Chapter 45

I shoved open the Council chamber doors. The smell of wet wool and thunder settled heavy in the room. Nathan’s face was red with anger. Papers flew. Voices layered over each other.

I noticed Elder Tavish glaring at me from across the table, and it wasn't the first time. He'd always been one of the most vocal elders against bringing me in. I could practically feel his satisfaction at having something to pin on me now, the smug certainty in his eyes that I was the weak link they'd warned Richard about.

“Emergency procedures failed!” Tavish shouted. “We lost ground because of that evacuation plan.”

I squared my shoulders. “It was secure. It wasn’t supposed to be public.”

He slammed his fist. “But it was. They knew. They were waiting for us.”

Tavish's voice cut back in, adding detail to the accusation. “You let the fallback route get compromised. Our people walked right into an ambush. They knew the exact plan Amelia signed off on. Don’t pretend that’s not on you.”

I felt my blood turn to ice. He made it sound like I’d handed them the map myself. The whole room leaned forward like they could see the blood on my hands. The entire table went silent. Emma opened her mouth to defend me, but Jenny’s cool voice cut through.

“No one’s saying Amelia leaked it. But she’s new. She doesn’t know who to trust.”

My head snapped around. “Say that again.”

Jenny didn’t blink. She smiled, all sharp edges. “Orphan. Outsider. How loyal can you be when you don’t belong anywhere?”

I snapped back, voice shaking with fury. “You always watching me, Jenny? Like when you were spying on me talking to Emma? You want to tell them that?”

Jenny’s smile thinned. “I watch you because you’re dangerous. Because you don't belong here. You're just looking for a place to betray.” She leaned forward, voice biting. “Don’t think we don’t all see it. Don't think he doesn't see it too.”

My chair scraped back. My vision tunneled. Emma hissed my name. Nathan’s voice cracked, “That’s enough.”

But Jenny wasn’t done. She leaned forward so only I could hear. “Tell me, Amelia, did you even know what you were signing when you joined this House? Or were you just grateful anyone would take you?”

My mouth worked but no sound came. Rage bubbled in my throat.

Jenny’s eyes glittered with triumph. “Don’t act surprised. We all know my father took pity on you. Don’t pretend it wasn’t charity.” She flicked her eyes to the others.

“Or maybe ask Adam what he really thinks of you. He says you’re tearing the House apart. He hates that he still has that mate mark, doesn’t he? Don’t act like anyone forgot you haven't dissolved it. Or that you’re not keeping him on a leash for your own power.”

Richard’s voice cut between us. “Enough! These people do not need to be subjected to your juvinile whispering”

His eyes swept the room. Cold. Calculated. “Anyone else want to accuse my staff of treason?”

No one spoke. But no one looked at me either.

“Amelia. Nathan. Simon. Emma. Strategy room. Now.”

We filed out in brittle silence. Jenny followed too, uninvited.

Inside, the strategy room was cold and full of maps, danger marked in pins. Richard didn’t sit. “Who leaked it?”

Silence. Jenny played with her knife. Watching. I swallowed. “Only the top team had access.”

“And yet David knew,” Richard snapped. His eyes were fire on me. Nathan sighed, Emma shook her head. Jenny smirked, pretending to clean her nails.

I could feel the fury under my skin. My voice cracked. “We have a traitor.”

Jenny clicked the blade closed. “Maybe don’t trust people who don’t even know how we do things here.”

My nails bit into my palms. “You know what Jenny, you—”

Emma grabbed my arm. “Stop it.”

Richard’s voice was steel. “If you want to kill each other, do it later. Not in my strategy room.”

I tore my arm free. “I’m going to find out who did it.”

Richard didn’t blink. “Do it quietly.”

Jenny’s smile said she was planning her next move.

Adam waited in the hall. Storm-light lit his face like a threat. “Amelia.”

I didn’t stop. “What.”

“You’re tearing the House apart.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

He stepped closer. “You’re making enemies you don’t even see yet.”

I glared. “Why do you care?”

His eyes were cold. “Because you’ll get him killed.”

My heart twisted. “Richard can handle himself.”

Adam shook his head. “Not from you.”

I pushed past him. “Go to hell.”

Lightning struck. The lights died. Red emergency glow flickered on. Steel shutters slammed over windows. My radio crackled. Static and then his voice: “Amelia. Where are you?”

“East wing.”

“Stay there.”

My heart pounded. Footsteps thundered. Then Richard was there, eyes hot even in the red light.

“Power’s out. Lockdown.”

“We’re stuck,” I whispered.

He didn’t answer. Just looked at me like he was memorizing the way I broke. I swallowed hard. “We need to talk about the summit.”

“No.”

“Richard—”

“Not now.”

“When, then? When the hell is it ever safe?”

He clenched his teeth. “Stop.”

My voice cracked. “Stop pretending.”

He glared. “You think I want this? You think I can afford this?”

I took a shaking step. “Tell me you don’t want me.”

His mouth worked. He looked furious. Pained. But he didn’t say it.

My wolf roared. My voice dropped to something primal. “Richard.”

He flinched. “Amelia—”

My hands grabbed his shirt. I kissed him, angry and starving. For a moment he didn’t move. Then he broke. His hands crushed me to him, mouth rough, devouring. His growl vibrated through my chest.

I bit his lip and he gasped. My fingers ached with claws threatening. His teeth scraped my neck. I sobbed into his mouth. His hands dragged me impossibly closer.

“I hate this,” he growled. “I hate you for this.”

“Good,” I gasped. “Hate me harder.”

He slammed me against the wall. I let out a breathless cry. His mouth devoured mine, wet and bruising, our teeth clacking as I clawed at his back.

He shoved a thigh between mine and I ground down with desperate need, heat surging through me. His fingers dug into my hips, dragging me harder, crushing me to the wall as our breaths turned ragged and feral. My head fell back and he bit my throat, sucking a mark that would never fade.

I gasped and moaned, hands in his hair pulling him closer, the world narrowed to heat, sweat, and the sound of his growl vibrating in my bones.

“Say it,” I demanded. “Say you want me.”

He snarled in my ear. “I can’t stop.” My breath hitched.

“Say you want me. Say it.”

He groaned, shaking his head, pressing his mouth to my neck. “Don’t make me.”

I clawed at his shirt. “Please.” He dragged his teeth across my skin.

“I can’t...I shouldn’t...fuck—” He cut himself off with another rough kiss that said everything he wouldn’t.

The radio crackled. His hands went rigid on my hips. We flinched, like we'd been caught mid-crime. I felt his breath hitch. He slammed a fist into the wall beside me, caging me in. My heart leapt and something inside me snarled with approval.

He cursed under his breath, forehead pressed to mine so hard it hurt. He pulled back just enough to look me in the eye, voice shaking.

"We can't, Amelia."

We froze, breath sawing, hearts pounding. Foreheads pressed together. Neither of us let go. The storm outside screamed.

We didn’t say anything else. His thumb brushed my lip like he hated himself for it. I shuddered, my breath catching. He didn't speak, just stared at me with eyes that promised ruin and salvation in the same breath. I pressed closer, unable to stop.