Knox

The hum of the car engine grated against my nerves as I leaned back in the leather seat, my fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against it. The car war dark colored but not nearly as dark as the storm brewing inside me. I couldn't shake the images-the memories of that cursed full moon, when my control had slipped, leaving destruction in its wake.

"You can't ignore this forever, Knox."

Fenris, my wolf, growled in the back of my mind, his voice a low vibration that sent a dull ache through my skull. "We're bound to face the consequences eventually."

I clenched my jaw. "Shut up, Fenris," I bit out, though the words felt hollow.

He was relentless, as he had been for weeks now. Ever since that night, he'd been riding me harder than ever. His frustration echoed my own, but unlike me, Fenris wanted to confront what happened head-on. He wanted resolution. I wanted nothing more than to bury it deep.

"You think you're in control, but you're not," Fenris snarled. "We both know what's at stake. We need her-our mate."

Mate. The word alone was enough to send a surge of anger coursing through me.

"I don't need anyone," I snapped, my voice low but firm. "Not now. Not after what happened."

Fenris's growl turned into a snarl, sharp and accusing. "You're a fool if you think you can keep running from this. The more you fight it, the worse it'll get. Do you even realize what's happening? That human you bit-"

"Enough!" I cut him off, the volume of my voice startling even me.

The car fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the subtle crackle of tension in the air. Mason, my beta and driver, didn't dare speak. He'd been with me long enough to know when to keep his thoughts to himself. But I saw his eyes dart up to the rearview mirror, concern etched in their depths.

"I know you heard that," I muttered, my voice icy.

"Yes, Alpha," Mason replied cautiously.

I sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Last full moon," I admitted, though the words tasted bitter in my mouth. "I lost control. I... bit someone."

Mason's hands tightened briefly on the steering wheel. His calm exterior didn't falter, but I knew him well enough to see the subtle shift in his posture.

"A human," he said quietly.

I nodded, my gaze fixed out the window at the blur of city lights. "Yes. A female."

"Then we need to find her before she turns," Mason said, his tone measured but firm.

I shot him a sharp look through the mirror. "You think I don't know that?"

"I'm just saying-"

"I don't need you to state the obvious," I snapped, cutting him off.

But Mason, ever the loyal beta, wasn't deterred.

"Alpha, the hunters are already too close. If she recalls the bite and what she saw, she could expose us. She doesn't have to be a threat now, but a single word from her could bring the hunters right to our door."

I hated that he was right. Her memory of that night was dangerous, not just for me, but for the pack. "We'll have to deal with it before she talks" Mason said.

His words, though unwelcome, were true. And I hated that.

"Find her," I said finally, my voice as cold as the steel towers of the city skyline. "Track her down. I don't care how. Just do it."

Mason nodded, his gaze briefly meeting mine in the mirror. "Understood."

The car descended into silence again, and I let my thoughts spiral. That night replayed in my mind with vivid clarity and blurred recollection at the same time. The pull of the moon, the way it had stripped me of the control I prided myself on. I remembered the terror in her eyes as I lunged at her, the sharp taste of her blood on my tongue. As for how she looked, it remained a blurred puzzle for me to solve.

"Knox."

Fenris's voice was softer now, almost mournful.

"What?" I muttered.

"You know this isn't just about the bite. We would keep losing control if we don't find our mate. We need our..."

"Shut it," I growled, silencing him before he could go any further.

The car slowed to a stop outside the towering glass facade of Grey Enterprises. My empire. My sanctuary. But tonight, even the sight of it didn't bring me peace.

The door opened, and I stepped out, my shoulders tense and my mind already running through a dozen contingency plans. I had built this empire with my own hands, clawed my way to the top, and made a name for myself in the human world. Everything I had was at risk now.

I strode into the lobby, the polished marble floors reflecting the harsh lines of my face. The security guard nodded respectfully, but I barely acknowledged him. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the growing list of problems I needed to solve.

As I rode the elevator to my office, I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. The pack relied on me. My business demanded my attention. And now, this woman-this stranger I had bitten-was a loose thread threatening to unravel everything.

Fenris was silent now, but his presence lingered, a constant reminder of the bond we shared and the responsibilities I couldn't ignore.

Once inside my office, I poured myself a glass of whiskey and downed it in one go, the burn grounding me, if only for a moment.

"You better hope I don't regret this, Fenris," I muttered, setting the glass down with a sharp clink.

But deep down, I knew there was no escaping it.

The full moon was coming again.

And with it, the consequences of my actions would finally catch up to me.

KNOX

The soft knock on my office door was enough to make my wolf stir in irritation. I didn't bother looking up from the mountain of paperwork on my desk. I already knew who it was from her scent-Tasha, my secretary, the woman who thought her curves could distract me from her lack of professionalism.

