Page 20 of Pawsitive Data

Zayne’s laugh echoed through the corridor. “No wonder your mother loves her. Though I have to say, watching you try to maintain your scary alpha facade while she babbled about your ‘sexy cat eyes’ in front of the elders was the highlight of my security career.”

Lucas growled, but without heat. “The intruder?”

“Ah yes, the poor bastard who had to deal with both an angry alpha and a tiny scientist trying to measure his supernaturalabilities. He’s not talking, but he is what Emma noticed – wolf shifter.”

The growl this time held real menace. “They’re testing our defenses. Seeing how we protect our... assets.”

“You mean seeing how you protect your mate.” Zayne’s expression turned serious. “The timing’s suspicious. Emma takes a job that could save our bloodlines, and suddenly we have rival shifters breaching security?”

Lucas’s claws emerged. “Increase her security detail. I want?—”

“Already done. Though you might want to be subtle about it. Something tells me Dr. Greene would try to collect genetic samples from her protection team if she spotted them.”

“She’d probably succeed too.” Lucas couldn’t help his smile, remembering how she’d faced down the council with nothing but enthusiasm and scientific curiosity. “She’s perfect, Zayne. Magnificent and unafraid and...”

“And she makes you purr like a kitten.”

“I do not?—”

“Please. You nearly went full shift when she started explaining mate-claiming behaviors to the elders. Speaking of which...” Zayne’s grin turned wicked. “Want to explain those claw marks all over the elevator? And the wall outside your office? And pretty much everywhere you’ve been near her?”

Lucas ran a hand through his hair, trying to regain his composure. “She makes my control... unstable.”

“No kidding. I can’t believe she told Malcolm his DNA wasn’t as interesting as yours.”

They both turned toward the secured holding area where the intruder waited. Lucas’s amusement faded as he scented wolf shifter and remembered how close the threat had come to Emma.

“She changes everything,” he said quietly.

“Yeah.” Zayne squeezed his shoulder. “But maybe that’s exactly what we need. Now come on, you can terrify our guest while I tell you about how the security team is taking bets on how long before Dr. Greene tries to scientifically document your shifted form. My money’s on less than a week.”

Lucas growled, but his beast was already calming, knowing Emma was safe in her lab, probably naming equipment and designing experiments that would drive him crazy in the best possible way.

Now he just had to keep her safe long enough to let her save his species.

And maybe collect a few DNA samples along the way.

FOURTEEN

The council chamber hummed with tension even before dawn. Lucas straightened his tie, surveying the gathered elders as their scents betrayed varying degrees of anxiety and ambition.

A night of being without his mate had left him with little patience for clan politics.

“The fertility crisis continues to worsen,” Elder Conley reported, projecting genetic data across the chamber’s holographic display. “Three more failed pregnancies in the younger bloodlines this month alone. The genetic degradation patterns are?—”

“Exactly what Dr. Greene suspects,” Lucas cut in smoothly, enjoying how Malcolm’s scent soured at the mention of Emma.

Malcolm’s laugh held no humor. “She accessed restricted areas and snooped through data without authorization. Exactly like her grandmother did.”

The chamber grew quiet. Too many remembered Magdalena’s complicated history with the pride. Lucas felt his beast stir, protective instincts roaring at the implied threat to his mate.

“Dr. Greene’s methods,” he kept his voice deadly soft, “have yielded more progress on the fertility crisis than decades of traditional research. Unless anyone wishes to formally challenge her qualifications?”

“Not her qualifications,” Malcolm smiled. “Merely her... suitability for certain roles. After all, if the rumors about mate bonds are true... Don’t forget theNo Human Matelaw.”

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees as Lucas’s control slipped. His power leaked out, making the younger council members look around uncomfortably.

Iris’s voice cut through the tension like a blade wrapped in silk. “Since we’re discussing human geneticists, don’t you think it’s appropriate Emma isnowthe best suited for the job?”

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