The night was still, yet charged with anticipation as Xanthe and Lynam returned to the human realm. Their combined efforts to strategize had brought a temporary sense of unity, but the cracks in their relationship lingered like shadows. Xanthe's determination to salvage her marriage wavered against the weight of her responsibilities and the memories of betrayal that Alex, Michelle, and Elias had orchestrated.
As they stepped through the threshold of their home, Xanthe's sharp instincts kicked in. Something was off. The scent of Alex's cologne faintly lingered in the air, mingling with another unfamiliar one—Michelle's perfume.
"Lynam…" she began, her voice low.
He noticed it too. "Stay close."
They moved cautiously through the house, their eyes scanning for any signs of tampering. The tension between them momentarily dissolved as they worked in sync, their shared instinct for survival taking over.
In the study, they found it—Alex's signature pen deliberately placed on Lynam's desk, as though to mock him. Beside it lay a file marked confidential, one Xanthe didn't recognize.
Lynam picked it up, his brow furrowing as he read. "This… this is a fake contract implicating me in a financial scandal. If this gets out, I'll lose everything—our assets, the company, the pack's resources."
Xanthe's heart pounded. "Alex planted this, didn't he? To ruin your reputation and isolate us."
Lynam nodded grimly. "And Michelle? She's been working her way into boardrooms, sowing rumors about you being unstable, unfit to lead. They're systematically tearing us down."
Xanthe's fists clenched. "And Elias is pulling the strings. He's using their ignorance of the supernatural to his advantage."
The next day, the repercussions began. News of the alleged scandal spread like wildfire, tarnishing Lynam's name. Reporters hounded him, investors withdrew their support, and whispers of betrayal infiltrated his inner circle.
Xanthe felt the pressure mounting. Her pack, already wary of her distracted leadership, began questioning her loyalty.
During a hastily arranged board meeting, Michelle made her move. Dressed impeccably, she slid into the room with an air of practiced innocence. "Lynam," she began, her voice dripping with false concern, "we need to discuss the future of the company. With these allegations, it's becoming harder for the board to trust your decisions."
Xanthe, standing in the corner as a silent observer, saw the trap unfolding. Lynam kept his composure, his voice calm but steely. "The allegations are baseless. This is a coordinated attack by someone trying to undermine me—and us."
Michelle's lips curled into a subtle smile. "Even so, perception is reality. Perhaps… stepping back temporarily would allow us to rebuild trust."
Before Lynam could respond, Xanthe stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "What a convenient suggestion, Michelle. It almost sounds like you've been waiting for this opportunity."
Michelle's composure wavered for a fraction of a second before she turned to Xanthe with mock surprise. "I'm only thinking of the company's best interests. If you're suggesting otherwise…"
"I'm suggesting," Xanthe said, her tone icy, "that you've been orchestrating this from the start. And if you think you can manipulate this board, you're sorely mistaken."
The board members exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable with the confrontation. Lynam placed a hand on Xanthe's arm, a silent plea for restraint, but she pulled away.