Raelyn’s POV: The moment I got into the car, I saw Aiden sitting there with a dark face, his brows tightly knit. “What are you mad about now?” I honestly couldn’t figure out Aiden’s moods; ever since we’d been together, his emotions swung wildly, impossible to predict. “He likes you,” he said. My lips twitched. “Aiden, are you out of your mind? That’s my brother—we share blood.” Aiden pressed his lips together. “I meant the other one.” “Oh, that’s even less likely. He already has a childhood sweetheart; he’d never like me.” Aiden frowned harder, clearly annoyed at how indifferent I sounded. “My instincts don’t lie. The way he looks at you, his eyes are practically dripping.” “Even if he did like me, nothing would ever happen,” I swear, I should pry open his head and see what’s inside. “You and I are together, Aiden; you need to trust me.” I drew a steadying breath, then said seriously, “And trust that I love you.” We were close—so close I could feel his breath as he stared at my face, silent for a long moment, before finally muttering, “Your makeup’s starting to crease.” I laughed in disbelief, anger bubbling up. “Don’t make me slap you when I’m trying to be heartfelt.” Aiden nodded solemnly, then shifted back into business. “So—are we going after Lawson Corp’s tax evasion?” I shot him a glare before answering. “Of course. I already had Jackson ask a friend at the tax bureau to cross-check Lawson Corp’s accounts. If we can find their real financial statements, we’ll have direct proof they’re evading taxes.” The plan sounded simple; getting those records would be anything but. “Lawson Corp’s financials are buried under more firewalls than I can count. I can’t get into their system.” Even as a top-tier hacker, it would take ages to break through. Aiden rubbed his chin. “Then there’s only one option.”He looked at me; I looked at him. In that instant, we understood each other. Ten minutes later, Aiden’s car rolled to a stop in front of Lawson Corp’s tower. “There are two routes,” I said, serious. “One, we break into their finance office and dig up the ledgers—but the risk is too high. Two, we go after their head of finance. He has to be part of the fraud.” Aiden opened his laptop and pulled up a file. “Jacob. Male. Thirty-eight. Two kids—a boy and a girl. Likes gambling and bars. Wife’s too strict, so he’s seeing two other women on the side.” My jaw dropped. “Two other women? That’s just…” “That’s only what’s on record. Odds are, he’s worse.” “Scumbag,” I muttered, scrolling through his info. A bald, greasy werewolf filled the screen, and the sight made my skin crawl. If he didn’t have money, no mate would touch him. Aiden smirked at my disgust. “So what’s the plan?” I curved my lips into a smile. “I’m thinking, honey trap.” His expression iced over instantly. “No. I forbid it.” “Then tell me, what’s your better idea?” “Find his weakness; use it to force him into handing over the reports.” Classic Aiden. But I shook my head. “None of that is technically illegal. He’s untouchable. If he refuses to admit anything, you’ve got nothing to hold over him.” “Then if he refuses,” Aiden said coldly, “he dies.” “If he dies, we lose the evidence. Aiden, I know you’re trying to protect me, but right now we need proof. Without it, Lawson Corp won’t fall—and don’t forget, Thunder Pack is backing them.” He couldn’t argue; after a beat, he gave a reluctant nod.“Fine. But if he touches you, I’ll kill him.” “Relax, I know.” Soon, quitting time arrived. A greasy, heavyset werewolf shuffled out of Lawson Corp’s front doors. Jacob. I stepped out of the car, phone in hand, bag on my arm, pretending to be distracted. Just as I passed him, I accidentally stumbled straight into his chest. I went sprawling, my phone clattering across the ground, screen shattering into jagged cracks. I sucked in a sharp breath, acting like I hurt all over, tears brimming in my eyes. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” At first Jacob’s face twisted in anger; but the moment he saw mine, his jaw slackened. His rage melted instantly into a leering smile. “No problem, no problem, miss. Let me help you up.” He reached a hand toward me. I quickly pushed to my feet with an apologetic look, brushing off my clothes. “I couldn’t trouble you, it was my fault. But my phone…” I glanced down at the shattered screen, and my heart squeezed. Brand new. And just like that, ruined.