Just as I was about to leave, a message popped up on my screen.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: We have a meeting with a client by 7 p.m. I'll send you the location.

"Eli!" I shouted as soon as I saw the message, holding out my phone.

"Ouuu, a date," he smirked.

"It clearly said with a client, dumbo."

"You need a wardrobe change. Let's go to-"

"Hell no. I'm not getting scolded for dressing casually to what's supposed to be a meeting. I have to think three steps ahead," I said, cutting him off.

"Suit yourself," he said, grinning. "Just be careful not to stare too much."

One minute later, the location and name of the restaurant came in - The Velvet Room. The name sounded expensive, the kind of place that only existed in glossy magazines. It was on the outskirts of town. More driving for me. Bummer.

By the time I arrived, the sun had already set. The restaurant glowed in shades of gold and deep wine-red, soft music floating through the air. I spotted him instantly - seated in a private corner, one hand wrapped around a glass of red wine, the other scrolling through his phone. He didn't look up until I was standing right in front of him.

"You're late," he said, voice cool as ever.

"I, uh-"

"You were invited for dinner, not back to the office," he cut in smoothly after scanning my outfit. 

Great. Eli was right. Definitely not telling him that.

"What about the client, sir?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.

He set his phone down. "He canceled."

"Oh."

"Yeah. So I figured I'd use the opportunity to talk about your first day."

Ah. There it was. A setup.

He took a slow sip of his wine, eyes on me the entire time. "You seemed... tense. I thought dinner might help."

"You thought dinner might-wait." I blinked. "Are you saying this is a make-up dinner?"

"If that's how you want to call it."

"You yelled at me. Growled, actually," I said before I could stop myself.

His jaw tightened, but his eyes softened slightly. "That was... unfortunate."

"Unfortunate?" I scoffed. "I thought you were about to bite me."

Something flickered in his eyes - sharp, wild, almost dangerous. Then it was gone.

"You're safe with me, Miss Morgan."

I wanted to believe that. God, I really did.

The waiter came and went. Conversation stayed light - work, weather, small talk - but beneath it all, tension coiled tight. When he leaned forward, his cologne - dark spice and smoke - wrapped around me. My pulse skipped.

"Why did you really hire me?" I blurted suddenly.

He lifted a brow. "Excuse me?"

"You barely interviewed me. You didn't even check my résumé. So what gives? Pity hire? Temporary distraction?"

He smirked faintly. "You're blunt."

"I'm curious."

For a moment, he said nothing. Then, softly, "I hired you because you reminded me of someone."

That made me blink. "Someone?"

He nodded slowly, gaze distant for half a heartbeat. "Someone I once knew."

"Oh," I said, unsure how to take that. "Should I take that as a compliment?"

"Take it however you want."

Before I could say anything else, a sharp voice cut through the hum of the restaurant.

"Well, well, if it isn't Tessa Morgan."

I froze.

A tall blonde in a red dress stood beside our table, smiling like a viper. "Didn't think you'd crawl out from under that scandal."

My stomach dropped. Lydia. My ex-boss's assistant.

"What do you want, Lydia?" I asked quietly.

"Just saying hi. Didn't know Wolfe Enterprises was hiring... homewreckers."

The words sliced through me. My lips parted, but before I could reply, Lucian rose to his full height.

"Miss Morgan," he said evenly, his hand landing over mine - steady, protective, commanding.

This man was messing with my ovaries. Seriously. Whatever hormone switch he just flipped needed to be turned off.

I looked up at him, startled. "Sir-"

"Please." His tone made it sound less like a word, more like law.

Then, in a voice so calm it was terrifying, he turned to Lydia. "You have three seconds to walk away, or I'll make sure no one in this city ever hires you again."

Lydia blinked, color draining from her face. "I-Mr. Vale, I didn't mean-"

"Two," he said, his voice dropping an octave.

She paled, muttered something incoherent, and stumbled away.

Lucian's jaw stayed tight for a moment before he sat back down. "People like that feed off drama. Don't give them a reason."

I swallowed. "You didn't have to do that."

