《Alpha's Claim, Omega's Surrender》全部章節：第 21 章 - 第 30 章

I had met Jessa’s cousin once before. Though they were technically kin, they had been raised like siblings. He was the polar opposite of Jessa’s chaotic energy—composed, stable, and possessed of a sharp, academic mind. He’d climbed the ranks of the Lunar Academy to become a Professor of High Physics at a remarkably young age. A true intellectual.As I approached the stone pillars of the Enlightenment Church, I saw a figure waving frantically. I walked over, feeling the weight of the midday sun. "You’re making a scene, Jess. Aren't you worried about the temple guards?""Let them watch. I was afraid your scent would get lost in the incense," Jessa chirped. She gestured to the man standing beside her. "You remember my brother, Kenneth? The one who talks in equations?"I offered a small smile. "I remember."Years ago, when Jessa and I first joined the Prosperity Consortium, Kenneth had been the one to secure a fortified duplex for her, fully furnished and warded. He was the definition of

Grant caught my eye just as I was about to slip into the shadows of the transit corridor."Mars."His voice was a deep, magnetic rumble that vibrated right through my chest. Since my attempt at a vanishing act had failed, I had to square my shoulders and march over. "Alpha Walker. Ms. Caldwell.""We're leaving now." Grant didn't wait for a response; he slid into the back of the armored transport with the effortless grace of an apex predator.Brooke lingered for a second, offering me a sharp, polished smile. "Safe travels, Mars. We’ll finish our 'little discussion' once you return from the North.""Of course," I managed, keeping my face a mask of professional neutrality.Only after Brooke turned toward the elevators did I climb into the cabin. I sat as far from Grant as the leather seats allowed, my mind racing. What 'little discussion' did she mean? Was she planning to drive me out of the pack the moment Grant grew bored of the substitute?"Exhausted?" Grant asked. He reached up, loos

Talk about the world being too small.I had braced myself for the possibility of catching the scent of a Reed family member in Havencrest, but I hadn’t expected to stumble over one so damn fast. It made sense now why that woman had started howling over the digital frequencies again—they were back from their overseas exile.This was going to be a bloodbath."Do you think Edward wants to sever his ties with the Social Networking Service because he smells rot in the foundation?" Kevin’s voice pulled me back from the edge of my memory.I shifted my seat, making sure my back was to Maxton Reed. "Even without the Walker Enterprises backing, the tribute coming into that firm isn't thin," I whispered. "Unless he’s found a richer territory to hunt in, pulling his stakes now is a massive gamble."In our world, you don't just walk away from an investment you helped sire. You either stay out of loyalty to the pack, or you’ve found a bigger kill elsewhere. The fact that the shift was already in th

The next morning, when I finally clawed my way out of sleep, the other side of the high-thread-count sheets was already cold. Grant was gone.On the heavy oak table in the center of the suite, a tray of protein-rich breakfast stood waiting, still steaming slightly from a warming spell. Beside it lay a piece of vellum with his sharp, authoritative handwriting: [Charity gala for the Northern Alphas today. I’ll ping your slate when the council adjourns.]I knew it. There was no way a wolf of his standing would trek to Havencrest just for a tech startup. He was playing a much larger game of territorial politics.After a quick meal and a change into my tactical gear, I met Kevin in the lobby. Since we’d already scented out Edward’s suspicious movements, today was about a deep-dive into the Social Networking Service’s inner workings. Even though their Warden had sent over digital ledgers overnight, I wasn’t about to take a northern wolf's word for it. We headed to their tower for a boots-on

"We are on a razor’s edge. This contract needs a specific lunar-cycle appendix noted, and I must review the spiritual liability before the legal high-council can finalize the bond."Brooke didn’t just sound urgent; her voice carried the sharp, commanding frequency of an Alpha-descendant. "Stop circling. The Westline Holdings advocates are waiting on me. Send the schematics to my private terminal now."With that, the connection cut out.An encrypted address appeared on my slate seconds later.I hesitated. Brooke Caldwell was the Chief Justiciar of the Walker Line. She was bound by blood-oaths to protect the pack's interests; surely she wouldn't do anything to sabotage Grant's vision. I opened the SinoSuccess project files and forwarded the core technical blueprints she requested.When I arrived at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, I found Grant standing near the stone pillars with Kevin."Has he already concluded his council?" I wondered."Move it, Mars. We’re just waiting for your