Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

L ucas bit back a proud growl. Of course, she was already pushing the boundaries of what they thought possible.

“Dr. Greene presents her findings to the full council tomorrow,” he announced, standing. “I suggest everyone reserve judgment until then. Unless anyone wishes to formally challenge my decisions? As alpha?”

The threat in his voice made even Malcolm sit back slightly. The meeting concluded shortly after, but his mother caught his arm before he could leave.

“A word, my son?”

He followed his mother to her office, already catching traces of Emma’s scent from the research wing below.

“You can’t keep the past a secret from her much longer,” Iris said once the door closed. “Your mate is too smart. She’ll figure it out.”

“How could she not know her grandmother worked here?” he asked.

“Because it was decades ago, and she hasn’t mentioned Magdalena once.” She shook her head, her expression turning sad. “Magdalena was brilliant and gone much too soon. I’m glad you found Emma. Her being here is meant to be.”

She sniffed. “Is that coffee I smell on you?”

“Emma spilled some on me earlier,” Lucas admitted, “while explaining genetic theory.”

“Of course, she did.” His mother’s laugh was warm. “Just like Magdalena used to get so excited about breakthrough moments that she’d forget basic lab safety. Though usually with more explosions.”

“Emma hasn’t blown anything up.” Yet. His phone buzzed again.

Zayne : Update. Crystal resonance increasing. Also, did you know your mate talks to the equipment? Very enthusiastic conversations about molecular biology.

Iris raised an eyebrow at his involuntary smile. “You’re completely smitten. Worse than your father was with me, and he actually shifted in the middle of a board meeting when someone questioned my research grants.”

“I’m handling it.”

“Like how you growled at an elder for suggesting Emma’s lab needed additional oversight?”

“He implied she needed a supervisor.” Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “She just... she makes me crazy. In the best way. Yesterday she started explaining transformation theory and got so excited she knocked over an entire rack of test tubes. Then immediately started documenting the spread pattern of the spill because it reminded her of genetic dispersal models.”

“And you found that adorable instead of alarming?” When he nodded helplessly, Iris’s smile softened. “Oh, my boy. Does she know yet about her heritage? About what being your mate truly means?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Work faster. Malcolm isn’t wrong about one thing - the future alpha’s mate must be strong enough to stand beside him to face challenges.”

“Must I remind you of the paperclip incident with the intruder?” Lucas asked.

“And her grandmother’s discoveries,” Iris added. “Which she’ll need to understand before tomorrow’s presentation. Among other things.” She paused significantly. “Like why her mate keeps finding excuses to patrol past her lab every hour.”

“I do not?—”

“Go,” his mother laughed. “Save the lab from your wonderful, chaos-generating mate. But, Lucas?” her voice turned serious, “tell her soon. Before she figures it out herself and wants to know why you didn’t tell her first so she could run experiments.”

Lucas’s eyes widened in horror. Because, of course, she would. His beautiful, scientific method-obsessed Emma would absolutely turn their connection into a research project.

His mother’s knowing look followed him out. “She usually takes her coffee break around nine,” she called after him. “In case you were wondering.”

Lucas definitely wasn’t going to time his morning rounds to accidentally encounter Emma during her break. He was the alpha, the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company. He had more control than that.

His phone buzzed one more time: Update: She’s named the genetic sequencer Bernard and is explaining pair bonding theory to it. Very detailed explanations. Something about alpha pheromones and destiny?

Lucas checked his watch. Fifty-eight minutes until her coffee break.

Not that he was counting.

He absolutely wasn’t stalking his mate.