KAIA

Through the frosted glass, I can see her silhouette at her desk. My old best friend. The girl who used to braid my hair during sleepovers and defend me from pack bullies. The one I abandoned without explanation when her brother shattered my heart.

She'll ask why I left. She'll ask why I'm back. What do I even say?

Taking a deep breath, I push open the door and step inside.

The office is smaller than I expected, with cream-colored walls and a view of the forest through floor-to-ceiling windows. Talia looks up from her computer, and time seems to freeze.

She's changed. Still beautiful, with the same dark hair and sharp features that mark her as a Lopez, but there's a sophistication to her now that wasn't there at eighteen. Her black blazer is tailored, expensive. A far cry from the ripped jeans and band t-shirts she used to wear.

"Kaia." My name falls from her lips like she's testing it.

I force a smile. "Hi, Talia."

She stands slowly, studying my face. I see warmth there, but also hurt. Curiosity mixed with something that might be anger.

"Seven years," she says.

"Seven years."

We stare at each other across the office, years of silence stretching between us. Then she moves around her desk, and suddenly we're hugging. It's tentative, not the easy closeness we once shared, but it's something.

"You look different," she says when we pull apart. "Stronger. But why now, Kaia?"

I sink into the chair across from her desk, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. "My mom is sick. Cancer. The treatments are expensive, and-"

"And you need money." Talia settles back into her chair, her expression softening. "I'm sorry. About your mother."

"Thank you."

She leans forward, elbows on her desk. "But that doesn't explain why you left without a word. Do you know what it felt like when you just vanished? One day we're planning your eighteenth birthday party, the next you're gone. No goodbye, no explanation. Was I not worth the truth?"

The pain in her voice cuts deep. I look down at my hands, searching for words that won't destroy what little chance I have at this job.

"I needed to escape," I say finally. "This place, the pack politics, the way people looked at me. I felt suffocated."

It's not entirely a lie. I did feel suffocated-by shame, by humiliation, by the knowledge that I'd been nothing more than entertainment for the Alpha's heir.

Talia studies me for a long moment. "You could have talked to me."

"I know. I'm sorry."

She sighs, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "I'm still angry you vanished. But you're here now. And I won't let you starve." A small smile tugs at her lips. "You're hired."

Relief floods through me so suddenly my eyes water. "Just like that?"

"You were always the smartest person I knew. And I've seen your resume-marketing degree, three years of experience. You're overqualified for this position, which means you're desperate enough to work hard."

I laugh, surprising myself. "Brutally honest as always."

"It's a Lopez family trait."

The mention of her family makes my stomach clench, but I keep my expression neutral. "When do I start?"

"Monday. Eight AM sharp." She stands, extending her hand. "Welcome to Moonfang Construction, Ms. Dawson."

I shake her hand, trying to ignore the formality in her tone. We used to be Kaia and Talia, best friends who shared everything. Now I'm Ms. Dawson, an employee she's taking a chance on.

"I should go," I say, gathering my purse. "Thank you, Talia. Really."

"Don't thank me yet. You haven't met your boss."

I freeze. "My boss?"

She grins, and for a moment she looks like the girl I used to know. "Did I forget to mention? You'll be working directly with our CEO."

My blood turns to ice. "Vincent?"

"Vincent."

I force myself to breathe. "That's fine. I'm sure we'll be very professional."

Talia's eyes narrow slightly, like she's picking up on something I'm trying to hide. But before she can ask questions I'm not ready to answer, I'm already moving toward the door.

"I'll see you Monday," I say over my shoulder.

The moment I step into the hallway, I feel the weight of eyes on me. A group of office workers stands near the elevator, their conversation dying as I pass. I catch the whispered word "omega" under someone's breath, followed by a snort of laughter.

At the reception desk, a young clerk stares at me with open curiosity, like I'm some exotic animal that wandered into the wrong habitat. Her gaze travels from my discount blazer to my worn flats, cataloging every sign that I don't belong here.

"Omega chasing scraps," mutters a man in an expensive suit as he brushes past me toward the conference room. His lip curls in disgust, like my presence somehow contaminates the air.

I keep my head high, my spine straight. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me flinch. I survived in the human world, built a life for myself outside this suffocating hierarchy. I can survive a few sneering wolves.

The pack hadn't changed. Omegas would always be the bottom rung.

But this job means steady pay. It means medicine for my mother. It means the difference between watching her die and giving her a fighting chance. Even if it costs me every scrap of pride I have left, I'll endure their contempt.

I steeled myself through worse when I left. I can steel myself through this, too.

