Chapter 3

Scarlett’s Pov

The lab was quiet and empty when I arrived, exactly how I liked it.

I had converted the office into my workspace months ago and it still smelled like fresh wood and chemicals that had not yet been used to their full potential.

I pulled up my research files on the computer and got straight to work, but before I touched anything else I did something I should have done a long time ago.

I tried to copy every piece of research data I had onto a separate drive, every formula, every result, every failed experiment. But when I got to the core data I stopped cold. It was locked, password protected and completely sealed off.

I sat back in my chair and looked at the screen for a long moment.

Of course it was. Killian had been planning this longer than I gave him credit for. He did not just want the finished drug, he wanted to own everything that built it, every step, every discovery, every mistake I learned from. He wanted my work without me in it.

I tucked the drive into my coat pocket, a cold smile touching my lips. He could lock the data all he wanted, but it was only a matter of time before I found a way to take it back.

I had barely settled when the door swung open.

Killian walked in with a frown already on his face, Tiffany half a step behind him, scanning the room like she was taking inventory. Killian barely glanced at me before he started yapping.

“The council has requested an update on the silver poison drug. I need your latest results and the current formula on my desk by tomorrow.” He paused and when he spoke again his voice changed into something that was supposed to sound generous. “Once the drug is ready and we get council approval, I will hold a proper Luna ceremony for you. You have my word.”

His words. I almost laughed.

Tiffany stepped forward in her funny looking outfit. “Scarlett, the council does not like to be kept waiting. Whatever personal feelings you have right now need to be set aside because this affects all of Silver Moon, the entire pack, not just you.”

I looked at both of them and looked for the best word to say to hurt their feelings.

“I cannot do it,” I said.

Killian’s frown deepened. “What do you mean you cannot?”

“Did I speak Chinese? I mean I cannot.” I stretched out the ‘cannot’ dramatically and set my pen down.

“If the two of you are in such a hurry, let Tiffany handle the research and development. She seems very invested in the outcome.” I picked up my bag and turned toward the door.

Killian moved fast, he stepped in front of me and grabbed my arm.

“Scarlett, stop. Just tell me what you need. Whatever it is, name it.”

I looked down at his hand on my arm with disgust on my face and he immediately let go. I wiped my arm slowly.

“This lab is not conducive, it’s too small,” I said. “The equipment is outdated and I cannot focus properly when I’m in here. I need a new facility, somewhere I can work without……interruption, I said, gesturing at both of them.”

“Fine,” he said immediately. “Where do you want to set it up? I will handle it.”

“I will handle it myself,” I said. “I just need the funds transferred to my account.”

“How much?”

“Fifty million.”

The room went completely silent. Killian stared at me. Behind him Tiffany actually staggered back a step, her eyes going wide like I had just asked for the entire moon.

“Did you see a ghost honey?” I asked her pleasantly.

Her mouth opened and closed.

“Fifty,” Killian repeated.

“If that is too much then I suppose the research stops here and you can explain that to the council yourself, goodluck.”

I turned and walked toward the door again. I counted silently. Three, two, one…..

“I will transfer it now,” Killian said.

Tiffany grabbed his arm. “Killian, fifty million is too much, she is taking advantage of you, you cannot just…..”

“Enough.” He shook her off without looking at her and pulled out his phone. “Whatever makes her comfortable. The drug is worth ten times that amount.”

My phone buzzed as the transfer came through. At the same moment a message came in from my Delta, Mira.

The Valley Wolf Pack is selling one of their properties. Thought you should know. Also, there is a seller moving rare Moongrass. It’s thirty million but it will not last long.

I read it twice and allowed myself a small smile.

Moongrass. The rarest ingredient in the entire silver poison antidote. In my previous life on this day, I had gone on my knees to Killian asking him to buy it and he had looked me in the face and told me to find cheaper alternatives. I had spent months working around it and improvising, and the formula suffered for it.

Not this time.

I replied to Mira immediately. Buy the property and secure the Moongrass. Both. I would sort the details when I arrived.

Without Moongrass and without me, Killian could search for that formula until the end of time and find nothing. Let him try.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at the Valley Pack property, walking through the space, planning exactly how to set it up. By the time I got back to the house I was in a genuinely good mood for the first time in what felt like years.

I stepped inside and stopped.

Tiffany was pressed against Killian’s side holding a glittering dress up to her body, spinning slightly, her whole face lit up like Christmas morning. “Killian, how’s this one?”

Killian looked at her softly and tenderly with so much affection. “You are so beautiful,” he said warmly. “Having such a gorgeous woman beside me will definitely help me land a lot of collaborations.”

I almost laughed out loud, I found the whole thing deeply ironic.

“Is something making you so happy?” I asked.

They both turned around at the same time. Tiffany’s excitement vanished. Killian straightened up and cleared his throat.

“Scarlett.” He hesitated for just a beat. “The Spring Gathering is in three days. It is different from the previous ones, the Lycan King Dominic will be attending this year and he sits on the council. I need to make a strong impression.”

“Right. Well, you spend most of your time in the lab and I did not think you are interested in gatherings like this, so I was planning to bring Tiffany this time.”

The spring gathering is an annual grand gathering of wolf packs. All Alphas from each pack always attend. In my previous life I had waved him off at every single gathering, completely uninterested, trusting him to handle everything without a second thought while I stayed buried in my research. I was not doing that again. Moonlight was mine now and mastering pack diplomacy was just as important as anything happening in that lab.

I smiled at him and watched his expression flicker for just a moment before he caught himself.

“No. I am coming.”