Chapter 009 Breaches and Control
Julian sat at the head of the conference table, forcing his body into stillness. His wolf paced inside his skull, a restless shadow clawing at the edges of his control. He scanned the room instead—elders and pack leaders settling in, their scents a familiar mix of pine, earth, and tension. Elder Sterling scowled at the table like it had personally offended him. Magnus and Rosemary flanked him, loyal holdovers from his parents' time. Jared and a few younger wolves lounged in the back, all predator eyes and coiled energy.
One minute to go.
The door swung open. Quinn hurried in, cheeks flushed, breath coming quick. White blouse hugging her small breasts. Short pleated skirt skimming her thighs over black tights. A sliver of pale skin flashed above the waistband as she moved.
Blood surged south. Hard. Instant. His cock strained against his pants, wolf snarling approval. Mate. Now.
He swallowed the growl rising in his chest. Swallowed hard. Eight years of iron control, and one look at her crumbled it all. Morgana's ghost had been his wall, keeping everyone out. But Quinn's eyes—those wide, defiant eyes—and that kiss last night. Catastrophic.
She hesitated in the doorway. He pointed to the chair beside him. Silent. Commanding. Praying she obeyed. In this state, if she bolted... he'd chase. Pin her to the wall. Slide hands under that skirt. Taste every inch.
Muscles locked. Eyes burned gold at the edges, wolf shoving forward. Ours.
She smiled—shy, quick—and walked over. Head high. Her scent hit him like a wave: wildflowers after rain, mixed with something sharper, electric. Arousal didn't fade, but the wolf eased back enough for him to breathe. To function.
Room full now. Sterling's scowl deepened, aimed just left of her. Jared stared too long, admiration flickering. Wolf growled low. Mine.
"As you know," Julian said, voice steady through sheer will, "Silas's investment lets us upgrade our tech infrastructure. Ms. Bailey's the lead consultant. She'll overview her findings."
He leaned back, arms crossed. Alpha calm. Business only. Even if his blood roared otherwise.
"The human wishes to address the council." Sterling's voice oozed disdain. "How... novel."
"Ms. Bailey's here at my invitation." Neutral tone, but the warning threaded through—every wolf caught it. "She'll present her assessment. Questions after."
"I have a question." Jared leaned in. "Why let a human tell us how to run communications?"
Quinn didn't flinch. Pulled up her presentation on the wall display. Calm. Direct.
"Because your current setup's held together with duct tape and wishful thinking. Also because I've done this six years and I'm very, very good at it."
Surprise rippled. A few shifted in seats. Julian bit back a smile. Claws in her.
She clicked forward. Network diagram glowed red and tangled. Wolves winced.
"I know you're skeptical. But this system's a liability. Emergency—disaster, dispute, medical crisis—your comms fail, people die. Not convenience. Survival."
Next slide. Vulnerabilities listed like open wounds.
"Seventeen access points, none talking right. No redundancy. Main server drops—you're dark across the compound. And security? Any hacker's dream."
Quiet confidence filled the room. She wasn't just the fire in his veins. She was Silas's pick. Brilliant. Focused.
Sterling wasn't done.
"We don't need human security. Territory's wolf-protected. Every inch."
"Sure. But data's not in the mountains. It's on servers, internet-connected. Open to anyone sniffing your secrets." Click. Breach list. "Past month: one hundred forty-seven attempts. Most bots. But three? Directed. Proxies bouncing everywhere."
Wolves straightened. Eyes sharpened. Murmurs started.
"Who?" Julian snapped. Sharp. Urgent.
"Don't know yet. Sophisticated. But give me time, resources—I will." Her gaze met his. Direct. Unflinching. Pack wolves rarely held it that long.
Silence stretched. Heavy. Assessing.
Sterling broke it. "Digital threats. Fine. But her? Outsider with our data. How do we know she won't turn it against us?"
"I'm not that kind of person." Calm smile. "And I signed fifty-three NDAs. Silas's lawyers? Scarier than any wolf here."
Laughter snorted from Rosemary's direction. Quinn stayed locked on Sterling.
"No wolf. No pack. Lone human. Why trust loyalty?"
"You shouldn't."
Julian's head snapped her way. But she was steady.
"Not yet. Haven't earned it. Outsider. Trust my competence." Final slide: phases, timelines, budgets. Clean. "Silas sent the best for his brother's pack. My work proves it."
Murmurs swelled. Julian rose. "Phase One proceeds. Ms. Bailey gets full resources."
"Alpha—" Sterling started.
"Decided." Stare pinned him. Sterling bowed head, reluctant. "Security demands it. Under her direction."
Room broke up. Wolves clustered at the display, tracing diagrams. Others filed out, neutral masks in place. Quinn packed her laptop, glancing his way under her lashes.
"You handled that well. For someone bad at social stuff."
"Not social. Data. I know data. Told truth."
"Unusual. Humans with wolves? More diplomatic."
"Diplomacy's manipulation. I'm fixing your network." Zipped bag. Frowned. "Your override helped, though."
"Disapprove?"
"Not sure." Paused. "My world: earn authority with competence. Prove it, get trust. Here? It's..." Gesture at him. Vague.
His mouth twitched. Adorable. Fuck.
"Whatever that is?"
"You know. Alpha thing. 'Decided, so done.' Works. But logic over dominance? Better."
"Logic fails?"
"Harder logic. Charts."
Laugh barked out. Surprise hit them both. Her eyes widened. Leaned in, lips curving. Scent sweetened—arousal spiking. Urge slammed him: arms around her, body against his, nose in her neck. Fists clenched. Claws pricked palms.
"Office, kitten." Rough. "Afternoon's late."
"Right." Shaky. "Office. Work. Professional."
Satisfying. Too much.
"Now."
She fled. Skirt hem fluttered, thighs flashing pale glimpses. Wolf howled.
Fuck.
Door shut. He stripped fast—shirt, pants shed on the porch. Shift ripped through, bones cracking, fur bursting. Wolf form hit the woods running.
Paws pounded dirt. Muscles burned. Lungs clawed air. Faster. Harder.
Her lips. Skirt. Defiance in her eyes. Truth like fangs.
Moon climbed. White. High.
Ran till exhaustion dragged. Still howling inside.
Not enough.