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.

ARIA

I pushed the stack of papers closer to the edge of my desk, my hands trembling from exhaustion. It had been three days since I started working here, but it already felt like three years. Knox Grey, my so-called boss, was nowhere to be found. In his absence, Trisha, his secretary, had taken full advantage of me

"Aria, why is this report still here?" Trisha's sharp voice sliced through the quiet office, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she approached my desk. I looked up, startled, holding back a sigh.

"It's not my job to-"

She cut me off before I could even finish. "Not your job? You're Knox's PA, aren't you? That means you assist. And right now, I need assistance."

I clenched my fists under the desk. This wasn't part of my role. I was Knox's PA not Trisha's PA, but how could I argue? Trisha carried herself with the air of someone untouchable.

Swallowing my frustration, I forced a polite tone. "I'll take care of it."

Hours later, the office was silent, the kind of silence that pressed against your ears and made your breathing sound loud. Everyone else had gone home hours ago, but here I was, still at my desk, finishing tasks that weren't even part of my job. My body ached from sitting too long, my fingers stiff from typing and filing all day.

I glanced at the clock. 10:55 p.m.

Great, I thought bitterly. Missed the bus again.

Trisha had piled more work on me just before she left, her perfectly manicured nails tapping on my desk as she smirked. "Don't stay too late, Aria," she'd said with mock concern. "But if you don't finish, I'm sure Knox will want an explanation."

Knox. My elusive boss, who I'd barely seen in three days. It was hard to tell if Trisha spoke for him or just used his name as a weapon. Either way, I was too tired to care.

I packed my things slowly, rubbing my temples as I tried to push down the rising frustration. By the time I stepped outside, the streets were nearly deserted.

The cool night air hit me, making me shiver as I pulled my scarf tighter. I scanned the road for a taxi or a bus. Nothing. The city felt unnervingly quiet, the distant hum of traffic too far to be of any help.

"Of course," I muttered under my breath. "Just my luck."

With no other option, I started walking. The house wasn't exactly far and still not close either, but the idea of trekking through dark streets alone wasn't exactly comforting.

The city looked different at night-harsher, colder. Streetlights buzzed faintly, their yellow glow casting long, distorted shadows. Every sound felt amplified: the rustle of leaves, the distant hum of an engine, even the echo of my own footsteps.

I took a shortcut through an alley I'd used before during the day. It was faster, but tonight, it felt... wrong. The light overhead flickered, casting strange patterns on the walls.

Keep walking, I told myself, gripping the strap of my bag tightly.

But then I felt it. A prickle at the back of my neck, like I was being watched.

I stopped abruptly, my heart pounding as I turned to look behind me. Nothing. The alley stretched out empty, the faint glow of the distant street barely reaching where I stood.

It's just your imagination, I thought, forcing myself to move forward. But my steps quickened anyway.

The light flickered again, then went out completely. I froze, every instinct screaming at me to run, but my feet felt glued to the ground.

A low growl broke the silence.

It wasn't loud, but it was enough to send a wave of fear crashing over me. I turned sharply, my eyes straining to see in the darkness. That's when I saw it.

My breath caught. The shape of the creature was unmistakable. A wolf. No, not just a wolf-a werewolf.

"No," I whispered, backing away slowly. "This can't be happening."

The werewolf stepped into the dim light, its fur matted and its teeth bared in a snarl. Its eyes locked onto mine, and I knew it was no ordinary rogue.

"Stay back," I said, my voice trembling. I reached into my bag, frantically searching for the silver pocket knife I always carried. My fingers fumbled through papers, pens, and keys, but the knife wasn't there.

"No, no, no," I muttered, panic rising. I must've left it at home.

The rogue lunged. I barely had time to throw myself to the side as its claws slashed through the air, catching my shoulder. Pain exploded, and I stumbled, falling hard onto the ground.

My blouse tore, the scarf around my neck slipping just enough to reveal the mark I'd been hiding.

The rogue paused, its gaze fixating on the bite mark. A low, rumbling growl escaped itstime throat, and it seemed to hesitate for a moment before advancing again.

I scrambled backward, clutching at my torn blouse as blood seeped through the fabric. My bag lay a few feet away, out of reach. My mind raced.

Think, Aria. Think!

The wolf lunged again, and this its claws caught the edge of my skirt, dragging me closer. I kicked out wildly, my shoe connecting with its snout. It yelped, momentarily stunned, but the sound only seemed to enrage it further.

"Someone, help!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls of the dark alley. My heart pounded like a drum as the rogue bared its teeth, ready to lunge again.

Tears blurred my vision, and I clutched my scarf tightly, a silent prayer falling from my lips. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the inevitable.

But instead of claws tearing into me, the sound of a growl-deeper, more menacing-filled the air. It was followed by a sickening thud, then another, like the jamming of fists against flesh.

I froze, too terrified to open my eyes. The growling continued, a mix of rage and pain, until finally, there was silence.

I hesitated, my hands trembling as I peeked through my lashes.

The rogue was retreating, its injured body limping back into the shadows. It cast one last glare over its shoulder before disappearing into the darkness.

And then, I saw him.

Knox stood a few feet away, his broad shoulders tense and his breathing heavy. Without a word, he strode forward, each step deliberate.

When he reached me, he crouched down, his piercing gaze dropping to my exposed shoulder.

The scarf had fallen, and the bite mark was clearly visible. His jaw tightened. "We need to talk," he said with his voice low and dangerous.