Page 13 of Stripe for the Picking
"Vulnerabilities patched on sectors four and six," he reported, his own fingers working to shore up the defensive gaps she'd identified. "Firewalls reinforced."
"Perfect. Rerouting their access through honeypot servers now." A fierce smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Let's see how they like chasing ghosts."
Working alongside her felt like conducting a symphony—each movement complementing the other, building toward something greater than either could achieve alone. His tiger roared with satisfaction at their synchronization, recognizing the perfect balance of strength and adaptability.
She's everything I never knew I needed.
The final breach indicator flickered and died. Silence descended over their workstations as the last of the rogue programs were neutralized.
"That was..." Wren's breath came slightly uneven, her green eyes bright with adrenaline.
Every instinct urged him to sweep her into his arms and claim her mouth in celebration of their victory. His hands actually lifted before iron self-control slammed down, reminding him where they were. His officers had already spent the afternoon whispering about the human consultant working beside their commander's station.
Professional distance. Maintain the facade.
"Exceptional work," he said instead, his voice roughened. "Your approach to the rerouting sequences—I never would have considered that."
"It's actually quite thrilling," Wren admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Way more exciting than my usual Earth clients who install malware on their personal devices by clicking on suspicious email attachments. Here, the stakes are high. Everyone on Nova Aurora depends on these systems staying secure."
The genuine care in her voice made something tight in his chest loosen. She understood the weight of responsibility, and of protecting others who couldn't otherwise protect themselves. His fated mate possessed not just supreme intelligence but the heart of a protector.
Gerri knew exactly what she was doing when she brought Wren here.
As the twin suns began setting beyond the glass windows, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose, Rylan realized this was precisely why fate had brought Wren here right now. Nova Aurora's defense systems required their combined approaches, acting as one cohesive unit to neutralize threats.
Together, we could end this hacker syndicate's threat permanently.
Small interactions punctuated their return to routine tasks. Wren's hand brushed near his as she reached for a control panel, sending electricity shooting through his arm. A glance ofcuriosity from her when she caught him watching her work. The gradual building of unspoken trust between them.
His tiger recognized the growing bond even as his rational mind tried to maintain professional barriers. Every fiber of him wanted to tell her the truth—that Gerri hadn't brought her here just as a consultant, that the pull between them had a name, that she was his fated mate whether either of them was ready or not.
Too soon. Don't overwhelm her. Let trust build naturally.
But his tiger disagreed vehemently, growing restless with each moment they maintained this careful distance.
Wren finally stood, gathering herself as the artificial lighting adjusted for evening hours, and something vulnerable flickered in her expression.
"Working here today, with you, I felt a rush I haven't experienced in years," she admitted quietly. "Like I'm not just your consultant—but a critical part of Nova Aurora. My skills matter here. My decisions affect everyone's safety."
She paused, her eyes meeting his with startling intensity. "I can't shake the feeling that our fates are already entangled somehow."
Her words almost knocked the breath out of his lungs. She felt it too—the connection, the rightness, the sense that they were meant to find each other. His tiger sang with triumph while his rational mind scrambled for an appropriate response.
Tell her. She deserves to know the truth.
But caution won out. "Your instincts about belonging here are correct," he said carefully. "Nova Aurora needs minds like yours. We need people who understand what's at stake."
Not quite a lie, but not the whole truth either. The disappointment in her eyes suggested she'd hoped for something more personal and more honest.
Soon,he promised himself.When the timing is right.
But as she headed toward the exit, every step taking her further from his side, Rylan wondered if he was being cautious or simply a coward.
"Wren."
The word escaped his throat before rational thought could intervene. She paused at the exit, her hand resting on the doorframe, and turned back with raised eyebrows.
Heat crawled up his neck as every eye in the vicinity swiveled toward them. His officers pretended to focus on their consoles while obviously straining to hear whatever their stoic commander was about to say to the human consultant.