He looked at me - really looked at me - and for the first time, his eyes weren't cold. "Yes. I did."

The tension in the room after that moment could have been cut with a knife.

"Eat," he said after a moment, breaking the silence. "You haven't touched your food."

I picked up my fork, fingers trembling slightly. "You didn't even deny it," I murmured. "About the scandal."

"I don't care about rumors, Tessa."

I looked up, meeting his gaze. "You really don't?"

"Not when I can see the truth for myself."

My breath caught. The restaurant faded into nothing. Just his eyes - sharp, heavy, unreadable - locked on me.

Then the waiter appeared, and the spell broke. Lucian stood, buttoning his jacket. "I'll have my driver take you home."

"I have a car-"

"I wasn't asking," he said smoothly. "I'll send someone to get it later. It's a long drive back to Greendale, and I can't have my PA drooling on my desk tomorrow."

Something in his tone - teasing, protective - sent a flutter through me.

I followed him outside into the cool night air. As I stepped off the curb, my heel caught and I stumbled

But before I could fall, his arm was around me, firm and warm, pulling me close.

Our eyes met again.

"Careful," he murmured, his breath brushing my cheek.

I swallowed, pulse racing. "What? You'll growl again?"

A faint smile ghosted across his lips - dangerous, knowing. "Go home, Tessa."

He opened the car door for me, his gaze lingering just a moment too long before turning away.

As the driver pulled off, I glanced back through the window. He was still there, hands in his pockets, watching until the car disappeared into the night.

And for the first time... I couldn't tell who he really was anymore.

But worse - I couldn't stop wanting him to touch me again. I wanted to hear him say my name over and over again. 

Because I think I might actually like my boss.

Lucian's POV

The scent hit me before she even entered the restauraunt - soft, familiar, maddening.

Vanilla and rain.

Tessa Morgan.

I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. I'd spent the entire night trying to forget the sound of her laugh, the way her eyes softened when she smiled at me. The way my wolf stirred every damn time she was near.

My control was a thread stretched thin, and one wrong move, one wrong word, I'd snap.

"Alpha Lucian," Damon's voice broke through my thoughts. He stepped into my office, closing the door behind him. "You called?"

I nodded, turning toward the window. "Something's... wrong," I muttered.

"Wrong how?"

"My control," I said quietly. "She's throwing it off."

Damon arched a brow. "The human PA?"

A low growl escaped me before I could stop it. "Don't call her that."

His smirk faded. "Then what should I call her?"

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Tessa." Her name came out like a confession. "She was before all this, she was mine."

Damon's expression softened. "You mean that Tessa? The one from before you shifted?"

I gave a single, sharp nod. "Yes. And now she's here again. Working for me. Looking at me like I'm a stranger."

He was silent for a moment, then said carefully, "Maybe it's not a coincidence, Lucian. Maybe the Moon Goddess-"

"No." My voice cut through the air, harsh and final. "She's human. It's not possible."

"Are you sure?" Damon's gaze was steady. "Because the way your wolf's acting says otherwise."

I turned back toward the window. My reflection stared back; cold eyes, clenched jaw, the ghost of a boy who once believed he could love freely.

"She's human," I repeated, quieter this time. "And humans break."

Damon sighed, crossing his arms. "Then you'd better find a way to control yourself, Alpha. Because if she really is your mate-denying her might destroy you faster than claiming her."

The words lingered long after he left.

And for the first time in years, I wasn't sure which would destroy me more. Staying away from her... or giving in.

Tessa's POV

I heard something outside.

At first, I thought it was just my car being returned.

But then it stopped.

The night was unnervingly quiet. No crickets. No wind. Just... stillness.

Curiosity got the better of me. I grabbed my cardigan and stepped onto the porch. The air was cool, laced with the faint scent of rain and pine. I glanced around, only to see nothing but the familiar outline of the driveway.

No one was there.

Still, I could feel that prickle at the back of my neck, like I was being watched.

Something shifted in the woods. The bushes moved once, twice deliberately.

I swallowed, trying to convince myself it was just the wind, or maybe a deer. But the moment I turned to go back inside, the door refused to budge. It had jammed.

