Moonbound: The Alpha's Chosen

Emily's phone hadn't stopped ringing since her exposé hit the front page of The Urban Observer. "A Group's Secret Research: Genetic Manipulation and the Werewolf Connection" had exploded across social media, drawing equal parts fascination and ridicule. The stock market had responded more decisively—A Group shares had plummeted 27% by closing bell.

When Lucas's text arrived—"Strathmore Club. 8 PM. Private room."—Emily had considered ignoring it. The memory of his coldness after their night together still stung, a reminder that she'd been merely an experiment to him, not a lover. Yet journalistic instinct and something more personal compelled her to go.

The Strathmore occupied the top floor of a historic building downtown, its understated entrance betraying nothing of the luxury within. The receptionist escorted Emily past rich mahogany paneling and plush leather seating areas where the city's elite conducted business away from public eyes.

"Mr. Stone is waiting," the woman murmured, opening a door to a private dining room where floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city lights.

Lucas stood with his back to her, silhouetted against the skyline. When he turned, his expression was tightly controlled, but Emily caught the momentary flash of concern in his eyes as he took in her appearance. The fever had left her pale and visibly weakened, dark circles shadowing her eyes.

"You look terrible," he said, the bluntness almost masking the underlying worry.

"Thank you for that assessment," Emily replied dryly, remaining near the door. Despite everything, her heart betrayed her with its quickened pace. Lucas in a perfectly tailored suit had always been devastating—a fact that annoyed her even more now.

"Sit down before you fall down," he gestured to a chair. "You're clearly unwell."

Emily reluctantly complied, hating that her legs felt weak beneath her. "If you invited me here to threaten legal action, save your breath. My article is factually accurate."

Lucas poured two glasses of water, sliding one toward her. "Factually accurate? You published an article claiming my company is conducting werewolf experiments."

"I published what I saw," Emily countered. "What I experienced firsthand."

"What you think you saw," he corrected, voice hardening. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Our stock is in freefall. Partners are backing out of deals. Years of research—legitimate medical research—threatened because you decided to sensationalize corporate espionage into a supernatural fantasy."

Emily leaned forward, wincing as the movement pulled at the claw marks across her ribs. "Then explain these," she challenged, pulling her blouse aside just enough to reveal the edge of the wounds.

Lucas's composure slipped momentarily, something like guilt flickering across his features. He reached toward her before catching himself, hand falling back to his side.

"You were trespassing on private property at night," he said, voice tighter than before. "Those could be from any number of things."

"Stop lying," Emily's voice rose with frustration. "I know what you are. What Alexander is. What my mother was."

At the mention of her mother, Lucas's expression changed subtly. "Your mother," he repeated carefully. "What exactly do you think you know about Helena Grey?"

"Wind," Emily corrected. "Her name was Helena Wind."

Something dangerous flashed in Lucas's eyes. "Who told you that? Alexander?"

"Does it matter? It's true, isn't it?"

Lucas moved closer, his proximity sending an unwelcome wave of awareness through Emily's body. Despite everything—his manipulation, his coldness after using her—her traitorous body remembered the feel of his hands, the heat of his skin against hers.

"Listen to me very carefully," Lucas's voice dropped to nearly a whisper. "Alexander is not your friend. Whatever he's told you about your mother, about yourself—it's calculated to serve his purposes, not to help you."

"Unlike you?" Emily laughed bitterly. "You slept with me to test a theory, then discarded me when I didn't transform as expected. At least Alexander has been honest about what's happening to me."

Pain flickered across Lucas's face, quickly masked. "Is that what you think happened between us?"

"Isn't it? 'Why are you still human? My instincts can't be wrong,'" she quoted his mumbled words from that night. "I was just another conquest—worse, an experiment. Just like all those girls in college."

Lucas's jaw tightened. "You don't understand what's at stake here. The article you published threatens more than just A Group's stock price."

"Then enlighten me," Emily challenged.

Before he could answer, the door opened. Alexander stood in the entrance, his expression pleasant but his eyes cold as they locked on Lucas.

"I thought I might find you here," he said to Emily, though his gaze remained on Lucas. "When you didn't answer your phone, I grew concerned."

The tension between the two men was palpable, like predators sizing each other up. Emily felt caught in a current pulling her between them—Lucas with his complicated history and undeniable magnetism, Alexander with his apparent honesty and protective presence.

"We were just finishing," Lucas said, stepping back. To Emily, he added quietly, "This isn't over. Be careful who you trust."

Alexander moved to Emily's side, his hand settling supportively at her elbow. "Are you ready to leave? You should be resting, not defending yourself to the man whose company you just exposed."

Emily allowed Alexander to guide her toward the door, but couldn't resist glancing back at Lucas. The raw emotion in his eyes caught her off guard—anger, certainly, but also something that looked almost like regret, and beneath that, a possessive intensity that made her breath catch.

As the door closed behind them, Emily wondered which was more dangerous—Lucas's open hostility or the inexplicable pull she still felt toward him despite everything.