That familiar scent-warm spice and cedar-hits me like a physical force as I near the lobby. My wolf perks up instantly, every nerve in my body coming alive. It's stronger here, more concentrated, like he's close.

Too close.

I'm halfway to the exit when I see him.

Vincent Lopez stands at the other end of the hallway, talking to a man in a hard hat. Even from a distance, he's imposing-taller than I remembered, broader through the shoulders. Time has carved him into something magnificent and dangerous, all sharp angles and controlled power. His dark hair is shorter now, professional, but it still falls across his forehead in that devastating way that used to make my teenage heart flutter.

He's beautiful. God, he's still so beautiful it makes my chest ache.

Time should have dimmed the impact of him, should have made him ordinary in my memory. Instead, seeing him now feels like staring directly into the sun-blinding, overwhelming, impossible to look away from.

My wolf purrs deep in my chest, the same sound she made the very first time I laid eyes on him. Back then, I'd waited breathlessly for her to confirm what I hoped-that he was my mate. But the confirmation never came. Even now, the pull toward him feels exactly like the mate bond descriptions I'd heard whispered among other wolves, yet still... nothing. Just this inexplicable magnetism that defies explanation.

He looks up, and our eyes meet across the space between us.

The world stops.

The man he's talking to follows his gaze, says something I can't hear, then walks away. Vincent doesn't even acknowledge his departure. His dark eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that steals my breath, and then he's moving.

Each step is measured and deliberate, a predator who's spotted exactly what he's been hunting. There's no hesitation, no pause to consider whether he should approach. He cuts through the space between us like it belongs to him-like everything in this building, including me, belongs to him.

My wolf whimpers, torn between the urge to run and the inexplicable desire to close the distance between us myself. I force myself to stand my ground, lifting my chin as he gets closer. Closer. Until he stops just near enough that his scent overwhelms me-that warm spice and cedar that makes my pulse spike and my knees threaten to buckle.

"Kaia." My name falls from his lips like a prayer, soft and reverent and completely at odds with the confusion written across his perfect features.

"Hi," I manage, proud that my voice doesn't shake.

He parts his lips, and I can see a million questions there, pressing against his teeth, demanding answers. But what comes out instead catches me off guard.

"You're back."

The simple statement hangs between us, weighted with years of silence. I straighten my shoulders, calling on every ounce of professionalism I can muster.

"I am. I hope we can keep things professional between us-you know, not let the past get in the way of work."

The words are crisp, businesslike. Casual. Like we're discussing quarterly reports instead of the wreckage of whatever we used to be.

Vincent's face goes blank with shock. Then his brows draw together, confusion and something that might be hurt flickering across his features.

"Work?" He looks genuinely confused now. "What are you talking about? Why are you even here?"

"I just got hired. I'll be working here starting Monday."

The color drains from his face. "You'll be working... here? At Moonfang?"

"I'm your new assistant." I keep my voice steady, professional. "I hope we can keep things strictly business between us."

The words hit him like a physical blow. For a long moment, he just stares at me, processing. Then something shifts in his expression-confusion giving way to something sharper.

"Business?" His voice is quiet, dangerous. "Kaia, it's been years. Seven years of nothing, and you show up here pretending this is just another job?"

"That's exactly what it is. Don't let our past complicate that."

"Like hell it doesn't." The words explode out of him, all that careful control finally snapping. "You think you can just waltz back into my life, act like we meant nothing to each other, and expect me to go along with it?"

I meet his fury with ice-cold calm. "I think you can be professional enough to separate business from whatever you think we had."

"Whatever I think we had?" He steps closer, and I can see the barely leashed anger in every line of his body. "We had everything, Kaia. And you threw it away without a word."

A smile tugs at my lips-cold, amused. How precious that he thinks anything could happen between us after what he did. After what I know about him, about the kind of man who would seduce an omega on a dare and laugh about it with his friends.

"That's sweet that you think so," I say, my voice honey-sweet with false warmth.

I turn and walk away before he can respond, before he can corner me with more questions I'll never answer. If he wants the truth, he'll have to suffer for it first. Just like I did.

KAIA

I arrive at Moonfang Construction fifteen minutes early, my black coffee steaming in my hands. It's just a job, I tell myself as I scan my keycard at the employee entrance. I can do this.

The elevator ride to the fifteenth floor feels endless. When the doors finally open, I step into a bustling workspace-cubicles arranged in neat rows, floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the forest, and the constant hum of productivity. My new desk sits in the corner, a modest workstation with a computer and a stack of files waiting for my attention.

