Chapter 2

Lucas POV 

I glared at the screen, skimming over the email from my cyber team. It had happened again – someone had breached our systems and messed up everything. My jaw tightened as I read through the detailed report. This wasn’t the first time; it had become an ongoing problem. No matter how many defenses we set up, someone kept breaking through, testing my patience to its limit.

Our list of suspects had three names. I was determined to hunt down each one, ensuring they would regret ever crossing me. They’d face the most excruciating end, begging for a quick release, which I would never give them.

I was pulled from my fury when my phone rang. I answered with a scowl.

“Cross Jeremy off the list,” my brother Jake said right away. Leaning back in my chair, I raised an eyebrow.

“You took care of him?” I asked, intrigued. Jeremy had been one of our main suspects.

“No, he did that himself,” Jake replied, sounding amused. I wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “Before he went, he gave us a clue.”

“Oh? So who does he say it is? Florence?” I asked, thinking of another suspect. Jake chuckled.

“Florence is gone too. Someone else got to him first,” Jake said, his tone dark. “You know who it is, don’t you?”

“Riley,” I whispered. Riley was a skilled hacker, a ghost no one had ever seen. We knew nothing about them – their location, real name, or why they were after us. But I had a feeling it was Riley all along. Although Jeremy and Florence had hacking skills, they lacked the audacity to target us like this.

Deep down, I’d suspected it was Riley, but I’d sent Jake after Jeremy and Florence to be certain.

“That troublemaker,” Jake muttered.

“Have you uncovered anything about Riley?” I asked.

“No, but we know it’s definitely them,” Jake confirmed, and I nodded. Whoever this Riley was, they were exceptionally skilled, so much so that my top-notch cyber team couldn’t even trace them.

Despite my anger, I had to admire Riley’s talent. They clearly knew their craft. If they hadn’t been against us, I’d have hired them myself. Now, I was even more curious and driven to catch them. Their skills were unrivaled, and if left unchecked, they could take us down. I wasn’t going to let that happen.

“So what did Jeremy say exactly?” I asked.

“Jeremy had been trying to track Riley for years. He found out Riley is a girl, probably from the South Coast,” Jake replied.

“A girl,” I growled.

“A she-wolf,” Jake added, fueling the fire in my chest. My resolve grew stronger. I wouldn’t let a she-wolf threaten us. Once I caught her, she’d regret ever messing with us.

“Anything else?” I pressed.

“Not much. I’ll be back this evening after I wrap things up here,” Jake said, and I could hear the sounds of our men in the background, probably tearing through Jeremy’s place to uncover more clues.

“Come back as soon as you can. I’ll find this she-wolf,” I vowed, making Jake chuckle.

“Promise me you’ll let me have a part in this. She’s kept us busy for long enough,” he laughed. I understood what he meant, but I had my own reasons for wanting Riley caught.

“Riley will wish she’d never been born,” I muttered.

“She’s bold to come after us like this,” Jake commented after giving orders in the background. “To have defied us repeatedly over the years without us catching a single trace of her. You’ve got to admit, she’s something else.”

“We need to catch her soon,” I said, cutting him off. “Jeremy and Florence are down, and she might know.”

“I know. We’re ripping apart Jeremy’s place for anything he might’ve left on her,” Jake replied. “I’ve got to go now. See you tonight, brother.” With that, he hung up. I quickly messaged my team, updating them with what Jake had discovered about Riley.

Now, all I could do was wait – something I hated more than anything.

I was normally patient, but lately, my wolf had been acting oddly. I sighed and checked the clock. It was almost five in the morning. I hadn’t slept, kept awake by the restless energy of my wolf.

It was as if he was trying to tell me something, but every time I tried to communicate with him, he’d shut me out. This was new. My wolf and I had always been in sync, but now, something had shifted, and I couldn’t figure out what.

Maybe I needed to visit the old witch in the Danielss. She knew things no one else did. That’s why we let her stay in our territory, even though she wasn’t part of the pack. Occasionally, she’d share useful insights, and that kept our relationship mutually beneficial.

I decided to head back to the house I shared with Jake to try to get some rest, though I knew sleep wouldn’t come easily. I went straight to the bathroom, took off my clothes, and stepped into a cold shower.

The icy water hit my skin like tiny needles. The initial shock quickly gave way, and my tense muscles began to relax as the water flowed over me.

“We’re coming for you, Riley.”