Page 3 of Stripe for the Picking (Paranormal Dating Agency #92)
TWO
RYLAN
R ylan was at his sleek workstation that afternoon, leaning forward in his chair to study the holographic displays closer.
The fabric of his fitted black shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, designed for both function and the intimidating presence his position demanded.
His short dark blonde hair remained perfectly styled despite the long day, and his blue eyes—normally sharp with controlled intensity—now held the brittle edge of mounting frustration.
The nutrient drink in his hand had gone warm an hour ago, but he continued taking methodical sips between bites of his protein bar.
Fuel for his body. Nothing more. The Defense Nexus building hummed around him with purposeful energy, its glass-and-metal architecture designed to inspire confidence in Nova Aurora's citizens.
Right now, it felt like a transparent cage showcasing his failures.
Another breach alert materialized in the holographic display and the crimson warning pulsed with urgent rhythm.
Rylan's jaw tightened as he swiped through the data with precise movements, each gesture controlled despite the storm building in his chest. The hackers had penetrated their third-tier defense grid again, using a route he'd supposedly sealed yesterday.
Impossible. His fingers flew through countermeasures, deploying protocols he'd perfected over ten years as Commander of Nova Aurora's Global Security Directorate.
Every technique that had made him legendary among his peers, and every strategy that had earned him the unwavering respect of the Council—all of it crumbling like paper fortifications.
The attacks weren't random. They were surgical, calculated, and somehow always one step ahead of his responses.
It was as if the hackers could read his mind, anticipating his moves before he made them.
The very precision that defined his character and the methodical approach that had never failed him, suddenly felt inadequate.
His tiger stirred restlessly beneath his skin, sensing the threat to their territory and their people.
The beast wanted to prowl, to hunt, and to tear apart whatever dared challenge their dominance.
But cyber threats couldn't be clawed or bitten.
They required a different kind of warfare, one where raw power meant nothing.
"Pattern analysis complete, Commander," his workstation announced in its neutral AI voice. "Thirteen successful breaches in the past seventy-two hours. Estimated time to critical system compromise: forty-eight hours."
Forty-eight hours. Rylan's hand tightened around the nutrient bottle until the metal groaned.
In two days, these faceless enemies could potentially access everything—military communications, military and civilian records, and planetary defense systems. The weight of Nova Aurora's safety pressed against his shoulders like a physical burden.
Behind him, he caught the low murmur of his junior officers. Their voices carried just far enough for his enhanced hearing to catch the words they thought he couldn't hear.
"Even the great Commander Kaedor looks ready to snap," Officer Thorne whispered, his tone mixing concern with nervous humor. "Never seen him this wound up."
"Maybe it's time someone suggested anger management classes," Officer Vale replied, her voice equally quiet but tinged with genuine worry.
"Even tigers need mates to tame them, Commander," Thorne added, the comment carrying just enough volume to ensure Rylan heard it.
The words hit like a physical blow, striking directly at the weakness he'd spent fifteen years denying.
Rylan's spine went rigid, his hands freezing over the holographic interface.
The casual observation stung because it echoed every conversation he'd had with the Council, every well-meaning suggestion from those who believed a mate would somehow complete him.
Weakness. The word pounded through his thoughts like a hammer against steel. Love made leaders soft and made them hesitate when decisive action was required. He'd seen it happen to other commanders, watched them lose their edge the moment they began prioritizing personal attachments over duty.
His tiger snarled at the suggestion of needing anyone. They were focused and formidable enough already. The idea that some mysterious mate could improve his leadership felt like an insult to everything he'd built.
The familiar weight of General Kael's presence approached before Rylan heard his footsteps.
His mentor moved with the quiet confidence of someone who'd earned his authority through decades of battles both literal and political.
At fifty-five, Kael's hair had gone gray, but his mind remained sharp as a blade.
"Rough day at the office?" Kael's voice carried the dry humor that had helped Rylan through countless crises over the years.
