Majori's POV:
"I'll go if you let me hear their voices," I said. "Just one minute on the phone or a photo from today, or even a gate pass from the Tower."
His hand curled into a fist, the veins rising sharply beneath his skin.
"Who do you think you are to bargain with me? Brian's Luna? You're not her yet so don't flatter yourself. If you refuse to return tonight, he'll crush you in the palm of his hand."
"I'm my parents' daughter and I need to know they're safe. That was Brian's promise, his honor-bound word, the vow of your pack. If you break your oath, you can't blame me for breaking mine."
I held his gaze. "And you just lied."
He stepped forward in a flash, two strides and he was beside my bed.
"What?"
I drew in a steady breath, eyes fixed on the weak spot in his words like a hunter spotting a trail of blood on snow.
"If it really was Moonvale Tower," I said slowly, "someone as familiar with the area as you wouldn't have said something as vague as 'they've been transferred' without mentioning the point of origin, transport documentation, zoning code, or timestamp. Brian's men always use code 'Sector C,' 'Lot Two' they don't call the place by its fancy full name. And even your choice of words: 'transferred to' that's what someone hiding something says, not someone who received the order firsthand. You avoided saying 'from Luna Heights' because you knew I'd heard the place was demolished. You dodged the phrase to cover the inconsistency. Just by the way you hesitated, it's clear, you knew that one more question from me and your lie would collapse."
For a brief second, doubt flickered across his eyes before rage flared, burning through it like fire catching oil.
"Shut up!" he roared and in the same instant, his hand shot out. His fingers clamped around my throat: cold, hard like iron tongs.
My breath stopped short. I clawed at his wrist but my strength failed me; pain seared through the stitches along my ribs, white sparks bursting in my vision.
"You think you're clever?" His breath smelled faintly of metal. "You've driven Lord Brian insane kept him awake for nights and now you dare lecture me? Keep asking, go on! Ask, and you'll never hear another voice again!"
I closed my eyes for a beat, swallowing the dizziness from lack of air then forced them open. His hand hovered half an inch above my neck. I didn't retreat. I grabbed the IV stand beside me, yanking it down. The metal pole tilted, tearing the needle from my arm; blood streaked my skin but I swung the stand like a spear, aiming straight for his face.
"You crazy!" he snarled, jerking back, the pole clanged off his shoulder with a sharp metallic clang! I made sure to make noise, dragging the stand down with a crash shattering the water glass, rattling the windowpanes. Anyone in the hallway could hear.
The room was chaos a battlefield of broken glass and toppled metal. My heartbeat roared in my ears, each movement calculated. If he wouldn't give me answers, I'd help Vincent found this spy myself. His discovery and his death would buy me a few more days here.
Noise spilled into the corridor. I heard distant voices:
"What's happening in there?"
He motioned for me to be silent, eyes dark and murderous. But I wasn't afraid.
I took a deep breath, forcing the ache from my chest, and rose to my feet. My neck throbbed, heat spreading under the bruises. Blood had dried on my collar, my head spun but inside me something wild sparked to life.
Seeing that fire in my eyes, the spy tensed. "What are you doing?" he hissed. "Don't be stupid. If I'm exposed, you'll go down with me."
I laughed a low, broken sound and stepped toward him, slowly, deliberately like an actress crossing a stage. Bruises bloomed under my skin but I ignored them. When I was close enough to feel his breath, I leaned forward.
"On Brian's behalf," I whispered, voice thin but sharp, "I've got a gift for you. If I told you Brian wanted you dead, would you believe me? He's a wolf with black blood deceptive to the bone."
I smiled, a smile that cut like a blade.
Then I screamed. Loud.
A piercing cry that made the windows shake.
"Someone help! Somone attacking me!"
Moments later, exactly as I'd hoped, footsteps thundered in the hall. Shouts followed...
"Open the door! Who's in there? Open up!"
My heart pounded, they were here.
"You damned bitch, you'll regret this," he spat, standing, perhaps planning to flee. But what I didn't anticipate was that this man had truly suspected I might try something so he had left himself a way out by locking the door from the inside. I had no idea when he did it. His exceptional skill made it impossible for me to notice when the door had been locked.
The first rattles of the handle proved him right the door was sealed. Then came the pounding as they started breaking it down.
He smirked, pretending boldness, though his eyes betrayed panic.
"Useless slut. I'll tell Lord Brian everything. He'll decide your fate himself. The love he has for you isn't even worth what he'd give a dog."
He turned and bolted for the window.
"Stop!" I snapped, lunging to grab his coat. If it had come to this, I'd make sure Vincent got him. A captured or dead spy meant I'd earn more time.
This was an unequal fight, yet one of equal skill. He jerked hard and my body lurched forward.
"Let go, you bitch! I don't have time for your games!"
"Running away?" I rasped, voice hoarse. "You're not going anywhere."
I clenched his shirt tighter, holding fast. His eyes went feral, wild like a beast cornered.
"You really want to die?"
"Better that," I hissed, "than let you report back to Brian. Let's see who he believes more, his loyal pawn or the woman he thinks he controls."
My words ignited him. With a roar, he seized my collar and threw me hard against the wall.
Pain exploded across my back and skull; breath left my lungs. He was faster, stronger, he was a beta, I was only an omega. The impact blurred my vision. I slid down the wall, barely dodging as he lunged again.
"You think you can threaten me?" he shouted, voice rough. "Have you forgotten who you are, Majori? A woman who betrayed her mate! Keep it up, and I'll tell Brian everything and he'll make sure Vincent knows it all! Let's see if your precious Alpha still wants to see your face!"
I looked up at him, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth, and laughed a broken, savage laugh.
"You think I'm still afraid of you?"
He straightened, gasping, preparing to climb out the window. "I don't have time for this. Brian will handle you himself."
He threw the latch open. Cold wind burst into the room, carrying sharp flakes of snow.
I surged up, grabbing his ankle, yanking him back with all my strength.
"You're wrong," I hissed. "Tonight, you're not leaving. Not to run, not to talk, not to live."