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Chapter 2: Pack Politics

Chapter 2: Pack Politics

Luna's claws finally retracted as she pushed through the doors of The Wolf's Den. The dingy shifter bar might not match Romano Industries' gleaming sophistication, but right now she needed somewhere her wolf could breathe without human scrutiny.

"You look like you need this." Sarah, her best friend since childhood, slid a glass of amber liquid across the bar. "Actually, make that several of these."

"My mate rejected me." Luna knocked back the wolfsbane-infused whiskey in one swallow. "In front of his girlfriend."

Sarah dropped the glass she was cleaning. "That's impossible. Mate bonds can't be rejected. Even baby wolves know that."

"Tell that to Dante Romano." Luna signaled for another drink. "He took one look at me and had security escort me out."

"The Dante Romano?" Sarah leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Manhattan's most eligible Alpha bachelor? The one whose company you were interviewing at today..." Her eyes widened. "Oh Luna, you didn't."

"Trust me, this wasn't part of my plan." Luna traced the rim of her empty glass. "All I wanted was a job that would let me help Dad save the restaurant. Instead, I found my fated mate, and he..."

"Acted like a complete knot-head?" Sarah supplied. She glanced around the nearly empty bar before sliding into the booth across from Luna. "There has to be more to this. Alphas don't reject mate bonds. They can't. The primal connection is too strong."

Luna remembered the flash of recognition in Dante's eyes, the way his wolf had reached for hers before he'd slammed his walls up. "He felt it. I know he did. But something made him fight it."

"Or someone." Sarah's expression turned calculating. "You mentioned a girlfriend?"

"Alessandra Carrington." The name tasted bitter on Luna's tongue. "Daughter of Sterling Industries' CEO. The papers have been speculating about their engagement for months."

Sarah straightened. "Sterling Industries? The same company that's been trying to hostile takeover Romano's company for the past year?"

Luna's investigative instincts sparked to life. "You think there's a connection?"

"I think." Sarah paused, choosing her words carefully, "that I might know someone who could help you find out. My brother just started working in Sterling's HR department. They're actually looking for a new marketing coordinator."

"You want me to spy on my mate's corporate rivals?" Luna asked.

"I want you to figure out why your mate is acting against his own nature." Sarah pulled out her phone. "Besides, you still need a job, and Sterling Industries pays better than Romano's anyway."

Luna considered it. Going undercover at Sterling would be risky, especially with her unstable mate bond. But if someone was forcing Dante to reject their connection...

"Make the call," Luna decided. Her wolf rumbled in approval. "But first, tell me everything you know about Sterling Industries."

Sarah's expression grew serious. "It's not just about the companies. The Carrington and Romano packs have been rivals for generations. Alessandra's father, Marcus Carrington, challenged Dante for territory rights last year."

"Let me guess – Dante won?"

"Brutally." Sarah glanced at the TV where financial news scrolled across the screen. "A week later, Sterling Industries launched their takeover attempt. The timing wasn't subtle."

"So Marcus Carrington is using his daughter to get what he couldn't take by force?" Luna's protective instincts flared. Mate bond or not, the thought of Dante being manipulated made her wolf snarl.

"Power marriages aren't uncommon among old shifter families," Sarah pointed out. "But forcing a mated Alpha to reject his true mate? That's different. That's dangerous."

Luna remembered the strain in Dante's face, the way he'd physically fought their connection. "It's hurting him. Fighting the bond – it goes against everything our wolves are."

"Which means someone has serious leverage over him." Sarah started typing on her phone. "The interview's tomorrow at nine. Wear something expensive-looking and drop my brother's name. He'll make sure your application gets fast-tracked."

"Sarah." Luna caught her friend's hand. "Thank you. For everything."

"Hey, what are friends for if not helping you infiltrate shifter corporations to investigate your mate's rejection conspiracy?" Sarah's grin turned wicked. "Besides, I can't wait to see Alessandra's face when she realizes her perfect Alpha isn't as controlled as she thinks."

Luna's phone buzzed – an email confirmation from Sterling Industries HR. As she stared at the interview details, her wolf settled into hunting mode. She'd spent her whole life fighting to protect her family. Now she had a new mission: discovering the truth about her mate's rejection.

And if that truth involved corporate espionage, pack politics, and a rival she-wolf? Well, Luna Stone had never been one to back down from a challenge.

She just hoped she could keep her wolf under control long enough to pull it off. Because one thing was certain – the next time she faced Dante Romano, she wouldn't be the one walking away rejected.

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