CHAPTER 10
356 Words
The High Council hadn't even left the building before the trap snapped shut.
By noon, the supernatural underground was in a state of absolute frenzy. Someone had leaked the audio of the council’s confrontation to the private Lycan networks.
The news spread like wildfire through the digital dark web: Julian Vance has rejected his fated mate for a corporate merger. The Manhattan Pack is vulnerable.
"It was Sterling," Marcus said, slamming into Julian’s office, his face pale. "He didn't want the audit to be private. He wants an excuse to launch a hostile takeover before the council can even vote. Look at the news."
Julian turned on the monitor. Financial news outlets were reporting massive, unexplained movements in the transportation and tech sectors.
Human reporters were confused, but Julian knew the truth: rival packs were launching a coordinated economic assault on his supply lines, using the scandal to scare off his human investors.
"Mr. Vance," Elena said, her voice steady but urgent as she looked at her tablet.
"The London transit lines are being blocked by a series of sudden, uncoordinated union strikes at our shipping ports. It’s a coordinated front. They're trying to freeze our assets so we can't buy back our shares when the market opens tomorrow."
Julian looked at her, his heart aching at the sight of her working so hard to save him even after everything he had done to her. "Elena... I’m sorry.
I brought this storm to your doorstep."
"We don't have time for apologies, Mr. Vance," she said, her amber eyes locking onto him with a fierce, brilliant intensity.
"We have a war to win. Marcus, get your enforcers to the docks. Julian, you need to stabilize the board of directors. I will handle the algorithm adjustments to reroute the shipping lines through the Southern ports before the human markets notice the delay."
For a second, Julian didn't see an assistant or a stray. He saw his Luna. He saw the only woman in the world who could stand beside him in the middle of a hurricane and help him direct the wind.
"Let’s get to work," Julian said.
- Writer