"Come in" said, my tone clipped.

The door opened, and there she was, strutting in as though the office was her runway. Her blouse was unbuttoned one too many, and her smile was far too suggestive.

The clicking of Tasha's heels on the tiled floor grated on my nerves as she strolled into my office. The deliberate sway of her hips and the faint trace of perfume she'd undoubtedly sprayed to leave a trail was all too familiar.

"Mr. Grey," she said in that overly seductive tone, leaning just a bit too far over my desk to get my attention. Her blouse strained exposing her cleavage, and I couldn't miss the smug satisfaction in her eyes when she noticed I'd glanced.

I had fucked her before, once or twice when I'd been in heat and needed a release. It had been convenient, emotionless, and mutually understood. But now? Her attempts to reignite something I barely acknowledged then were nothing but irritating.

"The applicants are here," she continued, her voice as hoarse as ever. "Do you need me to sit in with you during the interviews? You know, for support?"

I held her gaze for a long moment, making sure my irritation was clear. "No. Just send them into the boardroom one at a time."

Her lips twitched in disappointment, but she nodded and turned on her heel, giving me a deliberate view of her retreating figure. I ignored it and headed to the boardroom.

By the time I got there, my mood was already sour.

The first applicant was dressed in an ill-fitting suit and couldn't even manage eye contact. I didn't get halfway through my questions before waving him off.

"Next," I barked.

The second one seemed more confident, but when I asked, *'What would you do if someone told you this job wasn't meant for you?'* his answer was a rambling mess about destiny and luck. Luck had no place in my world.

By the fourth applicant, my patience was wearing thin.

A woman came in wearing a bright red dress better suited for a nightclub than a professional interview. Her perfume filled the air before she even sat down. She tossed her hair dramatically and gave me a smile that I assumed she thought was seductive.

"Thank you for coming," I said, cutting her off before she even opened her mouth. "We're done here."

She stared at me, confused. "But I haven't-"

"Out."

Her face fell, but she gathered her things and stormed out.

When Tasha poked her head into the room after the next failure, I didn't hide my frustration. "Call it off. Close the damn interviews."

"But sir," she said with a small pout, "there's only one left."

"And I've seen enough." I leaned back in my chair, massaging my temples. "Whoever it is can go home. I don't have time to waste."

Tasha hesitated, but I shot her a glare, and she scurried off. I was done.

---

Aria's POV

The waiting room felt colder now, or maybe it was just the sinking feeling in my chest. I clutched my bag tighter, staring at the floor to keep from fidgeting too much. I had seen all the applicants before me come out with a disappointed look. One of them even told me to go home, that I wouldn't be chosen.

But this was my last shot-my last chance to prove I could take control of my life. But the longer I sat there, the more the nerves clawed at me.

The secretary-Tasha, as I overheard someone call her-walked in, her heels echoing loudly in the silent room. I looked up, hoping she was finally calling my name.

Instead, her lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The interviews are closed. Mr. Grey doesn't have time for any more applicants."

Her words hit me like a slap.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "There has to be some mistake. I'm the last one."

"Exactly," she said, her tone clipped. "And he's decided that's enough for today."

Panic surged through me, and I felt tears prick my eyes. This couldn't be happening. I'd worked so hard just to get this far, to even land an interview. I couldn't just leave.

But as Tasha turned to leave, I saw him.

The man I'd been preparing to meet, Mr. Knox Grey, stepped into the hallway. His dark hair was perfectly combed back, his suit sharp and intimidating. He exuded power with every step he took.

Before I could think, my body moved on its own.

"Sir!" I called out, my voice trembling as I rushed towards him.

"Sir!!" I called out reaching him and gripping his hand to make him stop.

The moment my hand touched his arm, a jolt of electricity surged through me. My breath hitched as I looked up into his piercing eyes-eyes that seemed to see right through me.

Knox Grey. The man who could make or break my future with a single word. But as I stood there, something shifted in his expression. It wasn't the cold indifference I'd expected; it was curiosity, laced with something deeper.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze narrowing, and then he spoke

"Have we met before? Your scent feels so familiar."

KNOX

The moment her hand gripped my arm, the world around me seemed to freeze. The sensation was electric and sharp. I hadn't expected it, didn't want to feel it. The last thing I needed right now was a distraction, and yet, her touch had brought something to life within me. Something raw. Something dangerous. I could feel my pulse quicken as her fingers curled around my sleeve, and I had to force myself to look away.

Her eyes were wide, and there was a tremble in her voice. "Sir," she said, and for a brief moment, I thought she might actually beg. "Please, you can't just call off the interview like that." Her words came in a rush, and I could see the desperation written across her face.

