The map on Rikae's wall was a spiderweb of glowing red lines, each one representing a supply route or a bank account belonging to the Iron-Fang Empire. He was middle-deep in a code-string that would divert three million dollars of Valerius's "protection money" into an untraceable offshore account when the heavy oak door to his office swung open.
He didn't need to look up to know it was Silas. The scent of pine and ozone-the scent of a True Alpha-filled the room.
"You've been in this dark hole for eighteen hours, Rikae," Silas said, his voice dropping to that heavy, commanding frequency he only used when he was serious. "The Omegas are whispering. They say the Lead Beta looks like he's prepping for a world war."
"I'm prepping for a surgical strike," Rikae replied, his fingers never leaving the keyboard. "There's a difference."
Silas walked over and slammed his hand down on the desk, forcing Rikae to stop. "The difference is that a war has rules. What you're doing-this shadow-hacking, this ghost-war-it's going to backfire. You're poking a rabid dog with a needle, Rikae. Eventually, Valerius is going to stop barking and start biting. And he won't bite you first."
Rikae finally looked up. His grey eyes were bloodshot, the flinty surface cracked with exhaustion and raw, primal hunger. "He already bit her, Silas. He marked my mate like she was a piece of cattle. You want me to sit back and draft a formal complaint?"
"I want you to be the strategist!" Silas roared, the sound vibrating the glass windows. "If you drain his accounts today, he'll take it out on his pack tonight. He'll look for a scapegoat. Who do you think is the easiest target in his mansion? The girl you're trying to save."
Rikae flinched. The logic hit him like a physical blow. He hadn't considered that Valerius might punish Lisra for "bad luck" in business.
"He doesn't know it's me," Rikae whispered.
"He's an Alpha, not an idiot," Silas countered, softening his tone. He put a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Rikae, you're the smartest man I know. But the mate-bond has turned your brain into a weapon that's pointing the wrong way. If you miss, Lisra pays the price. Are you ready to live with that?"
Rikae looked back at the screen. The red lines seemed to blur. For the first time in his life, the "Gold Standard" felt a flicker of doubt.
"She told me she wasn't ready," Rikae admitted, his voice hollow. "She told me to let her be."
"Then maybe you should listen," Silas said quietly. "Build a wall around our pack. Protect her from a distance. But don't hunt a monster in the dark unless you're prepared for him to follow you home."
Silas turned to leave, but stopped at the door. "One more thing. Valerius just called for an emergency 'Alpha Council' next week. He says someone is stealing from him. He's looking for blood, Rikae. Don't let it be yours."
The door clicked shut. Rikae sat in the silence, the glow of the monitors casting a ghostly light over his face. He looked at the "Execute" key.
One press, and Valerius would be broke.
One press, and Lisra might be in danger.