Two weeks passed, marked by endless spreadsheets, caffeine, and a suffocating domestic tension. Sera rarely saw Alistair, but she felt him—his looming presence, his scent that permeated the penthouse, and the cold, professional barrier he maintained to fight the Mate bond.
Sera spent those two weeks dismantling the Pack's Charity Foundation. It was a masterpiece of legal negligence.
She finally compiled the final report: a dense, analytical document proving that the Foundation was not just vulnerable to fines, but could lose its tax-exempt status entirely if the situation wasn't corrected within sixty days. The report implicitly indicted Lydia Thorne, the former Luna, for gross mismanagement.
Sera placed the finished report on Alistair's massive oak desk in his private home office. She didn't wait for him; she left a brief, concise note: Read this before the Board Meeting. We are exposed.
* * *
Alistair returned late that evening. Sera was in the kitchen, attempting a disastrous experiment with baking, a simple act of human normalcy she craved.
The kitchen door opened, and Alistair stood there, his eyes no longer just gold, but blazing with a raw, dangerous fury she had never seen directed at her. He held her report in one hand.
"You have directly attacked my mother," Alistair stated, his voice low, shaking the fine china on the shelves. "You have accused the former Luna of negligence that threatens the very structure of my human operations. I demand an explanation, Seraphina."
Sera wiped her flour-dusted hands on her apron, meeting his rage head-on. She refused to retreat.
"I reported facts, Alpha," Sera countered, her voice calm despite the fear coiling in her gut. "The Foundation's structure is flawed. Lydia Thorne signed off on unverified transactions and allowed high-risk exposure for years. I am securing your assets. If you allow sentiment to overrule solvency, you weaken the Pack."
"She is my mother!" Alistair roared, taking a threatening step forward.
"And I am your Luna!" Sera shot back, throwing the half-mixed dough down with a frustrated splat. "Your Mate, bound by a contract that requires me to ensure your stability! You paid me to be a solution, Alistair, not a decoration! Do you want a Luna who lies to protect feelings, or one who protects your interests, regardless of the cost?"
The intensity of their confrontation was terrifying. Alistair was fighting the urge to shift, the primal rage warring with the protective instinct the Mate bond mandated.
"You will retract the report," Alistair ordered, his voice strained with control.
"I will not," Sera challenged. "The Board Meeting is tomorrow. Present my report and let them see the truth, or discard it and face the consequences of financial collapse. The choice is yours, Alpha."
* * *
The next morning, the tension was unbearable. Sera and Alistair rode the elevator down to the Thorne & Co. headquarters in silence.
The Board Meeting was a tense affair. Lydia Thorne was already there, flanked by several influential, traditionalist Elders who looked at Sera with open hostility.
"Before we proceed to the agenda," Alistair stated, his voice commanding and absolute, "I must address the status of the Pack's Charity Foundation."
Lydia smiled triumphantly, expecting a public dismissal of Sera's findings. "Yes, son. The unfortunate rumors spread by the new..." she paused, aiming a condescending glance at Sera, "...employee must be addressed."
Alistair ignored his mother completely. He picked up the copy of Sera's report, held it high, and placed it in front of the board chairman.
"The new Luna, Seraphina Thorne, conducted an emergency audit. Her findings are conclusive. The Foundation is legally compromised due to gross negligence and structural flaws dating back several years. Immediate, aggressive restructuring is required to prevent its collapse."
Lydia's face crumpled, her jaw dropping in shock. The Elders stirred angrily.
"This is an outrage! My son, you cannot let this... this human slander the former Luna!" Lydia shrieked.
Alistair slammed his hand down on the table, the force rattling the entire room. The sheer Alpha power in the gesture silenced everyone instantly.
"The Luna's findings are factual," Alistair snarled, the gold in his eyes flashing, a primal warning to the room. "The Pack requires strength. Seraphina has delivered it. Her position is secured by her intellect and her value to this Pack. Lydia, you are immediately relieved of all financial responsibilities within the Foundation. That role now belongs entirely to the Luna."
He looked directly at Sera, and for the first time, his golden eyes held not just irritation, but a grudging, undeniable respect. He had chosen the Pack's stability over his mother's feelings.
"Your work here is done, Luna," Alistair stated, his voice now firm and clear, cementing her authority. "Begin the restructuring immediately."
Sera nodded, her heart swelling with a quiet, fierce satisfaction. She was no longer invisible. She was essential.
END OF CHAPTER EIGHT.