Lara continued her exploration of the company, spending the morning in the HR department, while Nate listened to the reports about their attack.

Everything went just as planned, and the Black Moon helped him: the Mayford pack didn’t notice what was going on until it was too late. All they could do was wait for the stock exchange to open again and issue a statement to their stakeholders.

«When the rest come back, and after they’re recuperated after the Black Moon, we’ll proceed with our plans,» Nate said.

He observed the drop in bond price and reputation Blue Moon was having. He smiled at that sight, but he didn’t let his guard down. They would need to defend soon because Mayford wasn’t going to give them an advantage.

«We’re not stopping here, of course. It would be stupid, a pity… And it would bring us harm.»

He placed a few papers on the table and leaned back on the chair.

«We should start by checking every aspect we overlooked until today. Every single contract shall be analysed in search of potential issues. Our employee’s conditions shall be adapted to human regulations. Even the schools will get a certification of eligibility. The canteen shall pay for the right concessions and have the documents in order. Everything up to the single cent shall be recorded. They will counterattack, even more fiercely as we continue with the plan. I don’t want to have any weak points.»

The wolves in the meeting room took notes and nodded their heads, agreeing. It was more out of habit than any real concern. If their Alpha said to do something, they would just do it.

«Samantha, you will be in charge of checking the contracts and agreements with clients. From this day on, the regular contract we offer shall comply a hundred per cent with any law and good practice out there. Even if it costs us money… We’re spending to save money in the future, do you understand?»

«Sure,» the woman said.

«Roxy and Bass will do the same with the employee’s contracts. Pay attention to regulating Lara’s position in detail, in case the Government sends someone to check on us. Everything shall be just perfect. We can’t afford a single mistake because they will be searching for it, and they will find something.»

«Still, controlling everything is impossible,» Samantha pointed out. «Even if we do our jobs perfectly, there will always be something we forget. Maybe just a small mistake like two digits which exchanged places. You can’t count on perfection.»

«That’s true, in fact. That’s why we will strictly control what they find. We will leave traces to allow them to find a flaw – not so vital – and exploit it for a little time. Then, we can just turn the tables by exposing the backstory or producing proof that will free us from any charge.»

«How?»

«That’s part of the plan,» Nate said, chuckling. «You just do your job.»

«Hmm… I will do it.»

«As for the reporter who wrote the article about me, Lara, and that man. Have you found out who it was?»

«No. He wrote under a pseudonym. But we know who the photographer is… Apparently, he asked for his name to be included in the article, under the picture… It’s a famous paparazzi.»

«I see… He might know who wrote the article. We should have a talk with them and convince them not to play with fire anymore. With kindness, of course… We don’t need any scandal right now.»

«People would assume you’re doing all of this because you’re jealous,» Samantha pointed out. Even though jealousy was related to the matter, it was not what triggered Nate to fight back. If not for his family is in danger, for risking to lose them all after finding them back, he wouldn’t have been so set on ending the grudge between Norwich and Mayford before it could cause more damage.

And the pack was with him: they wouldn’t like a dark Alpha, grieving over his mate and hating his life.

The pack needed someone strong and with a lot of reasons to live and fight. Lara and the twins gave plenty of that to Nate.

«We shall talk with the journalist and make sure he’s done the damage already and doesn’t have anything else in store,» the Public Relations Manager said. It was an older man, around sixty-five, maybe seventy years old. Even though he could enjoy retirement, he had decided to stay in the company until Nate needed it. That is to say: until his mate would have taken the place of Alpha female and helped stabilise the pack as well as their public image to humans. With Lara, he knew that moment wasn’t too far. Being a human herself, she would have been able to help them manage that part of the business world.

«Reporters might keep some of their information for later. They know how public attention works, and they want to keep things interesting for the longest time possible. If he has something else to write, he should be writing the article soon. In a few days, something even clearer and more intense will be presented. They will call it: development of the situation. Still, the pictures and news might be from the gala.»

«What do you suggest we do?»

«Find the reporter and pay him enough to stop. Not too much, though, or he’ll think there is something worth the hassle if we overdo it. Just tell the usual, same tale about privacy and remind him we could sue him anytime.»

«Humans fear tribunals more than they fear death,» Samantha chuckled. «But… Is there something to hide so badly? Oh, except the fact that you and Lara are back together after years apart. But that isn’t easy to find out. And it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything, does it? At most, it makes the whole story more interesting and romantic.»

«We will talk about it if we need to. I don’t think there is much apart from it, but I don’t want to find out from a newspaper.»

«Sure,» Samantha sighed. «Just don’t overdo it.»

«If you say so, dear cousin, I will listen,» he replied with an ironic tone. That made Samantha realise the situation and shut her mouth.

She was there to listen and follow orders, not give her opinion.