“Sir, this is what we found out…” a woman said as she handed a stack of documents to Logan. She gave Logan a seductive smile as her red dress clung to her figure, the slit along one side revealing more leg than necessary for a briefing. She stepped a little too close, her perfume lingering between them <b>as </b>she leaned in.
“The list of young teenagers–both human and supernatural–is there,” she said. “<b>It </b>seems this has been happening all over Europe.”
Logan took the file without looking at her, flipping it open. His jaw tightened slightly. With the unrest in parts of Europe, trafficking had only grown worse. Even the human governments were overwhelmed. Many looked the other way, pretending the situation wasn’t real, hoping it wouldn’t escte further.
“Still, we were unable to identify the boy,” the woman added. Her voice lowered slightly, but Logan didn’t
react.
Her name was Lulu. She worked under Caius and had recently been given the opportunity to handle more direct operations. Today, she’d taken the opportunity to personally deliver the report—and clearly, she had other intentions<b>. </b>
Logan closed the folder and tapped his fingers against the cover. The names were there. Ages. Locations. Some were listed as missing for months, others just days. It didn’t matter. The pattern was the same.
Lulu stepped closer, her arm brushing his. “We think some of the smaller packs are being paid off. Others are just too afraid to speak. The human police can’t ess most of the closed territories.”
“And the Alpha King?” Logan asked, not looking at her.
Lulu paused. “He knows.”
Logan’s gaze didn’t shift.
“At least, that’s what our contacts believe,” she continued. “But there’s no sign of official action. If he’s doing anything, it’s quiet. Nothing is being shared with the outer regions.”
Logan stood still<b>, </b>his expression unreadable. He didn’t move from where he stood beside therge table in the center of the room.
Lulu walked around it and leaned against the edge<b>, </b>crossing one leg over the other. The red slit in her dress opened slightly as she adjusted her position. “You know, if the Alpha King won’t do anything… maybe it’s time someone else stepped in.” She tilted her head, watching him.
Logan said nothing.
She let her fingers drift across the edge of the table. “You have reach. Power, Connections. And unlike him, you don’t need anyone’s approval.”
Still nothing.
She shifted forward slightly. “People would follow you, Logan. Especially if they thought you were protecting the next generation.” Her <b>gaze </b>flicked to the file.
<b>12:35 </b><b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>11 </b>B
He finally looked up. Something unknown flickered in his eyes.
<b>42 </b>
55 vouchers
Lulu held his stare for a beat too long before pushing herself off the table and stepping closer. She stopped just in front of him. “And if you ever need someone to help carry the weight…” She let her hand brush against his arm. “I’m right here.” His cold reaction made her smile.
Yes. This was the reaction that she needed.
Who doesn’t know in the entire werewolf world that the Rogue King is the Alpha King’s brother and enemy at the same time?
Lulu didn’t move back. She watched him, measuring every flicker of his reaction. If there was one thing she had learned under Caius, it was that Logan Hayes didn’t respond to pressure–he responded to timing. And this was the right time.
She had waited.
She hadn’t nned on acting this soon. Still, the opportunity came the moment she overheard Caius and Lucille talking in the hallway two nights ago.
They had assumed she was out of earshot. She wasn’t. She heard every word. The Rogue King’s wife. The marriage. The fact that Logan had left her the first night. She was dying, they said. Lulu didn’t ask for details. She didn’t need them. All that mattered was that Logan was vulnerable–and alone.
She sneered inwardly. Men like him didn’t grieve like others. They buried themselves in work, in war, in control. And sometimes, if the door was open, in someone else.
Lulu stepped to the side and lightly rested her hand on the edge of the table again. “You don’t have to do this alone,” she said. “I know Europe. I was born there. I still have contacts in the south and the east. If you need someone–someone who understands the ground, the cultures, the packs–I’m here.”
Logan didn’t respond. He hadn’t moved an inch.
Lulu shifted her weight. “The Alpha King will not act. You and I both know that. Whether it’s because he’s too proud or too old, it doesn’t matter. The outer packs are panicking. If they don’t see action soon, they’ll start turning to someone else.”
She paused and looked at the folder still in his hands. “You don’t need to fight for power, Logan. You already have it.”
Just as Lulu took another step closer, Logan’s hand shot up and closed around her throat.
Her eyes widened. She didn’t even have time to gasp before he lifted her off the ground like she weighed nothing. Her heels kicked against the air, hands wing at his wrist.
His eyes burned gold. Not glowing. Not flickering. Burning.
She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She twisted, and pushed against his forearm, her strength ring for a second–enough to bruise anyone else. But it didn’t work on him.
Then it hit her.
<b>12:35 </b><b>Thu</b>, <b>Sep </b><b>11 </b>B
:
<b>42 </b>
55 vouchers
Pressure. Heavy and fast. Like the room had shrunk. Her heart skipped a beat. Her wolf, the part of her that had always stood tall, cowered inside her.
Her hands kept struggling, but it was panic now, not strength. Her feet searched for the floor, but he held her up easily.
“Trifling Omega,” Logan said. “Do you want to die that badly?”
Before she could react, the door opened.
Emery stepped in.
She froze. She didn’t move at first. Her eyes locked onto Logan’s hand around Lulu’s neck, then slowly followed the line of her limp arms, her legs still swinging.
Emery blinked.
Her gaze shifted once to Logan. Then, without a word, she turned and walked out.
Her steps were even. Calm. But her heart thudded against her ribs, loud and hard.
<b>AD </b>
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