asking for my forgiveness. But with the way I had just handled his company, he knew I didn't need his protection anymore. I was a Vaughn, and the Northlands were finally beginning to realize it.