The ballroom sparkled with crystal chandeliers, designer gowns, and the elite of Lagos society. Kane Empire's annual gala was meant to project unshakeable power. Tonight, it felt like walking into a lion's den wearing silk and diamonds.
Logan kept Elara glued to his side, his hand never leaving her waist as they navigated the crowd. Whispers followed them everywhere — "Wolverine CEO," "mutant," "monster." Some guests looked fascinated; others terrified. The leaked footage had done its damage, but the biotech announcement earlier that day had slowed the stock bleed.
Elara looked breathtaking in her emerald gown, the fabric flowing over her body in a way that made Logan's beast growl with possessive pride. She smiled for the cameras, playing the perfect supportive wife while her mind raced with contingency plans.
"You're handling this better than I am," Logan murmured against her ear during their first dance. His body pressed close, the heat between them palpable even in public. "Every time someone stares at you, I want to flash my claws and remind them who you belong to."
She laughed softly, fingers tracing the lapel of his tux. "Save the claws for the real enemies. We're here to show strength — not just yours, but ours as a couple."
The romantic tension crackled like electricity. Between dances, they stole a moment in a private alcove. Logan backed her against the wall, kissing her with hungry intensity, one hand sliding down to rest protectively over her stomach. "Our secret," he whispered. "No one touches our family."
Their passion was cut short by the arrival of Victor Adeyemi, who approached with a smug smile and a plus-one — a woman whose eyes glowed faintly with enhanced power.
"Congratulations on the biotech pivot, Kane," Victor said smoothly. "Brave move after those… interesting videos. But rumors say there's more to the story. Something about a pregnant mate carrying the next evolution?"
Elara's blood ran cold. Logan's claws itched beneath his skin, but he kept them retracted. "Careful, Victor. Threats against my wife have a way of ending badly."
The night escalated quickly. During the main speech, a waiter "accidentally" spilled a drink near Elara — a distraction that allowed a hidden assailant to fire a suppressor dart from the balcony. Logan moved like lightning, shielding her with his body and taking the hit. Pain flared in his shoulder, healing slowed once again.
Chaos erupted. Guests screamed as more enhanced attackers revealed themselves. Logan's claws came out in a flash, tearing through suits and flesh as he fought to protect Elara. She grabbed a fallen security guard's gun and fired back, her training paying off as she took down one assailant.
Kemi and the loyal pack joined the fray from the shadows, turning the elegant gala into a battlefield. Logan roared, the partial shift threatening again as the suppressor fought his system. Elara stayed close, her voice and touch pulling him back every time the beast surged.
In the middle of the fight, the Architect's voice boomed over the hacked sound system. "Beautiful display, Wolverine. But the new backer has deeper pockets. Your bloodline is the future. Surrender the girl and the child, or watch everything you built crumble."
Logan tore the main stage apart looking for the source, but the transmission cut off. Victor had vanished in the chaos.
As security finally regained control and guests were evacuated, Logan pulled Elara into a side room, breathing hard. Blood streaked his torn tux, but his wounds were closing. He dropped to one knee, hands framing her waist.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, voice raw. "The baby?"
"We're okay," she assured him, pulling him up for a deep, reassuring kiss. Their bodies pressed together, adrenaline turning into desperate need. In the brief privacy, passion flared — quick, intense, and full of love. Logan took her against the wall with urgent strokes, both of them whispering vows between gasps.
Afterward, as they straightened their clothes, a new message arrived on Logan's secure line from the mysterious backer.
Impressive. But the game has changed. Meet me at the old lagoon safe house tomorrow night — alone. Or the full footage of your claws goes public, and your pregnant wife becomes the world's most wanted lab rat.
Logan's eyes hardened with lethal resolve. "They want me isolated."
Elara placed her hand over his. "Then we go together. No more separating. We're a pack now — you, me, and the life we're building."
The gala had been a trap, but they had survived. The real war, however, was just entering its most personal and dangerous phase.