I didn't know why, but I felt an unsettling tug in my chest. Something about this woman was... familiar. Her scent. Her presence. It was like a memory I couldn't quite place.

I blinked, narrowing my gaze at her, the cold indifference I wore as a second skin falling back into place. "Let go" I said, my voice cold, detached, but it was sharp enough to make her flinch.

But she didn't let go. Instead, she took a step closer, and I could feel the heat of her body. The feeling of her hand on my arm became an anchor that I couldn't ignore.

"You can't just do that," she repeated, her voice now barely above a whisper. "I've worked so hard to get this far. Please, don't turn me away like this."

I looked down at the hand she was holding onto me with. It wasn't like the way Trisha, my secretary, would touch me-flirtatious, trying to get my attention. No, this was different. Her touch was firm, like she was trying to grasp at something, anything, to save herself. The quiet desperation in her eyes tugged at something I didn't want to acknowledge.

Her face softened, but the desperation didn't fade. "Please... just a chance. I've worked so hard for this. Please, don't let it go like this." Her words were almost a whisper, but they cut through me. I didn't know why, but something about her... it was pulling me in, against my will.

Before I could respond, a voice broke through the tension.

"Who are you to question Mr. Grey?"

I turned, and there was Trisha, my secretary, with her signature smug look. She was always so quick to insert herself into anything that might disrupt her perfect little world. I could tell she was already annoyed by Aria's presence, her eyes flashing with irritation.

Aria didn't back down. She stood her ground, her voice steady, but the vulnerability was still there. "I'm not questioning anyone. I'm just asking for a chance."

Trisha's eyes narrowed. "This is absurd. You think you can just waltz in here and demand special treatment?" She took a step forward, clearly trying to assert her dominance.

I didn't need this right now. I was already irritated, and the last thing I wanted was to be caught in some petty drama between my secretary and a woman I barely knew.

I turned to Mason, who had just stepped into the room. His presence was always a welcome relief in times like these.

I gave him raised eyebrows and Mason's voice echoed in my mind.

"Knox, we need to move. Ravena is at the manor. She wants to speak with you. It's urgent."

'Ravena?' I frowned, confusion flickering in my mind. Why would the priestess be at my manor?

I felt the heat in my chest rise. That familiar tightness gripped my throat. Damn it, I cursed silently to myself. Now?

Fenris stirred in my mind, but I quickly put a block to it. The thoughts of Ravena at my manor made me feel the wolf inside of me, restless, agitated, itching to be set free. But there was something else pulling at me-something I didn't want to acknowledge.

"Excuse me for a moment," I said to Aria, my voice hard, cutting through the air like a blade. Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked toward the door with Mason close behind.

But before I could leave, Aria's voice, soft but determined, called out to me.

"Please, Mr. Grey... I need this. I can't go home empty-handed. I've worked my entire life for this." Her voice cracked, and it hit me like a punch to the gut. Damn it.

I stopped in my tracks, my back still to her. There was something in her tone, in the way she spoke, that made it impossible to just walk away.

I looked over my shoulder, my eyes icy, but I could feel something flicker within me. "Fine," I said, barely above a whisper, but firm. "You'll be interviewed."

Trisha opened her mouth, no doubt ready to argue, but I silenced her with a look-cold, sharp, and final. "Mason will handle it. If she's still standing when this is over, I'll decide if she's worth my time."

I didn't wait for a response. I turned and walked out, my thoughts swirling, but the pull on my mind was stronger than ever. The sense of something unfinished. Something I couldn't quite put into words.

"You felt the spark. Don't you think-"

"Don't" I momered not ready to listen to Fenris. "You're running from the truth"

"I'm not running. I'm handling things my way."

Fenris growled, sharp and unrelenting. "Your way isn't working, Knox. You can't keep ignoring her warnings. The full moon is coming, and you're not ready."

I rubbed the back of my neck, frustration boiling over. "You think I care about her prophecies? I don't believe in that bullshit."

"If you don't find your mate..."

The rest of his sentence remained unspoken, but the weight of it pressed down on me. It's been four years since I started losing control of my wolf form and the only way to tame me was to find my mate. Well that's what the priestess said. My control was slipping. I could feel it. The wildness clawing at the edges of my sanity.

I slammed my fist into the nearest wall, the sharp sting grounding me for a moment. "I'm not looking for a mate. I don't need one."

"You can't outrun this, Knox. Ravena warned you. Do you want to lose control again?"

His voice softened, but the urgency was still there, cutting through my stubborn denial.

I exhaled sharply, trying to push the doubt away, but it clung to me like a shadow. Few days. That was all I had left to prove her wrong. Or fail.