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Sera’s attention shifted to me, her smile becoming more forced. More dangerous. “Oh, but it does concern him. Very much so. After all, we’re practically family now, aren’t we? You’re mated to Alpha Kael, which makes him… what? My brother-in-law, in a strange way? One big interconnected pack family p>

Her hand reached across the table toward Kael—not quite touching him, but close enough to be deliberately provocative. Making a point about her perceived right to his attention, his consideration.

“Take your hands off him,” I said, my voice harder now. Sharp with warning and barely contained anger. “Whatever

game you’re playing, whatever point you’re trying to make-it’s with me. Not with him p>

Sera’s smile became even more forced, her eyes flashing with something that might have been respect or might have been increased hostility. It was hard to tell.

Then she nodded, as if coming to a decision. She made a sharp gesture, and one of her guards immediately appeared with paper and a pen.

Sera took them and began writing. Her movements were deliberate, almost theatrical, as she scribbled something on the sheet. Then she folded the paper carefully, precisely, into a small cube shape. The kind of fold that would make it difficult to open without tearing, ensuring any tampering would be obvious.

“The suspect’s name is written in this,” she announced, holding up the folded paper like a prize. “But I have conditions. Two rules that you must agree to, Alpha Kael, before I give this to you p>

Kael’s expression became even more guarded. “What conditions p>

“First,” Sera said, her voice taking on a formal tone as if she was making an official agreement. “You don’t read this until you get home. Back in Shadowmere territory. Not in the car during your journey. Not at the border. Not until you’re safely back in your own pack house. Do you agree p>

“Why?” Kael demanded. “What difference does it make where I read it p>

“Because those are my terms,” Sera said simply. “Take them or leave them. Read it now, and I’ll simply tear it up and you get nothing p>

Kael was silent for a moment, clearly wrestling with the decision. I could see him calculating—

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weighing the value of the information against the risk of agreeing to Sera’s arbitrary conditions.

“And the second condition?” he asked.

Sera’s smile widened. “Secondly, you will owe me a favor. Nothing unreasonable. Nothing that would compromise your pack’s security or violate your principles. Just a favor to be called in at some future date. After all, I am helping you with your investigation. Providing valuable information you haven’t been able to obtain on your own. That help should be reciprocated p>

“Absolutely not,” Nina said immediately. “Alpha Kael, you can’t agree to an open-ended favor with no defined parameters. She could ask for anything p>

“I said nothing unreasonable,” Sera interrupted smoothly. “I’m not trying to trap you, Alpha Kael. I’m simply asking for fair exchange. Information for the promise of future assistance. That’s how diplomatic relationships work p>

It was manipulation. Obviously manipulation. Sera was creating a connection, a debt, something she could leverage later for whatever she was really planning. The information itself was probably just bait to get Kael to agree to terms that would benefit her down the line.

But what choice did we have? If Kael refused, we’d leave with nothing. The investigation would continue blindly. And Sera would still have her knowledge, her leverage, her ability to reveal my secret whenever she chose.

“Or,” Sera added, her tone becoming almost casual, “I could just rip this up right now. Send you home empty-handed. Make you figure out the identity of your mysterious visitor on your own. Which option appeals to you more p>

She held the folded paper delicately, her fingers positioned as if ready to tear. Making her threat clear and immediate.

Kael looked at me, his expression conflicted. I could feel his uncertainty through our bond-his desire to get the information, his suspicion of Sera’s motives, his concern about agreeing to unknown terms.

I didn’t know what to tell him. If he refused, we’d gain nothing but also owe nothing. If he agreed, we’d get the information but be bound to whatever favor Sera eventually demanded.

And underneath all of that was my own terror. Because I knew what was written on that paper. Knew that once Kael read it, everything would change. The only question was whether that change would happen now or later. Whether I’d have time to prepare, to explain, to somehow mitigate the damage.

“Fine,” Kael said finally. “I accept your conditions. I won’t read it until we’re back in Shadowmere. And I’ll owe you a reasonable favor to be determined later p>

“Excellent,” Sera said, looking genuinely pleased. She held out the folded paper, and Kael took it

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carefully. The small cube disappeared into his pocket, a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

“We’ll be leaving later today,” Kael announced, standing from the table properly now. “Since we’ve gotten what we came for, there’s no r

eason to extend our visit p>

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Mark