Page 22 of Bite the Power
Eli leaned closer, his brown eyes widening. "What do you mean exactly?"
"Someone has been trying to discredit you and this research station since day one," Tessa said, her voice gaining strength as righteous anger flared in her chest. "It wouldn't have been obvious at first—just minor inconveniences that could be explained away as Arctic conditions or human error. But now that I'm looking at everything together..."
She traced her finger along the timeline, showing how the incidents escalated whenever Eli's research proved particularly valuable to the shifter clans.
"This person has been gaslighting Kaidan, trying to make him believe humans are unreliable and dangerous. But recently, I see they've gotten more aggressive because the subtle approach clearly wasn't working."
No wonder Kaidan has been so overprotective. His instincts were spot-on.
Just the thought of him sent a rush of heat through her body. There was definitely something deeper than mere attractionbetween them. Something driving his protective behavior toward her. Something that made her feel simultaneously thrilled and terrified.
"Whoever is doing this made one critical mistake though," Tessa continued, fire sparking in her voice. "They didn't count on me showing up."
Eli raised an eyebrow. "So, what then?"
"I'm not going to put up with anti-human, male-dominated bullshit. I've spent too many years back home letting powerful men run over me, discredit my work, and dismiss my expertise." Her hands clenched into fists. "I'll be damned if I'm going to stand for it here, especially when we're doing nothing but trying to help these shifters stay safe."
The determination in her voice surprised even herself. Something about this place, about Kaidan's faith and interest in her, had awakened a fierceness she'd forgotten she possessed.
"I need to call Melanie," she said suddenly, reaching for her satellite phone. "She has connections throughout the scientific community. If Magnus or anyone else thinks they can isolate us, or run us out of town, they're about to learn otherwise."
Melanie answered on the second ring, her familiar voice crackling through the connection. "Tessa! I was wondering when you'd check in. How's the frozen wasteland treating you?"
"It's complicated," Tessa admitted, settling back in her chair. "The research is fascinating, but we've got some political drama brewing."
"Let me guess, shifter politics?" Melanie's tone sharpened with professional interest. "I've heard some stories about the Arctic shifters. They can get pretty intense. What's happening?"
Tessa explained the sabotage campaign, watching Eli's face grow grimmer as she laid out their discoveries. Melanie listened with the focused attention that had made her invaluable in academic circles.
"That's seriously messed up," Melanie said when Tessa finished. "But also incredibly stupid of this Magnus character. Doesn't he realize that attacking scientific research creates a paper trail?"
"Apparently not," Tessa replied. "Can you help us put some safeguards in place remotely? Maybe reach out to your contacts and create some external accountability?"
"Absolutely. I'll make some calls tonight." Melanie paused, and Tessa could practically hear her grin. "So, besides work drama, any eligible bachelors in this mysterious town of yours?"
Heat crept into Tessa's face as Kaidan flashed through her mind—the way his golden beard framed lips that looked far too kissable for a king, and the controlled strength in his arms when he'd carried her away from the cracking ice.
"I've had my hands full with data collection and analysis," she deflected. "And now with this shifter drama, romance is really not my priority. You should know that better than anyone."
"I do know that," Melanie said gently. "And I understand what's happening there is a big deal. But maybe someday you'll let your guard down long enough to make real connections with people—even platonic ones."
Before Tessa could respond, rustling noises outside the station made her freeze. They weren't the natural sounds of wind through ice, but deliberate movement.
"Mel, I really need to go," she whispered urgently.
"Everything okay?"
"I'll call you later. Work your networking magic for us."
"Will do. Be safe, Tessa."
The line went dead just as another sound reached her ears—footsteps crunching deliberately through snow, circling the research station like a predator testing its prey.
Tessa pressed her face against the frost-covered window, her breath fogging the glass as she peered into the Arctic darkness. The footsteps had stopped, but something felt wrong—the silence stretched too thin, like a held breath before a scream.
"I don't see anyone out there," she whispered, though her pulse hammered against her throat. The research station's interior lights reflected back at her, making it impossible to see beyond their small circle of illumination into the vast wilderness.
"Eli, call the palace. Now."