Panic tightened in my chest.

And then I saw them.

A faint glimmer between the trees - eyes. Not one. Not two. Dozens.

All glowing, low and golden in the dark, like predators lurking just beyond the line of shadow.

My brain screamed run.

Run inside, lock the doors, call someone.

But my body stayed frozen, caught between disbelief and fear, until, one by one, the eyes blinked out of sight.

For a long time, I stood there, the silence pressing in, heartbeat loud in my ears. All this time, I thought I had been seeing things... but I wasn't.

I made up my mind. Tomorrow, I was going to ask Eli about the eyes.

Then I locked the door twice - and went to bed.

Tomorrow was my second first day at work.

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at all. My head was pounding, my mind replaying last night - those eyes, that silence, the feeling of being watched. But today wasn't the day to fall apart. Today I had to look.... normal.

I stood in front of the mirror, pulling on a plain white blouse and dark slacks. My hair stayed in a loose bun. No excessive make-up, a gentle spray of perfume. The goal was simple: blend in, disappear.

I got to the office 30 minutes early. Didn't want to upset the cold boss today. Whispers followed me as I walked in, fake smiles masking judgement. So much for blending in.

When I reached his floor, I nearly turned my back, but when his eyes lifted to mine, something in his gaze snapped. For a moment, I didn't breathe, neither did he.

He looked at me from head to toe, as if he was checking me out. He didn't hide it, he just stared.

"Miss Morgan," he finally said.

"Sir," I said quietly, refusing to meet his eyes. Silence stretched between us, thick and awkward.

Then, just as the elevator chimed, he said, "You'll be moving offices today."

"Moving?"

He nodded once, leading me out when the doors opened. His stride was confident - the kind that dared you to keep up. I followed, heels clicking softly against the marble.

"To where exactly?"

"Closer to mine."

I stumbled a step. "Why?"

He glanced over his shoulder, a hint of amusement in his tone. "It's easier for me that way."

That was all he said, but the words lingered easier for what, exactly? Easier to see him? Easier to call my name or look into my eyes? I don't know how I'm supposed to concentrate like that.

He stopped by a smaller glass-walled office beside his and gestured toward it. "You'll work here from now on."

It was neat, modern, and far too close to his. I could practically see straight into his space.

"Right." I forced a smile. "Because nothing says professional boundaries like shared walls."

The corner of his mouth curved just slightly. "Don't worry, Miss Morgan. I don't bite."

"Good to know." I replied sarcastically.

He stepped closer, close enough that his shadow brushed mine as he adjusted something on the desk. His scent hit me again, stronger this time.

"You cut your hair," he said suddenly.

I blinked. "What?"

He looked up, catching my gaze before I could look away. "It's shorter than it used to be."

Something flickered in his eyes - warmth, familiarity.

"How would you know?" I asked, confused.

He froze for a heartbeat, then turned away. "Company records," he said too quickly, straightening the papers on the desk. "Old ID photos."

"Oh." I nodded slowly, though something about the answer didn't feel right.

He cleared his throat. "You'll start with the shipment reports. I'll send you the files shortly."

And just like that, the warmth in his voice was gone.

But as he brushed past me to leave, his arm grazed mine - deliberate or not, I couldn't tell and my breath caught. This man was driving me crazy and, unsurprisingly...... I loved it.

He paused at the door, his tone lower this time. "Welcome to your new office, Miss Morgan."

And then he was gone.

I spent the entire day working. At least I finally had a productive day at work. It was past my closing hour, but I didn't want to go back to that cottage.....at least not yet.

By the time I finally sat down to relax, I was a mess of nerves, so I did what any sane woman would do - I called Eli.

He picked up on the first ring.

"You sound breathless," he said. "Please tell me it's because of stairs and not your boss again."

"I'm at work, Eli," I whispered. "And no, I didn't run up the stairs. I'm just-"

"Flustered by Mr. Tall, handsome, hot - ?"

I groaned. "Don't start."

He laughed softly. "Girl, I've seen the man. If I worked under him, I'd literally quit HR for harassment prevention."

