Chapter 271

Grace

It was a news broadcast, the familiar face of a news anchor filling the screen.

"…groundbreaking new treatment, Moonlight Phoenix," the anchorwoman announced, her voice filled with excitement. "Clinical trials are set to begin…"

The image on the screen switched to a sleek laboratory setting, a group of scientists in white lab coats hunched over beakers and bubbling concoctions. It looked like stock footage.

Then, a young woman with an overly enthusiastic smile droning on about the "revolutionary" treatment.

My blood pressure spiked.

"Clinical trials? We hadn't even made enough of it!"

"That's not the worst part."

"How could it get worse than a blatant lie?" I whipped around to face Amira, my voice tight with anger. "What is this?"

"... it's fishy that they're testing on werewolves. That lycan lover's got it out for us!"

"What the hell is--"

"It never stops to amaze me how stupid people can be," Charles said.

"Apparently," Amira interrupted, her voice tinged with frustration, "Someone released some information about Moonlight Phoenix that's... well, a bit jumping the gun."

She cast a helpless glance at Charles, who wore a similar expression of disbelief. Xavier cleared his throat.

"It's really not that bad."

"Not that bad? I don't know what the hell this is! What the hell is going on?"

"Now, now," Xavier soothed, his voice dripping with calm. "No need for panic. This can be turned into a positive for the project."

I scoffed. "Positive? They're lying and spreading bad press!"

Charles let out a low growl, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. It was soothing in a way that I couldn't deny or resist.

"Easy, Grace," he said, his voice low and dangerous. His gaze then shifted to Xavier, a steely glint replacing the earlier amusement. "What's your idea, Xavier? There's a limit to there's no such thing as bad press."

Xavier smiled. "There is, but keep watching, and I think you'll see what I mean."

We kept watching, but all I heard was more nonsense about Moonlight Phoenix that was setting me one edge, but Charles seemed completely at ease, amused even.

The situation, I realized with a growing sense of dread, was far worse than a simple PR snafu. Whoever was behind this was actively manipulating public perception. This was a fight we couldn't afford to lose. We had to fix it and protect Wolfe Medical's reputation from this nonsense.

The news report morphed into a segment filled with vox pops – snippets of public opinion on Moonlight Phoenix.

A young woman with bright pink hair and a nose ring wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Testing it on werewolves? That's barbaric! Can't they use rats or something? Why should we almost die to develop this stuff? Will it even work?"

A burly construction worker, his face weathered and sun-baked, chimed in next. "Sounds fishy to me. This drug – are they sure it won't turn us all into mindless lab rats? I mean if it's supposed to help us live, why do we have to take it so often? I'd rather just stick to vitamins!"

My stomach churned with a mixture of anger and frustration. These people had no idea what they were talking about! The treatment we were developing wasn't a psychosis drug, it was for longevity! Like a vitamin!

I glanced at Charles. That light was still in his eyes and he looked just as amused as earlier.

"Why are you amused? This is exactly the kind of negative public perception Moonlight Phoenix and Wolfe Medical don't need!"

He chuckled. "Keep watching, Grace. Just... listen."

The news segment continued, showcasing a string of increasingly outlandish claims. Werewolves supposedly growing extra limbs, their fur turning neon green, their minds being taken over by government mind-control devices – the list went on, each piece of misinformation more ludicrous than the last.

I shook my head. My head whirling. Someone was deliberately drumming up these lies, and it was probably working. The wave of public outcry was building, fueled by fear and ignorance.

"This is insane!" I exclaimed, slamming my fist on the desk. "They're making it sound like we're creating some kind of monster drug!"

Charles sighed. "Maybe we should have pushed it back."

"What?"

"You're rather uptight, considering the paperwork."

My face heated and he turned to me.

"Did you see Wolfe Medical's crest on it?"

I blinked.

"Recognize any of the people from interviews?"

I frowned.

"Does it make any sense not to test a longevity drug for werewolves on werewolves?"

"Well no..."

"You haven't even announced when the clinical trial are going to be."

My shoulders slumped. "... they're rattling me."

"Correct." He looked at Xavier. "Any idea where this came from?"

Xavier, who had been watching the news report with an unreadable expression, finally spoke.

"It's interesting," he murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "These rumors… they don't seem to be originating from within the company. There haven't been any leaks from the labs. And it's not coming from within the States."

"And none of them were named. I doubt they even live in Mooncrest," Amira added, her brow furrowed in concentration. "They're not wearing the right stuff for the weather."

If the rumors weren't coming from within the States, then who was behind them? And why were they so invested in sabotaging me?

"Xavier," Charles said, his voice laced with a dangerous calm, "find out the origin of these rumors. And I want every scrap of information you can find. Someone is trying to get Grace's attention."

Son of a bitch.

"Is this Sean, too?"

"Probably," Charles said. "He recognizes how stupid the general populace is."

He sighed. "You might as well sit and see if we can glean anything from this nonsense."

Despair threatened to engulf me as I watched the news reports continue to churn out outlandish lies about our research. It was all ridiculous, but I knew enough by now to know that the backlash was going to give me a headache.

"We can't let this go on," I muttered, clenching my fists against the rising tide of helplessness. "They're twisting everything. What can we do? Put our formal statements?"

Charles squeezed my hand reassuringly. "We won't," he said, his voice firm with resolve. "And yes, but the character of that statement is the problem."

Amira chimed in. "I think it'd be best not to make a move right now. It seems like they want you to hurry into something."

"Agreed," Xavier said. "It's pressure for you to speed up getting it to market, probably in hopes that they can throw a wrench in the plan somewhere."

Charles hummed. "Check the sources again. See if you can't trace it back to within the States at all, any of the people in the reports. If you find any international connections, get me a list ASAP. It doesn't serve anyone but Fenris and Sean to hurry you along."

Xavier nodded. His fingers flying across the keyboard as he worked.

"And me?" I asked, a flicker of determination igniting within me. "What can I do?"

Charles leaned in, his gaze meeting mine. "There's something you can do, something they wouldn't expect." A hint of a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. "You stay here and continue your research quietly."

My jaw dropped. "But..."

"You're the brains of the operation," he said. "You won't get those clinical trial started without planning, and no one else at this table an plan it. Meanwhile, we'll handle the PR nightmare from outside the pack."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Outside the pack? What do you mean?"

A sly smile spread across Charles' face. "Let's just say," he began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I have a few international contacts. Contacts who might be interested in a little… fact-finding mission regarding Moonlight Phoenix... you do, too."

I thought of Astarte. "Could she..."

"She could and would happily. When you have her as an ally, you have her for life."

It was exhilarating to think of having allies that powerful aside from Charles.

"You'll be careful," I cautioned, a playful smile tugging at my lips despite the underlying worry. "They've already shown themselves to be willing to commit violence."

"Always," he replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Besides, they know nothing about violence."

A wolfish, vicious grin took over his face. "Sean's lost his edge over the years."

I nodded, hoping he was right.

I went back to get my laptop and started planning out a timeline for the clinical trials. As I worked, I pouted, realizing that there was no way I'd have the time and the energy to have another round of private time with Charles.

He leaned into my office. "I'm cutting you off at dinner time."

My face heated. "What?"

He smirked. "You really think I'm going to let a failed vampire cockblock me? Never."

I couldn't even reply as he turned to leave. "I'll see you in a few hours, love. Be ready." He smirked. "And do drink that coffee, yeah?"