“This came from inside,” Ben says. “Which means they think you are contained.”
“Or isolated,” I reply.
Sally’s tablet pings again. “I’m seeing chatter.”
“About what,” Ben asks.
“About you,” she replies, eyes flicking to me. “Specifically. Movement patterns. Access points.”
That is when it clicks fully into place.
“They are testing response time,” I say. “Not planning an attack. Not yet.”
Ben’s gaze sharpens. “How do you know.”
“Because if this were imminent, they would not warn me,” I reply. “They want compliance, not blood.”
Sally nods slowly. “Fear as leverage.”
“Yes.”
I straighten my jacket, smoothing the fabric deliberately, because small acts of normalcy keep adrenaline from hijacking clarity, and I feel my wolf settle even further, steady and present.
“Here is what we are not doing,” I say calmly. “We are not evacuating. We are not hiding. We are not escalating security theatrically.”
Ben opens his mouth, then closes it, because he knows what I am doing and he does not like it, but he understands it.
“And here is what we are doing,” I continue. “We are documenting. We are timestamping. We are widening the witness circle without broadcasting panic.”
Sally’s eyes narrow. “You want this on record.”
“I want this impossible to bury,” I reply.
Ben steps closer. “You are putting yourself in the open.”
“Yes,” I say. “Because secrecy is what makes threats effective.”
The tablet vibrates again, but this time it is not the same channel.
Incoming call.
Secure.
Ben’s name flashes briefly on the routing preview, which tells me enough before he even answers.
He lifts it to his ear. “Yes.”
I watch his expression change as he listens, jaw tightening, eyes flicking toward me and then away again as he processes whatever is being said.
“Understood,” he says finally. “Send it.”
He ends the call and looks at me. “They flagged a protection reassignment. For me.”
Sally swears. “To separate you.”
“Yes,” Ben replies. “Immediate effect.”
I nod once, because this was always the next move.
“They want to isolate variables,” I say. “Remove perceived influence.”
Ben’s voice is low. “I can refuse.”
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Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Omega and The Arrogant Alpha (by Kylie)
Very great read. Could have done with out the last few chapters....
Love the story. How can I read the remaining?...