Page 30 of Pawsitive Data

Lucas moved on pure instinct, wrapping Emma in his power as debris rained down. Her crystal flared in response, creating a harmonic resonance that made his cat take notice.

“Incoming!” Zayne’s warning came with another surge of power that sent Emma’s sensors into chaos.

The smoke cleared to reveal Malcolm himself, flanked by shifted enforcers. His smile was pure predator.

“Hello, Lucas,” he drawled. “Glad to see you little fragile mate is still around. I need to have a chat with her.”

Lucas’s growl shook the building.

“Fascinating harmonic resonance!” Emma noted.

“Emma.” Lucas didn’t take his eyes off Malcolm. “I need you to trust me.”

“Always! Though technically?—”

The enforcers attacked.

What followed would later be described in Emma’s notes as “a remarkable display of enhanced biological capabilities requiring thorough scientific investigation under controlled conditions.”

In the moment, it was pure anarchy.

TWENTY-TWO

Lucas fought his cat to keep hishumanform. He was so afraid of how his mate would react to seeing him physically morph into an animal. The panther was positive she wouldn’t run screaming. Beside him, Zayne fought with his usual deadly grace, though he couldn’t resist running commentary.

“You know,” Zayne called between throws, “this would be easier if you’d just shift already. But no?—”

“Shut. Up.”

“Make me. Oh wait, you can’t because you’re too busy pretending you’re not about to cat out in front of your mate. Who, by the way, is still taking readings. In the middle of a supernatural battle. You two really are perfect for each other.”

Emma’s voice carried over the chaos: “We should really establish proper baseline measurements... Damn, those are claw marks in thesteel?”

Zayne’s laugh cut through the noise. “She really doesn’t miss anything, does she? No wonder you’re so... protective.”

Lucas’s control snapped.

Power rolled off his human in waves, making Emma’s crystal blaze like a supernova. His eyes burned gold, fangs dropping as his cat rose to defend his mate.

“Oh!” Emma’s scientific enthusiasm remained undiminished. “Holy genomes. You’re arealcat. Big. Huge kitty. That is so freaking cool!”

Lucas had completely shifted, power crackling around him like lightning, and his mate thought it was cool. Thank the gods.

Emma’s tablet appeared instantly. “Lucas, your shifting just created completely unprecedented resonance patterns with my crystal.”

Lucas could only growl.

Malcolm’s enforcers had backed away, recognizing alpha authority.

Malcolm appeared from behind his men, his smile showing fang. “Good morning,Alpha.” He nodded to Emma. “Dr. Greene. I’m glad I have the attention of both of you.” Malcolm’s power pressed against Lucas’s defenses, testing. “Among other things, I would like to officially protest you taking a human as a mate.”

Lucas’s panther paced keeping his mate a safe distance from anything that could hurt her. He didn’t give a shit what Malcolm wanted to protest. His mate was his mate.

Malcolm continued. “I also want to file a complaint against our new geneticist. She’s creating fake scientific data in hopes scaring the council to secure her position for long-term employment.”

Emma looked up from her tablet. “What, now?”

Malcolm’s full attention turned to his mate. “You, Dr. Greene, are on a witch hunt to crucify innocent pride members. You are creating conspiracies where none exist. Your data is concocted, not based on actual data.”

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