~Elara~
I approached TechNova, marking the last day for a simple design review—supposedly. The final meeting before the charity gala which was in a week.
Nothing was simple anymore.
I paused at the entrance, adjusting the silver pendant at my throat. Not merely jewelry, but a device Maya had designed to detect electromagnetic anomalies. A precaution. One of many.
"You don't have to do this," Caleb had insisted that morning, his hands warm on my shoulders as I dressed. "We have enough intel for the countermeasure."
"Not enough to find my mother," I'd countered, watching his expression shift in the mirror. "If she's alive, if she's in there—"
"That's a big 'if' based on security logs and a scent trail."
I'd turned to face him then, letting my eyes flicker to their wolf-silver state. "
