Chapter 81

Foster's POV "Alpha, we need to talk about the Richardson contract." I barely restrained myself from growling as Beta Sean entered my office without knocking—a liberty he'd been taking more frequently as Silver Creek's situation deteriorated. Once upon a time, such disrespect would have earned him a swift and painful reminder of his place in the hierarchy. Now, I couldn't afford to alienate one of the few pack members still loyal to me. "What about it?" I asked, not bothering to look up from the spreadsheets littering my desk—all of them painted in alarming shades of red. "They've pulled out." Sean's voice was flat, devoid of the panic such news deserved. "Cited 'ethical concerns' about continuing business with our pack." My hand clenched, crumpling the paper I held. "Ethical concerns," I repeated, the words tasting like ash. "Let me guess—they just signed with Blackwood Industries instead?" Sean's silence was confirmation enough. I shoved away from my desk, pacing the length of my off