Hacked By The Wolf

The Vale Tower lobby was all marble, glass, and quiet menace. At this hour it should have been empty, but four men in black suits waited by the private elevator like statues. No badges, no words. Just eyes that tracked her the second she stepped through the revolving doors.Zara’s boots echoed across the polished floor. She’d changed into dark jeans, a black hoodie, and her favorite leather jacket armor for a night like this. Her hair was pulled into a messy knot, strands already escaping in the humidity. She looked like trouble. Good.One of the suits stepped forward. Tall, built like a linebacker, face blank.Miss Knox. Arms out.She arched a brow.You buying me dinner first?He didn’t smile. Just waited.Zara sighed and spread her arms. The pat down was professional quick, thorough, impersonal. They took her phone, her multi tool, even the flash drive tucked in her bra. She let them. She had three more drives hidden in places they wouldn’t look without a warrant. Or a very different kind of invitation.Elevator, the leader said, gesturing.The ride up was silent. Seventy-eight floors. Zara watched the numbers climb and felt her pulse match them. She’d faced down cartel accountants, Russian oligarchs’ security teams, even an FBI sting once. But something about this felt different. Sharper.The doors opened directly into the penthouse.Floor to ceiling windows wrapped the entire space, framing the city like a living painting rivers of light, wet streets glittering far below. The room itself was starkly masculine: dark wood, steel accents, low leather furniture. No art on the walls. No personal touches. Just power.And him.Roman Vale stood at the window, back to her, hands in the pockets of tailored black slacks. White dress shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing forearms corded with muscle and faint scars that didn’t look surgical. His dark hair was perfectly controlled, but something about the set of his shoulders felt... coiled.He didn’t turn around when the elevator doors closed behind her.You’re late, he said. That same voice from the phone low, controlled, with a faint rasp that scraped down her spine.Traffic, Zara replied, stepping deeper into the room. You know how holidays are.Only then did he face her.Holy hell.Photos didn’t do him justice. Roman Vale in person was... overwhelming. Tall six four, maybe more. Broad shoulders tapering to a lean waist. Features sharp and aristocratic, softened only by a mouth that looked made for sin. Eyes the color of winter storm clouds gray ringed with something almost gold in the low light.Those eyes locked on her and didn’t let go.Zara felt it like a physical touch. Heat flared low in her stomach, unexpected and unwelcome. She shoved it down. Focus.You hacked my company, he said. Not a question.You left the door open. She shrugged. I knocked.A flicker of something crossed his face amusement? Irritation? It was gone before she could read it.Roman moved toward her, each step deliberate. Predator in a suit. The air shifted, grew heavier. Zara held her ground even as her instincts screamed to back up.He stopped an arm’s length away. Close enough she could smell him clean, expensive cologne over something wilder. Pine and rain and something she couldn’t name.You have no idea what you’ve walked into, Miss Knox.Enlighten me, Mr. Vale.His gaze dropped to her mouth for a fraction of a second. When it returned to her eyes, the gray had darkened.You’re either very brave, he murmured, or very stupid.Usually both.The corner of his mouth twitched almost a smile. Then his expression hardened.You took files. Sensitive ones.I take a lot of things, she said. Most people don’t notice until it’s too late.This time the smile came small, dangerous.I noticed.Inside Roman’s chest, his wolf was losing its mind.The moment she’d stepped out of the elevator, the bond had hit him like a sledgehammer. Scent first vanilla and ozone and something uniquely her. Then sight. Then the sound of her voice, sharp and unafraid.Mine. Mine. Mine.Every instinct screamed to close the distance, pin her against the nearest wall, bury his face in her neck and mark her until the world knew she belonged to him.But she was human. She didn’t feel it. Didn’t know.And she’d just stolen secrets that could expose his entire pack to hunters, rivals, extinction.Roman clenched his jaw until it ached.Zara tilted her head.So what now? You gonna call the cops? Sue me? Have your goons break my fingers?None of the above.He reached into his pocket and pulled out her confiscated phone. Held it out.Zara blinked. Didn’t move to take it.What’s the catch?No catch. His voice was rougher now. Yet.She snatched the phone, fingers brushing his in the process.The contact was electric literal sparks seemed to jump between them. Roman’s wolf snarled so loudly he was sure she heard it. His eyes flashed gold for a split second before he locked it down.Zara jerked her hand back, staring at hi