Page 11 of Pack to the Wall

"So, your fated mate is the Chrissy Rivera." Ewan dropped his own manila envelope on the desk with a weighted thud. "Gerri doesn't mess around, does she?"

Zev's fingers tightened around his copy of the envelope. The paper crackled beneath his grip as the memory of Chrissy's delicate hand brushing against his sent another wave of possessive heat through his body.

"My mate," Zev affirmed, the two words carrying the weight of ancient shifter law. His chest expanded with primal satisfaction as he said it aloud.

Ewan leaned against the desk, crossing his muscular arms. "I've done some preliminary digging on this Marty character. He's not just any wolf—he's a rogue shifter hiding in plain sight in the entertainment industry. Preys mostly on humans but has a few shifters in his stable too."

"Gerri mentioned he's a wolf without a pack." Zev's jaw tightened, his blue eyes darkening at the thought. "Makes him unpredictable."

"That's putting it mildly." Ewan's expression grew grim. "He's built a business empire by turning talented humans into commodities. His contracts are practically ownershipdocuments, and he's got connections we haven't even begun to map."

Zev paced to the window, the muscles in his back rippling beneath his half-unbuttoned white linen shirt. The island sprawled before him—his domain and his responsibility. Now Chrissy's sanctuary.

"I want everything on him. Every weakness, every ally, and every dirty secret." Zev's voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Nobody threatens what's mine and gets away with it."

"Understood." Ewan paused, shifting his weight. "But we've got another problem."

Zev turned, sensing the tension in his friend's voice. "What now?"

"Word's gotten around the pack already." Ewan rubbed the back of his neck. "Someone leaked that we're harboring a human with powerful enemies.

"How?" Zev's voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Unknown, but the damage is done. The pack's restless—asking why we're putting ourselves at risk for a human. And not just any human—a high-profile celebrity who could bring unwanted attention to our home."

Zev's nostrils flared, his alpha instincts surging. "They question my judgment?"

"They question the risk-to-benefit ratio." Ewan held his ground, one of the few who could face Zev's alpha intensity without backing down. "And without knowing your connection to her, they have a point."

Zev stalked across the room, his movements fluid and predatory. "Then make sure they understand she's not running from just any enemy. She's running from a rogue shifter."

"That might not be enough." Ewan's serious tone cut through Zev's growing anger. "You're downplaying what we're up against. Marty isn't just any rogue—he's rich, well-connected,and probably has powerful allies. This isn't like other disputes we've handled in the past."

The weight of Ewan's words hit Zev like a physical blow. This wasn't just about protecting his mate—it was about protecting his entire pack from potential fallout.

"We need to be smarter about this," Ewan continued. "We don't know who he's connected to in the supernatural world or how far his influence reaches. If we underestimate him?—"

"We won't." Zev's voice was steel wrapped in velvet.

Ewan pushed off from Zev's desk and moved toward the door. The afternoon sunlight that filtered through the office windows caught in Ewan's short black hair. When he turned to face Zev fully, Ewan's eyes sparked with that familiar glint that told Zev that Ewan had an idea he probably wouldn't agree to.

"There's an easier solution here, you know." Ewan crossed his arms over his navy polo. "Tell the pack she's your fated mate. Tell them she's their Luna right now. Problem solved."

Zev's jaw tightened as he paced across the polished bamboo floor, his movements those of a predator confined to too small a space. The word 'Luna' reverberated through him with ancient power. His mate. His Luna.

"She is my Luna," Zev growled, the possessive rumble in his voice unmistakable. His bright blue eyes flashed with intensity as he locked eyes with Ewan. "But my pack won't hear it from me before she does."

"She might not understand what that means, Zev."

"Exactly my point." Zev raked a hand through his thick hair, his muscles bunching beneath his shirt. "She's human. She doesn't have our instincts or our understanding of mate bonds."

He stalked to the window again, looking out over the pristine beach where the turquoise waves crashed against white sand. Not too far from here, in the Orchid villa, Chrissy was settling in—his mate, on his island, within his reach yet impossibly distant.

"She's running from someone who tried to own her completely," Zev continued, his voice lowering to a dangerous edge. "You think she'll welcome being claimed by an Alpha wolf she just met?"

Ewan sighed, the sound heavy with understanding. "Being Luna isn't the same as being a celebrity puppet. Being your mate isn't the same as being controlled by that bastard manager of hers."

"I know that." Zev's fist clenched at his side. "But does she?"

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