Chapter 30

THIRTY

“ W hat’s going through that head of yours?” Natalie asked, watching Marcus’s white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.

“He was supposed to protect you.” The words came out clipped. “I trusted him to help keep you safe, and instead-“

“Hey.” She laid her hand over his on the gearshift. “You can’t blame yourself for his choices.”

“Watch me.”

“Marcus.” She waited until he glanced at her. “The only person responsible for Liam’s betrayal is Liam. And we’re going to stop him. Together.”

His fingers interlaced with hers, squeezing gently. “Together,” he agreed softly.

They parked in the underground garage, taking the executive elevator to the top floor. The building felt different at night - eerier with shadows stretching across empty cubicles and darkened offices.

“Security sweep starts in forty-five minutes,” Jax whispered as they moved through the space. “He’ll probably-“

Movement ahead made them freeze. A figure in tactical gear disappeared around a corner, heading toward the server room.

“That’s not his usual patrol route,” Emily murmured.

Marcus signaled them to split up - he and Natalie would take the main corridor while Jax and Emily circled around through the emergency stairs. The plan would trap Liam between them.

They moved silently through the darkened office. Natalie’s heart thundered in her chest, but her hands remained steady. The weight of the gun at her hip offered cold comfort.

A crash from the server room shattered the silence. Marcus burst through the door first, weapon raised. “Freeze!”

Liam spun from the server bank, a flash drive clutched in one hand, gun in the other. His icy blue eyes widened fractionally at seeing Natalie beside Marcus.

“Should have known you’d figure it out.” His laugh held no humor. “The brilliant Dr. Grant. Tomlinson warned me you were too smart for your own good.”

“Tomlinson?” The name hit Natalie like ice water. “Adrian Tomlinson? The biotech competitor who tried to steal my research last year?”

“He recognizes talent, unlike some people.” Liam’s gaze cut to Marcus. “Do you know what it’s like living in your shadow? Being the good soldier while you get all the glory?”

“Put the gun down,” Marcus growled. “We can talk about this.”

“Talk?” Liam’s smile turned ugly. “We’re way past talking.”

Everything happened in a blur. Liam fired, the shot going wide as Jax tackled him from behind. The flash drive skittered across the floor. Natalie dove for it while Marcus engaged Liam in a brutal hand-to-hand fight.

The two men moved with inhuman speed, trading blows that would have killed a normal human. Liam might have been trained by Jax, but Marcus fought with the raw power of an alpha protecting his mate.

Emily appeared at Natalie’s side, pulling her behind a server rack out of the way. The fight moved quickly, sending a chair sailing through the air and into the shelving unit they hid behind. The unit tipped over onto them with Emily keeping it from smashing them into the concrete floor.

A searing pain across her upper arm made her wince as she crawled out. That’s when she saw Liam break away from Marcus and the fight, headed straight for her.

Time seemed to slow. Natalie saw the murderous intent in Liam’s eyes, saw Marcus’s face contort with rage, saw Jax moving to intercept but knowing he’d be too late.

In that crystallized moment, something inside her snapped.

She was done being afraid. Done being a victim. Done watching people try to steal her work and hurt the ones she loved.

As Liam reached for her, Natalie dropped and swept his legs. His momentum carried him forward, crashing into the metal rack. Before he could recover, she brought her knee up sharply, catching him in a way that made all three men wince.

“That’s for trying to steal my research.” She grabbed his hair, slamming his head into the steel railing. “And that’s for betraying Marcus.”

Strong arms yanked her back as Jax moved in to secure Liam. Marcus crushed her against his chest, his heart racing beneath her cheek.

“You’re bleeding,” he growled, examining her arm.

“It’s just a flesh wound.” She turned in his embrace, needing to see his face. “Are you okay?”

His answer was a fierce kiss that left her breathless. When he pulled back, his eyes blazed gold with pride and possession.

“My brilliant, fearless mate.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “Never scare me like that again.”

“No promises.” But she melted into him, letting his strength support her as the adrenaline faded. “Though statistically speaking, the probability of me getting into another fight with a traitorous werewolf is relatively low.”

His laugh rumbled through his chest. “Don’t jinx it.”

“Um, guys?” Emily’s voice broke their bubble. “As cute as this is, we should probably deal with the unconscious traitor and potential security breach?”

Right. They still had work to do. Natalie reluctantly stepped back, though Marcus kept one hand on her lower back as they approached the terminal.

“The drive he has is probably encrypted,” she noted, examining the small device. “But give me an hour and-“

“Later.” Marcus guided her toward the door where Jax waited with a subdued Liam. “First, we deal with him. Then medical attention for that arm. Then you can science to your heart’s content.”

“But-“

“Non-negotiable.” His voice held that alpha tone that usually irritated her, but she heard the fear beneath it. The need to ensure she was safe before anything else.

“Fine.” She leaned into his side. “But I expect full access to the lab afterward. And coffee.”

His grip tightened possessively. “Deal.”

They had a traitor to interrogate and conspiracies to unravel. Her research still posed dangers she needed to address. But right now, watching Marcus coordinate with his security team while keeping her tucked safely against him, Natalie felt oddly at peace.

She might not have meant to create a formula that could change the world, but she had found something even more valuable - a partner who matched her brilliance with his strength, who challenged her mind while protecting her heart.

And really, wasn’t that the best discovery of all?