Page 39 of Reckless Consequences

Chapter10

Cayenne

I’m notsure exactly when the cabin living room transforms into a war room.

Maybe it’s when Finn tapes facility schematics to the wall, his hands steadier than they’ve been in days. Or when Jinx spreads weapons across the coffee table—enough firepower to make me wonder about his past connections. Perhaps it’s the moment Theo clears the dining table for surveillance equipment, his artistic precision now applied to tactical layouts. Or when Ryker marks entry points on maps, his military background evident in every deliberate stroke.

For me, it becomes real when my jumble of scavenged tech finally connects to Mona.

“Come on, you stubborn piece of...” I mutter, fingers flying across keys as my screen flickers. The connection stabilizes, revealing my sister surrounded by what looks like a candy wrapper explosion in Omega Guardians’ medical lab. Her hair’s pulled back in a messy bun, lollipop stick jutting from one corner of her mouth, and what might be a molecular model made entirely of gummy bears teeters beside her keyboard.

“Connection secured!” Mona announces instead of hello, adjusting her webcam and knocking over her candy creation. “Encryption functioning at acceptable levels.”

“Nice to see you too, sis.” I can’t help but smile. “How’s Aria treating you?”

“Lab space adequate. Safety protocols excessive.” Mona waves dismissively. “Insisted on removing experimental explosives from bedroom. Unreasonable restrictions on after-hours research.”

Jinx snorts behind me. “I like her more every time she speaks.”

“Focus, people.” Ryker appears at my shoulder, his scent shifting sharper—cedar with a metallic edge that makes the hair on my arms stand up. Even through the screen, I notice Mona’s posture straighten in response. “Mona, status on the booster production?”

“Fifty-seven doses synthesized. Distribution underway to key facilities.”

“And the vaccine?” Finn asks, leaning into frame.

The medicinal undertone in his scent spikes as he moves closer, briefly overpowering his usual rain-washed stone. Theo slides a mug into Finn’s hands. Jinx steps between him and the window. Ryker’s fingers brush his neck.

I lean in without thinking, my body radiating heat toward him.

Despite our hovering, Finn looks stronger today. The shadows under his eyes have lightened, and his hands shake less when he reaches for his mug. When he coughs softly, though, both Alphas tense beside me, their scents intensifying until the air feels almost thick with cedar and wild pine.

“Progress promising. Delivery mechanism problematic.” She tilts her head. “You need next dose in approximately sixty-eight hours. Viral suppression declining at predicted rate.”

“I can feel it,” Finn admits. “Like code slowly recompiling in the background.”

Theo’s hand finds Finn’s shoulder, squeezing gently. The air around him sweetens noticeably, creating a bubble of calm that makes Finn’s tight shoulders relax. At the same time, Theo slides a plate of protein-rich food closer to our Beta.

“We’ll get you to Mona before then,” Theo promises.

“About that,” Mona redirects, pulling up schematics that mirror what we’ve taped to our cabin wall. “Aurora Facility. Daddy’s masterpiece.”

The candy-fueled chaos in her eyes focuses into something dangerous. “Complex security. High opportunity for catastrophic failure with proper intervention.”

“We need a comprehensive breakdown,” Ryker states, pulling up a chair beside me. “Personnel, shifts, vulnerabilities.”

“Obviously.” Mona’s fingers fly across her keyboard. “Exterior security includes motion sensors, thermal cameras, armed patrols with dogs. Interior more interesting. Three security rings. Biometric checkpoints. Separate power grid with triple redundancy.”

“Impressive,” I murmur, scanning the layouts. “But every system has a weakness.”

“Correct.” A gleam enters Mona’s eyes. “Primary vulnerability: Sterling genetics.”

The room goes quiet. I feel the shift through our pack bonds—Ryker’s alertness, Jinx’s predatory focus, Finn’s curiosity, Theo’s concern, all merging with my cautious hope.

“Elaborate,” Ryker prompts.

“All biometric scanners programmed to recognize Sterling blood markers.” Mona pops new lollipop into mouth. “Backdoor access protocol. Daddy’s paranoia. You and I bypass first level security automatically. With minor adjustments to blood markers—specific proteins—could access all levels.”

“But the genetic blockers,” I remind her, my stomach tightening. “We’re taking them to prevent Sterling from tracking us.”

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