Page 51 of Furry Equations

“Naturally.”

“And if I tell you to run-“

“I’ll consider it strongly while doing whatever I think is best.” She smiled sweetly at his growl. “That’s the best offer you’re getting, Alpha.”

“Impossible woman.”

“Overprotective wolf.”

“If you two are done with the foreplay,” Emily interrupted, “we have a traitor to catch.”

Heat flooded Natalie’s cheeks, but she noticed Marcus’s ears had gone slightly pink too. Jax’s shoulders shook with silent laughter as he checked his weapon.

They took separate cars to Vale Corp - Marcus and Natalie in his Audi, Jax and Emily following in an unmarked SUV. The city streets gleamed with recent rain, reflections of neon signs creating abstract patterns on the wet asphalt.

THIRTY

“What’s going through that head of yours?” Natalie asked, watching Marcus’s white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.

“He was supposed to protect you.” The words came out clipped. “I trusted him to help keep you safe, and instead-“

“Hey.” She laid her hand over his on the gearshift. “You can’t blame yourself for his choices.”

“Watch me.”

“Marcus.” She waited until he glanced at her. “The only person responsible for Liam’s betrayal is Liam. And we’re going to stop him. Together.”

His fingers interlaced with hers, squeezing gently. “Together,” he agreed softly.

They parked in the underground garage, taking the executive elevator to the top floor. The building felt different at night - eerier with shadows stretching across empty cubicles and darkened offices.

“Security sweep starts in forty-five minutes,” Jax whispered as they moved through the space. “He’ll probably-“

Movement ahead made them freeze. A figure in tactical gear disappeared around a corner, heading toward the server room.

“That’s not his usual patrol route,” Emily murmured.

Marcus signaled them to split up - he and Natalie would take the main corridor while Jax and Emily circled around through the emergency stairs. The plan would trap Liam between them.

They moved silently through the darkened office. Natalie’s heart thundered in her chest, but her hands remained steady. The weight of the gun at her hip offered cold comfort.

A crash from the server room shattered the silence. Marcus burst through the door first, weapon raised. “Freeze!”

Liam spun from the server bank, a flash drive clutched in one hand, gun in the other. His icy blue eyes widened fractionally at seeing Natalie beside Marcus.

“Should have known you’d figure it out.” His laugh held no humor. “The brilliant Dr. Grant. Tomlinson warned me you were too smart for your own good.”

“Tomlinson?” The name hit Natalie like ice water. “Adrian Tomlinson? The biotech competitor who tried to steal my research last year?”

“He recognizes talent, unlike some people.” Liam’s gaze cut to Marcus. “Do you know what it’s like living in your shadow? Being the good soldier while you get all the glory?”

“Put the gun down,” Marcus growled. “We can talk about this.”

“Talk?” Liam’s smile turned ugly. “We’re way past talking.”

Everything happened in a blur. Liam fired, the shot going wide as Jax tackled him from behind. The flash drive skittered across the floor. Natalie dove for it while Marcus engaged Liam in a brutal hand-to-hand fight.

The two men moved with inhuman speed, trading blows that would have killed a normal human. Liam might have been trained by Jax, but Marcus fought with the raw power of an alpha protecting his mate.

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