I'm settling into my chair when I feel it-that familiar prickle along my spine that means I'm being watched. I look up to find Vincent standing near the conference room, his dark suit immaculate, his expression unreadable. Our eyes meet for a brief moment before he turns away, dismissing me like I'm nothing more than office furniture.

Fine. Two can play that game.

I spend the morning familiarizing myself with the filing system and reviewing project timelines. Vincent's calendar is packed with meetings, site visits, and conference calls. At ten AM, I see the project briefing scheduled-my first meeting as his assistant.

I gather my notepad and pen, steeling myself for what's to come. Just keep your head down and take notes, I tell myself. You can do this.

The conference room is already full when we arrive. A dozen executives sit around a polished oak table, laptops open, coffee cups steaming. Vincent stands at the head of the table, commanding the room with effortless authority.

He doesn't acknowledge my entrance. Doesn't even glance in my direction as I slip into an empty chair near the back. But something shifts in the air-a tension that makes my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin.

I watch him work, and I hate that I'm impressed. He's different from the boy I used to know-harder, more controlled. There's a coldness to him now that wasn't there before, like he's carved himself from ice and steel.

Twenty minutes into the meeting, his dark eyes suddenly fix on mine.

"Ms. Dawson," he says, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "What's your assessment of the permit delays on Riverside?"

Every head in the room turns toward me. I feel their stares like physical weights, judging, evaluating. The omega who dared to speak in the presence of wolves who matter.

I clear my throat and straighten my shoulders. "Based on the documentation, it appears the delays are primarily due to environmental impact reviews. The forestry department requires additional soil samples before they'll approve the foundation work."

Vincent's dark eyes never leave mine. "And your recommendation?"

"Fast-track the testing. Bring in an independent lab if necessary. The cost of expedited results will be less than the penalties for missing the completion deadline."

A few executives nod approvingly. Vincent's expression doesn't change, but something flickers in his eyes-surprise, maybe, or approval. I can't tell which.

"Reasonable," he says, then turns back to the room. "Meeting adjourned."

The executives begin filing out, their conversations resuming the moment they hit the hallway. I gather my things quickly, hoping to escape before-

"Ms. Dawson." His voice stops me halfway to the door. "My office. Now."

Talia shoots me a worried look but doesn't linger. Vincent doesn't wait for my response before striding out, clearly expecting me to follow.

I take my time gathering the rest of my things, refusing to jump at his command like an eager puppy. When I finally make it to his office, he's standing behind his massive mahogany desk, reading something on his computer screen.

"You wanted to see me?" I ask, keeping my voice professionally neutral.

He doesn't look up immediately. "Close the door."

I hesitate, then do as he asks. The click of the latch sounds unnaturally loud in the silence.

"Sit." He gestures to one of the leather chairs across from his desk.

"I prefer to stand."

Now he does look up, his dark eyes assessing. "Still can't follow simple instructions."

"Still can't ask nicely, I see."

A muscle in his jaw ticks. "I'm listening," he says, leaning back against his chair, exuding an air of arrogant confidence.

"You're listening to what?" I ask, confused by his statement.

"The reason you thought it was okay to just disappear one night and then show up here acting like we're nothing. I want to hear your fucking reason, Kaia."

I steel my emotions, forcing myself and my wolf to ignore the pained hurt in his voice.

"I don't have one," I say, my voice flat.

"You don't have one?" He stands from his chair and walks over to me, his body radiating that Alpha energy that would make most wolves cower. Instead, it makes mine purr with satisfaction that he's so powerful. Weird, I know.

"Nope. I wanted to leave, so I left."

"Kaia," he growls, grabbing my arm as his face gets an inch from mine. God, I love how much I'm getting to him. It must be killing him not knowing the truth.

"Let go," I say quietly, but there's steel in my voice.

His grip tightens. "Seven years. Seven fucking years I've been wondering what I did. What happened. And you just... nothing?"

The pain in his voice almost breaks my resolve. Almost. But then I remember that night, his laughter with Trent.

"Maybe that should tell you something," I say, ice-cold.

His jaw clenches. "That's not an answer."

"It's all you're getting." I jerk my arm free. "Can I go now? I actually have work to do."

I head for the door, but his voice stops me.

"We're not done here."

I look back at him-expensive suit, barely controlled fury, desperation he's trying to hide. For just a second, I let my mask slip. Let him see a hint of what he destroyed.

"Yeah, we are, Vincent," I say softly. "We've been done for seven years."

