Page 27 of Pawsitive Data

Her phone buzzed.

Lucas:I can feel your anxiety from here. Do I need to come down? I’ll be there in 2 minutes.

No! Absolutely not! Your presence is extremely distracting to proper scientific methodology. Besides, every time you get protective, Bernard’s readings go crazy and I start babbling about mate-bond resonance patterns instead of focusing on the potentially dangerous genetic conspiracy I’m trying to investigate and... I’m doing it again, aren’t I?

It’s adorable.

Not adorable when I’m trying to be professional. Though technically your increased protective responses provide?—

“Dr. Greene?” Sofia’s voice pulled her back. “The meeting?”

“Uh, yes! Just discussing important security protocols when... research! We should discuss research.”

They headed toward the conference room, Emma clutching her tablet like a shield. Her crystal hummed against her throat, probably responding to Lucas’s energy which was definitely getting stronger and...

The door opened before they reached it. Because, of course, Lucas was there, looking unfairly gorgeous in his business suit and radiating enough protective alpha energy to make Bernard’s readings spike from the lab.

“Just checking security protocols,” he said smoothly, though his eyes went gold when they met hers.

“Protocols. Right. Very important protocols that have nothing to do with how good you look in that suit or how your energy makes me want to run extremely unprofessional experiments...”

The conference room felt smaller with Lucas leaning against the wall, all contained power and protective instincts that were definitely not helping her focus on the genetic patterns displayed across the screens. Especially when he kept looking at her like that - part proud alpha, part concerned mate, and part something much more heated that made her crystal practically hum.

“So!” Emma clapped her hands, trying to ignore how her skin tingled under his gaze. “Good morning, council members. We have some fascinating things to discuss.”

She pulled up the first set of data sheets.

“First of all, I’d like to thank all of you for allowing me access to medical records and private information. I understand the importance of keeping such a clandestine operation under wraps.

“Secondly, I’d like to say that I am quite proud of my grandmother’s work with you.”

The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch. She found that very interesting.

“And now, I’d like to go over some data that I discovered yesterday with the assistance of Malcolm. Maybe some of you can help explain the anomaly.”

Several elderly council members turned in their seats to glare at the man. He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.

“As I was saying,” she continued?—

Suddenly, the room shook on its foundation. Explosions erupted on the far side of the building where her lab was. The fire alarm blared to life. Emma looked around trying to figure out what was going on, then she was jerked off her feet.

TWENTY

The emergency exit burst open as Lucas carried Emma into the fresh air, his body shielding her from the chaos erupting behind them. More explosions rocked the lab section of the building, but all he could focus on was her racing heartbeat and the way her crystal pulsed in perfect sync with his protective instincts.

“The data,” Emma insisted, clutching her tablet. “We have to make sure?—”

“Already secured,” he growled, setting her down but keeping her close as his security team emerged from the shadows. “Victor and Sofia activated the emergency protocols. Everything’s backed up to secure servers off-site.”

“Good. But who’s Victor?”

“You’ve not met him yet, I guess. He’s one of my inner circle. Those I trust most. He has his hands in just about everything--”

Another boom cut him off. Lucas pulled her closer, fighting the urge to shift as smoke billowed from her lab windows. Her crystal flared hot against his skin where she pressed against him, its energy harmonizing with his in ways that made his cat rumble with calming vibes.

“We need to move,” he murmured, already scanning for threats. “That wasn’t a random attack. Someone knows what you found.”

“The timing of the deletions... the genetic markers...” Emma’s scientific focus remained unshaken despite the chaos. “Lucas, I didn’t get to tell the council anything.”

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