Chapter 4 - THE PRICE OF SAYING NO
Nathaniel answered on the first ring.
“Emma?”
She swallowed.
“Hi.”
“Are you all right?”
“Define all right.”
He was quiet.
“What happened?”
Emma told him about the call from Human Resources.
Nathaniel listened.
When she finished, he asked one question.
“Did they put anything in writing?”
“Not yet.”
“Good. Keep records of every conversation.”
Emma frowned.
“Are you a lawyer?”
“No.”
“Then why do you sound like one?”
“I've dealt with enough lawyers to know when documentation matters.”
She almost smiled.
Nathaniel offered to connect her with an independent employment attorney.
Emma hesitated.
“I can't afford one.”
“I know someone who offers consultations through the territorial workers' rights program.”
She blinked.
“There's a workers' rights program?”
“Yes.”
“Why haven't I heard of it?”
Nathaniel was silent.
Then he said, “That's an excellent question.”
Over the next several days, Emma discovered something disturbing.
Blackridge's employment policies allowed pack leadership to influence housing, healthcare access, and job assignments.
The system wasn't officially designed to punish rejected wolves.
But it gave powerful families enormous leverage over ordinary members.
Emma had always known that.
She simply hadn't realized how dangerous it was until she became inconvenient.
On Monday, she attended the HR meeting with an independent adviser.
Patricia looked uncomfortable.
Grant Holloway was present.
So was Daniel Reeves.
Emma stopped in the doorway.
“Why is Daniel here?”
Grant smiled tightly.
“He's involved in the situation.”
Emma looked at Daniel.
He wouldn't meet her eyes.
She sat.
The adviser opened a notebook.
“Before we begin, please clarify the purpose of this meeting.”
Grant cleared his throat.
“We're concerned Emma may have misrepresented her relationship with Alpha Mercer.”
Emma stared.
“What?”
Daniel finally spoke.
“She made it look like they were bonded.”
Emma looked at him.
“I didn't say anything.”
“You held his hand.”
Emma laughed.
“That's your complaint?”
Grant frowned.
“This isn't amusing.”
Emma looked at him.
“No, Alpha. It isn't.”
She leaned forward.
“Because you're questioning my employment over something that happened at a private social event.”
The adviser began taking notes.
Grant's expression darkened.
May you like
And Emma realized that for the first time in her life, she wasn't simply accepting whatever Blackridge told her.
She was fighting back.