KAIA

I push open the door to Moonbean Café and breathe in the rich aroma of coffee and fresh pastries. The little café sits just down the street from Moonfang Construction, tucked between a bookstore and a flower shop. It's become our unofficial meeting spot since I started working here two weeks ago.

Talia waves at me from a corner booth, already nursing what looks like her third espresso of the day. I slide into the seat across from her, grateful for the familiar warmth of her presence. Sometimes it feels like I never left, like we're still seventeen and planning our weekend adventures.

"Large caramel macchiato," I tell the waitress who appears beside our table. "Extra shot."

"Rough day?" Talia asks, raising an eyebrow.

"You could say that." I pull off my blazer and hang it on the back of my chair. The navy fabric is wrinkled from sitting hunched over spreadsheets all afternoon.

Talia leans forward, her dark eyes bright with curiosity. "So what did you and Vincent talk about the other day? You've been dodging that question all week."

I take a sip of my coffee when it arrives, buying myself time. "Nothing important. Just work stuff."

"Kaia." Her voice carries that familiar note of exasperation. "I've known you since we were kids. Try again."

I sigh, knowing she won't let this go. "He wanted to know why I left. I told him it wasn't his business."

Talia's eyes widen. "You said that to Vincent? To the Alpha?"

"He's not my Alpha," I say, my voice sharper than I intended.

"Still." She shakes her head, but there's amusement in her expression. "I can't believe you spoke to him like that. Though knowing my brother, he probably loved every second of it. He always had a soft spot for you."

I try to ignore the flutter in my stomach at her words. "That's ridiculous."

Before Talia can respond, my phone buzzes against the table. Mom's name flashes on the screen, and my chest tightens. I swipe to read the message.

Feeling fine today. Don't worry about me.

The words should comfort me, but they don't. This morning she could barely lift her head from the pillow, her skin gray and clammy. The new treatment isn't working. I can see it in the way she moves, the way she winces when she thinks I'm not looking.

It pisses me off that even as werewolves, we still have to deal with shit like cancer. Our enhanced healing should protect us from this kind of thing, but apparently, the universe doesn't care about supernatural advantages when it comes to the worst diseases.

"Everything okay?" Talia asks, noticing my expression.

"Yeah. Mom's just checking in." I slip the phone back into my purse, forcing a smile. "She worries too much."

Talia studies my face like she's trying to read between the lines, but she doesn't push. That's one of the things I've always loved about her-she knows when to give me space.

My mind drifts to this morning, and I hate that it does.

I'm standing by the elevator bank, waiting for the doors to open, when Vincent appears beside me. The enclosed space amplifies everything-his scent, the heat radiating from his body, the sound of his breathing that seems to sync with mine.

I swear I can hear his heartbeat. Slow and steady, like thunder in the distance. When our hands accidentally brush reaching for the same button, sparks shoot up my arm. Actual sparks, electric and burning.

I pull away like I've been scalded, but the damage is done. My wolf whimpers, pressing against my ribs like she's trying to get closer to him. The mate bond's pull is so strong I nearly stumble.

I hate myself for still wanting him. Hate that my body responds to his presence like he's oxygen and I'm drowning. Time apart should have been enough to break whatever hold he has on me, but apparently, my wolf didn't get the memo.

The worst part is, I think he could tell. His dark eyes had tracked every reaction, cataloguing each tell-tale sign of my attraction. By the time the elevator doors opened, I was practically running to escape.

He probably thinks I'm pathetic. The same desperate omega who fell for his lies once before.

"You're thinking about him," Talia observes, pulling me back to the present.

"I am not."

"Your jaw does this thing when you're annoyed." She taps her own chin. "Vincent does the same thing when he's frustrated."

"We're nothing alike."

"Maybe not. But you're both stubborn as hell."

The bell above the door chimes, and I glance up, grateful for the distraction. A tall man walks in, bringing with him a gust of cool air and something else-a scent that makes my wolf instantly alert. Werewolf. And not just any werewolf-an Alpha.

His scent is unfamiliar-woodsy and sharp. Different from Vincent's more intense, smoky aroma.

The stranger is handsome in a classical way, with sandy brown hair and green eyes that scan the café like he's looking for someone. He's wearing a leather jacket over dark jeans, and there's something about his posture that screams danger.

"Shit," Talia mutters under her breath.

"What?"

"That's Lewis Thornfield. Alpha of the Ravenclaw Pack."

My blood runs cold. Ravenclaw territory borders ours to the east, and the relationship between our packs has always been tense. What's an Alpha from a rival pack doing in Moonfang territory?

