Chapter 8
The day Sigma Leaks exposed Delta Construction Point, Wolfheim plunged into chaos.
I could feel the tension everywhere–on the streets, in the convenience store near my office, in hushed conversations at my department, and especially in Chief Rein’s office, where he called me personally to give me a task I’d spent my whole career avoiding.
men
Chief Rein…” My voice wavered as I scanned the documents related to my new assignment. “Are you sure you want me to cover this? Wouldn’t it make more sense for a senior reporter to handle
it?”
“I’m sure you‘ re among the best candidates, Lyka. You‘ re meticulous, and your pieces are always backed by reliable, convincing sources,” he said, in a tone that left no room for debate.
‘But, Sir, I am SigmaLeaks! How can I possibly maintain neutrality this time?‘ I wanted to scream it, but instead, I bit my lip and swallowed my real concern.
“Not to question your judgment, Sir, but…
Before I could finish, he placed a firm hand on my shoulder. “You won’t be writing this alone, Lyka. Portia will be working alongside you.”
Portia?
Of all people, It had to be Portia.
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A sighed escaped my lips, I could barely hide my devastation.
She wasn’t just good–she was brilliant, which is why she was the chief’s right–hand. And because of that, I had this feelin that she’d see right through me. She might uncover my real identity before I even had the chance to get a grip on this story.
“Alright, Lyka, I’ll be counting on you.” Rein glanced at his wristwatch and headed out for his next meeting, leaving me standing frozen in the middle of the room, staring at the documents in my hand. I kept rereading the brief, silently wishing this assignment was something lighter–like covering Wolfheim’s sustainable development plan or a puff piece on local businesses. Anything but this highly dangerous, career–defining mess.
From the document’s brief, I gathered that Ralph’s company was in an ongoing legal consequences, with his name splashed across every media outlet.
Tina’s fame was practically circling down the drain with her scandal entagled with Delta Construction
Point.
Then, there was Nickle, whose restaurant had been caught in the crossfire, even though he wasn’t directly named in most media outlets. His culinary empire had become collateral damage, thanks to rumors of money laundering funneling through his business.
Some niche publications were laser–focused on Nickle’s restaurants, while others still tore into Ralph’s crumbling empire. As if his downfall hadn‘ t already been dissected to death, yet there was
more to uncover.
“Damn, girl! You look even more dead after your heat cycle break!” Portia‘ s voice rang out from the chief’s office, sharp and teasing as always, cutting through the fog clouding my mind.
Like a half–dead wolf, I sluggishly turned toward her, letting out a pitiful whine, silently begging for all of this to be just a nightmare.
I should‘ ve stopped before everything spiraled out of control. I should‘ ve trusted my hesitation yesterday. Now, I’d brought down another enemy–but at what cost?
The more I wished for the chaos to settle, the worse it became. Ralph‘ s furious growl still echoed in my ears, a haunting memory from when I returned to his house. His face twisted with rage, his eyes wild with betrayal.
Out of nowhere, his hand lashed out, gripping my collar with terrifying force. He yanked me forward, cutting off my breath as his snarl filled the room.
“You traitor! You tricked me!”
My legs flailed as he lifted me off the ground. Panic surged through me, and in a flash of survival instinct, my wolf took over. In an instant, I shifted, my fur bristling as I tried to free myself from
Ralph’s crushing grip. Even in my transformed state, he towered over me–his body nearly as large as my werewolf form.
“Ralph… let… go…” I gasped, my voice strangled as I struggled in his grasp.
With a growl, he finally released me, and I collapsed to the floor, coughing and gasping for air. Even transformed, I felt dwarfed by his raw power.
“You‘ re the one who leaked the news to Wolfheim Times, didn’t you?” His voice was a roar, thick
with accusation.
Chapter 9
