جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 90

The digital clock on my laptop screen flipped to eleven at night.My study was pitch black except for the harsh blue light spilling from the monitor and casting long shadows against the walls.I sat back in my chair and rubbed my burning eyes, feeling the heavy weight of exhaustion settling deep into my bones.I had been sitting in this exact spot for two days straight, trapped in endless video calls that felt more like interrogations.Six small video boxes filled my screen, displaying the sour, impatient faces of the pack elders."You are stalling, Ren," Nathaniel said, his voice distorting slightly through the laptop speakers."I am not stalling, I am doing my due diligence as the leader of this territory," I replied, keeping my tone dead flat."We gave you the finalized drafts on Friday morning," Victor, another older wolf, chimed in.He leaned closer to his webcam, his face twisting into a deep frown."The terms are incredibly clear, and Rosalie’s family has already agreed to the

Monday morning arrived way too fast, dragging me out of a restless sleep.I barely closed my eyes on Sunday night because my brain flat out refused to shut off.The terrifying diagrams from the pregnancy books kept flashing in my mind, reminding me of all the things I didn't understand about my own body.I forced myself out of bed and took a fast shower, letting the freezing cold water shock me awake.I threw on my usual baggy slacks and a loose gray sweater to hide the firm curve of my stomach.The subway ride downtown was a miserable experience.The train cars were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with miserable commuters, and the smell of damp coats made my stomach churn violently.I held onto the metal pole and kept my head down, praying the ride would end quickly before I threw up on someone's shoes.I swiped my badge at the corporate security desk and walked toward the elevators with heavy steps.The main lobby was usually a chaotic mess of people talking over coffee and complaining

I left the stack of schedules on the long mahogany table and walked out of the freezing boardroom.The heavy glass doors clicked shut behind me, sealing away the empty chairs and the waiting notepads.My stomach turned over again, a sharp twist that made me stop and press my hand flat against the hallway wall.I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the nausea to pass, taking shallow breaths through my mouth.The ginger tea I usually kept in my desk was my absolute best hope right now.I needed something to settle my stomach before these mysterious council people showed up and turned the office into a war zone.I pushed myself off the wall and bypassed the anteroom, heading straight down the side corridor toward the employee breakroom.The executive floor was unnervingly quiet today.Usually, this hallway was packed with interns running errands and junior executives talking loudly on their cell phones.Today, it felt like a ghost town.The few people I did pass kept their eyes glued to

"You cannot just ignore them, Ren!" Silas shouted, pacing back and forth across the gray carpet.He ran his hands through his thinning hair, looking like a cornered animal.The rest of the human board members had already fled to their private offices, leaving Silas to handle the fallout of this surprise visit.He was sweating right through his expensive suit jacket, terrified of the consequences."I have ignored them for years, Silas, and I will continue to do so," I told him calmly, leaning my hip against the edge of the conference table."This is different! Nathaniel called a formal gathering, and they are expecting you to present the signed treaty agreements.""Nathaniel doesn't have the authority to call a formal gathering in my city," I reminded him."He is overstepping his bounds, and I am going to remind him of his actual place.""They are going to tear this company apart if you refuse them," Silas warned, stopping his frantic pacing to glare at me."They brought Victor and Eli

Ren gave me one last look before turning around and walking out of the room.I watched his broad back disappear down the corridor, taking that heavy, protective warmth with him.The suffocating pressure that arrived with the elevator faded as he moved away, but the isolation left behind felt much worse.The anteroom was far too quiet, and the silence gave my brain way too much room to spiral.I sat back in my chair and pulled my mug of ginger tea closer, wrapping both of my cold hands around the warm ceramic.I tried to focus on the digital calendar on my computer monitor, but the letters just blurred together into a meaningless mess.My imagination was running wild, picturing Ren standing in that freezing boardroom surrounded by angry, powerful men.He was fighting a massive battle by himself, and I was just sitting here drinking tea like a coward.The phone on my desk suddenly rang, cutting through the silence and making me jump in my seat.I quickly grabbed the receiver and pressed