eement still lay op

rritory went pale, then red. He slammed h

hundred million in funds and the border cooperation agreement wil

vely lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at the main table. The for

e center, her pen tip landing precisely on the swapped calculation formul

hidden bad debt over five years." Darcy lifted her

hall fell d

came out. He had no immediate answer. His face cycled through shades of anger and uncert

is head slightly, his gaze pausing for a moment on her still-pale face. The faint remnants of the Wolfstone's pressur

ting silence. Even the breathing of the aff

lmost imperceptibly. Her pe

bed it completely, without hesitation. No request for a second opinion. No

crossed, not even glancing in Vance's direction. His posture was r

words out through clenched teeth, each sy

a high-ranking wolf to guarantee you, you can't stay here for even o

nt Kingston wolf crest. A temporary territorial guarantee contract. For outsiders without Pack registrati

," was shoved across the table toward Darcy. Every line of it was designed to reduce h

lat against the paper. H

wo lines. T

and "emergency control rights." The pen nearly tore through the page as she drew three long, deliberate strok

s a written request for dissolution. Position and authority shall not be continge

d Asher. She pushed it slowly, deliberately,

are my

h the paper to erase. The gold in his pupils flickered wil

like thes

his pen fell, smooth and decisive. Th

King

, no second thought. He signed it like a man

with faces of iron, but no more words to offer. Their arguments had been dismantled,

. She didn't pause. She closed her pen and snapped her briefcase shut, a s

paces behind. His massive frame and the lingering cold pressure of his

Only their footsteps sounded, one after the other, through the silence. They walked without speaking

rs seal

dar scent spread instantly, thick

ight hand hanging at his side. The wound on his palm still seeping blood, left from when he'd gr

forward and

roat. But he didn't pull away. He let her take his hand, let her turn i

d against the cool cloth, the heat bleeding through until she could feel it on her fingertips.

the sudden depth of Asher's breathi

restrained. He didn't close them, didn't pull her clo

pull her hand back, Asher slowl

gave away everything he was holding back. His th

says I can't

is burning, heavy gaze. His eyes were dark,

say I can't as

warmth of his fingers around hers was more undenia

i

d open. Cold air from

ngers. She slid her fingertips against hi

merger is

or, her heels striking the fl

ust before the gap disappeared entirely

r you to chan

idn't l

ingertips that had wiped his wound stil

n glow of the city filtered through the windows,

inside. Asher Kingston's signature sat at the top. He had signed away his

could close

i

ly. Blazing red warnings cut through the dim lig

Registrat

e: Contrac

tically classified as "Protected Dependent Individuals." Self-termination rights on

lert chimed throu

Dependent Individuals" on the screen.

ry's supreme ruler to sign a declaration of

t Code had struck back. No. N

seconds. She unlocked her phone, screen

n't qualify for freedo

anything, tomorrow at 9

e

ng her own cold, composed silh