Page 12 of Pawsitive Data

“I laugh,” Lucas protested.

“You chuckle menacingly. There’s a difference.”

Another notification lit up his phone – security footage of Emma stopping in the lobby to talk excitedly with his lead geneticist, Dr. Sofia Martinez. Emma was gesturing enthusiastically about something scientific, and Lucas’s chest tightened at the sight.

“You’re doing it again,” Zayne said.

“Doing what?”

“That thing where you look simultaneously terrified and possessive. Very intimidating. Much alpha. Such growl.”

Lucas threw a towel at his head. “Don’t you have security protocols to review?”

“Already done. Full protective detail is in place for Dr. Greene, though you might want to ease up on the surveillance parameters. Twenty-four-hour monitoring of her apartment building might seem a tad intense for a new employee.”

“She’s crucial to the research,” Lucas said stiffly.

“Uh-huh. And the fact that you’ve watched that elevator footage twelve times is purely professional concern?”

Before Lucas could respond with appropriate alpha dignity, his phone buzzed with a text from his mother:

Security council meeting in an hour. Malcolm’s asking questions about your new hire. And darling? You might want to clean up the claw marks in your office. They’re rather obvious on the security footage.

SEVEN

Lucas stalked through his office as he scented the air unconsciously. No trace of her here, but his beast remembered her fragrance perfectly – jasmine, lightning, and something uniquely Emma that made his fangs itch to drop.

“Down,” he muttered to his inner panther, who merely rumbled in amused defiance.Mate.

Lucas growled, “She’s not my mate.”

Before he could defend his dignity, Zayne came through the office door. “Malcolm’s here early. Already making comments about ‘rushed hiring decisions’ and ‘security protocols regarding humans.’“

Lucas’s growl turned dangerous. His uncle’s timing was never coincidental.

“Also,” Zayne continued too innocently, “Dr. Greene is currently explaining quantum genetics to the entire research department.”

Lucas moved to his private security feed on his laptop before he could stop himself. There she was, her red hair a beacon of energy as she gestured enthusiastically, her whole face lit with that brilliant enthusiasm that made his beast want to purr. Theresearch team was gathered around her whiteboard, looking simultaneously overwhelmed and fascinated.

“Your eyes are fully gold,” Zayne noted. “Might want to dial back the mate-claim display before the security council meeting.”

“She’s not—” Lucas stopped as Emma bent to pick up a dropped marker. His fangs dropped fully.

“Right,” Zayne drawled. “Totally not affected by her at all. Just destroying furniture and partially shifting because of professional interest in her research.”

“The research is vital to our survival,” Lucas ground out, forcing his claws to retract. “Her breakthrough could save our bloodlines.”

“And the fact that she’s brilliant, beautiful, and looks at you like you’re the most fascinating puzzle she’s ever wanted to solve has nothing to do with your interest?”

Lucas remembered how she’d leaned forward during their interview, those incredible green eyes alight with curiosity and attraction. “She said she doesn’t get scared, she gets logical.”

“Sounds like she’d handle the whole ‘surprise, your hot boss is actually a shapeshifter’ conversation pretty well.”

“She’s too observant for her own good,” Lucas admitted, watching as Emma now appeared to be explaining something scientific to the janitorial staff. “She’s already noticed things about our genetics that others have missed for centuries.”

“You mean like how your eyes go all glowy when she?—”

An alarm cut through their banter.

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