He orders coffee, his voice a pleasant baritone as he chats with the barista. Her scent shifts subtly-the sweet note of attraction evident even from where I sit. I don't blame her; objectively speaking, he's gorgeous. Tall and muscular with defined cheekbones that could cut glass.

But it's more than physical appearance drawing her in-it's the natural magnetism of an Alpha, the charisma that makes others want to please them.

I turn away and continue to check my phone for other messages, but then I feel it-that prickle at the back of my neck that tells me I'm being watched.

I turn instinctively, meeting his gaze across the café. He's leaning against the counter, coffee in hand, studying me with open interest. A slow smile spreads across his face, and he pushes off from the counter, walking directly toward me.

My wolf bristles, not with fear exactly, but with caution. I straighten up, drawing myself to my full height-a pitiful defense mechanism against an Alpha, but instinctive nonetheless.

"Excuse me," he says as he approaches, his voice friendly but with that underlying note of authority that all Alphas seem to possess.

"Can I help you?" I ask, keeping my voice neutral, professional.

He tilts his head slightly, assessing me. Up close, I can see the flecks of silver in his piercing blue eyes. "I was hoping this table might be available." He gestures to the empty seat beside Talia. "It has the best view."

It's a transparent excuse-there are at least four empty tables with comparable views-but I nod anyway.

"You'd better be smoking to think you could sit here," Talia says, and it's like he just realizes who I was sitting with. No Alpha families hated one another more than Lopez and Thornfield.

"I wasn't talking to you." He turns away from her and extends his hand. "I'm Lewis."

I look at his hand, really wondering if he thinks I will take it. Talia beats me to it, slapping his hand away from me. "Get your filthy ass out of here."

But again, he ignores her, turning to me with a smile.

"From your ID I should call you Kaia. What a beautiful name you have," he says, smiling as he gazes at me with a look in his eyes I couldn't decipher.

I don't know if I should be impressed or annoyed with his actions.

"I think you should leave," I say gently, uncertain how to navigate this interaction.

"You know," he says, lowering his voice slightly, "there's a wonderful restaurant just down the street-Bella's. They make an incredible risotto." He pauses, those blue eyes studying my reaction. "Perhaps you'd join me for dinner sometime? I'd love to learn more about you."

I blink, caught off guard by his words. After everything I just said and Talia looking so close to chopping his head off, he's asking me out?

"I-I don't-" I stammer, uncharacteristically flustered.

He holds up a hand, his expression softening. "No pressure. I know it can be... complicated. Especially for someone in your position."

Then why the fuck did you just ask me out then? I want to blurt out, but I'm too stunned to speak.

"My position?" I finally manage to ask.

"An omega in Moonfang territory." His smile turns predatory. "It must be... challenging. Especially working so closely with Vincent Lopez."

The way he says Vincent's name makes my skin crawl. There's something underneath it, something that feels like a threat.

"Vincent is my boss," I say carefully. "Nothing more."

"Of course." But his eyes say he doesn't believe me. "Still, if you ever need... protection from the Lopez family's particular brand of hospitality, I'd be happy to offer alternatives."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Talia snaps, half-rising from her seat.

Lewis doesn't even glance at her. His attention is fixed entirely on me, and there's something in his gaze that makes my wolf pace nervously.

Before I can respond, he straightens up, his charming smile returning. "Think about my offer, Kaia. Dinner. When you're ready."

He turns and walks away, leaving me staring after him in complete confusion. What the hell just happened?

"What a creep," Talia mutters, but I can hear the tension in her voice. "I can't believe he had the balls to come into our territory and hit on you right in front of me."

I'm still processing the entire bizarre encounter. "Do you know him well?"

"Lewis Thornfield? Unfortunately, yes. Our packs have been at each other's throats for decades. Border disputes, territory claims-the usual Alpha bullshit." She takes a long sip of her coffee. "He's dangerous, Kaia. Stay away from him."

"Don't worry, I have no intention of going to dinner with a rival Alpha." I shake my head, still trying to make sense of it all. "But why would he even ask? What could he possibly want with me?"

Talia shrugs, but something flickers across her face-uncertainty, maybe? "Who knows what goes through that psycho's head. Maybe he thinks getting involved with you would piss off Vincent."

The thought makes my stomach twist. Am I really just a pawn in some territorial pissing contest between Alphas?

"I should get back to work," I say, suddenly needing to escape this conversation. "Vincent's probably wondering where his assistant disappeared to."

"Probably." Talia gathers her things. "But Kaia? Be careful, okay? Something about this whole thing feels off."

"I will"