"Understatement of the century." Rylan didn't look up from his screens, his fingers still working through defensive protocols. "They're not just attacking randomly anymore. They're learning, adapting, and evolving faster than we can counter them."
Kael settled into the chair beside Rylan's workstation, his presence immediately calming some of the tension in the air. "Show me what we're dealing with."
Rylan pulled up the attack patterns, the holographic display painting his workspace in shifting colors of threat assessment. "Every countermeasure I deploy gets circumvented within hours. It's like they're inside my head, anticipating my strategies before I implement them."
"Or they have someone equally skilled on their side." Kael studied the data with the analytical eye that had made him legendary. "Someone who thinks like you but approaches problems from a different angle."
The observation struck uncomfortably close to home.
Rylan had always prided himself on being unpredictable and on thinking several moves ahead of any opponent.
To discover someone matching his abilities while remaining completely unknown felt like discovering a mirror that reflected his greatest fears.
"Even with our combined efforts, we can't fully secure the systems," Kael continued, his tone growing more serious. "Every breach puts more pressure on us, and frankly, more pressure on you. The Council's breathing down my neck, and I can only deflect their concerns for so long."
Rylan's hands stilled over the interface. "What are you suggesting?"
"You need an edge. Another mind capable of thinking several steps ahead, someone who approaches these problems from an angle you haven't considered.
" Kael's expression grew thoughtful. "Your methodical approach is your greatest strength, but it might also be your blind spot against an opponent who doesn't follow conventional patterns. "
"I'm pretty much the best mind we have on this," Rylan replied, the words carrying no arrogance, only stark assessment. "Ten years of perfect security records don't lie."
"No, they don't. But past success doesn't guarantee future victory, especially against an enemy who's studied your methods." Kael leaned back in his chair, his silver eyes holding the weight of hard experience. "Sometimes the best warriors need to accept help to remain undefeated."
The suggestion felt like acid in Rylan's chest. Accepting help meant acknowledging limitation and admitting that his considerable abilities might not be enough. Everything in his nature rebelled against the idea.
"Where exactly am I supposed to find this miraculous additional mind?" Rylan's voice carried sharp edges that could cut steel. "Our entire cybersecurity division has been working on this problem. If we can't solve it collectively, what makes you think one more person will make the difference?"
"I don't know," Kael admitted with characteristic honesty. "But you need to figure it out soon, because at the current rate of escalation, we'll lose critical system integrity within two days."
The timeframe hit like a countdown timer in Rylan's mind. Two days to save not just his reputation, but potentially the lives of everyone on Nova Aurora. Two days to prove that his decade of unwavering service hadn't been preparation for his most spectacular failure.
His tiger paced restlessly, frustrated by the invisible nature of their enemies. Give him a physical opponent, and he could tear them apart with claws and fangs. But ghosts in the digital realm required weapons he was beginning to suspect he didn't possess.
The comms system suddenly buzzed with an incoming transmission, its gentle chime cutting through the tension that had settled over Defense Nexus.
Rylan's eyes flicked to the display, expecting another crisis report or Council demand for updates.
Instead, a familiar name appeared that made his jaw tighten with equal parts annoyance and reluctant respect.
Gerri Wilder.
The legendary matchmaker's warm voice filled his workspace through the crystal-clear speakers, her personality radiating through the transmission like sunshine breaking through storm clouds.
"Rylan darling, seems you're searching for a miraculous mind, huh?
" Her tone carried that distinctive blend of sweetness and mischief that had made her infamous across Nova Aurora.
"Lucky for you, I found someone capable of handling the cyber threats that have been plaguing you.
She's brilliant, fearless, and could even help you finally win the Protocol Trials this year. And if you play it right..."
The words hit him with physical force, each syllable setting off alarm bells in his mind.
His tiger prowled restlessly beneath his skin, his muscles coiling with internal tension as the beast recognized what Gerri was suggesting.
Every shifter on Nova Aurora knew her reputation—one hundred percent success rate in matching fated mates.
When Gerri Wilder took interest in your love life, resistance proved futile.