"This isn't funny. He.....he moved me to a new office right next to his."

"Of course he did. Men like that always want proximity to their favorite distraction."

I sighed. "It's not that. Something's off. Last night, I saw eyes in the woods again. Dozens. I thought I was imagining things, but-Eli, it felt real. Like I was being watched."

That wiped the humor off his tone instantly. "Tessa... what kind of eyes?"

"Golden. Or silver. I couldn't tell."

There was silence on the line for a beat. Then, carefully, "You need to be careful. And maybe... keep your distance from your boss."

I frowned. "Why are you saying it like that?"

He hesitated, then forced a laugh. "Just my instincts. They're rarely wrong, honey."

"Eli-"

"Promise me you'll call if anything weird happens again. Promise."

"I promise," I said softly.

But even as I hung up, my gaze drifted through the glass wall - and straight into Lucian's eyes.

He was already looking at me, expression unreadable.

For a second, it felt like the world went still.

And something deep inside me whispered - he's not just your boss.

LUCIAN'S POV

The moment I caught his scent in the hallway, I knew trouble had found me.

Eli never came here without a reason - and none of his reasons were ever good.

He stepped into my office without knocking, all sharp edges and defiance. "We need to talk."

I leaned back in my chair, suppressing a growl. "You forget who you're speaking to."

"Oh, I remember perfectly, Alpha," he said, spitting the title like it burned. "That's why I'm here."

I watched him, my jaw tightening. "Then say what you came to say."

"You're losing control, Lucian. I can smell it. The entire pack can."

My muscles tensed. "Watch your words."

"It's her, isn't it?" he snapped. "Tessa."

The name hit harder than it should've.

I didn't respond. Didn't have to. The silence said enough.

Eli stepped closer "You think no one notices the way your scent spikes when she's around? The way your wolf reacts like she's already yours?"

"She's human,"

"Maybe," he said, "but that doesn't change what's happening to you."

I stood, the chair scraping against the marble floor. "You think I haven't tried to stop it? You think I want this?"

"She's not Tessa from before," he said. "She doesn't remember you. And if she finds out what you are-"

"Then she'll run." My voice was quiet. Final. "Like everyone else."

Eli's expression softened, just for a moment. "You can't keep pretending this is under control. One wrong move, and you'll expose everything."

"I have it under control."

"Do you?" he challenged. "Because from where I'm standing, you're one heartbeat away from snapping."

I didn't realize my claws had extended until the faint scrape echoed against the desk.

I curled my fists, forcing them back. "Get out."

Eli didn't move. "I said, get-"

"Out!"

The roar tore through me before I could stop it, shaking the walls. The air in the room shifted, dense with power.

And that's when I heard it.

A soft gasp.

I turned toward the door.

Tessa stood there - frozen. Her wide eyes locked on mine.

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Her scent hit me again - warm, grounding, maddening.

But this time, it wasn't just attraction, it was recognition.

My wolf pressed forward, whispering one word that made my chest ache - mate.

No.

Not possible.

Eli swore under his breath, stepping forward, but I raised a hand to stop him.

"Tessa," I said, forcing my voice steady. "It's not what it looks like."

Her voice trembled. "Then what is it? Because every time I think I understand you, something else-"

Her gaze flicked to my eyes. "They were.....different. I saw it."

"Leave," I said quietly. "Please."

She shook her head. "You're hiding something from me."

I took a step closer before I could think better of it. "And you should thank me for it."

Her breath caught. "You're scaring me."

Those words cut deeper than claws ever could.

I froze, muscles locking, forcing my wolf back down where it belonged.

"Please," I whispered, softer this time. "Just go."

She hesitated, eyes searching mine one last time before she turned and left, her heels echoing down the corridor.

The moment the door closed, I slammed my fist into the wall out of rage.

Eli's voice came quietly behind me.

"You're going to lose her again, brother. And this time... I don't think either of you will survive it"

TESSA'S POV

I didn't stop walking until the elevator doors shut behind me.

My pulse was wild, my hands trembling as the last image replayed in my head - his eyes glowing like molten fire. That wasn't human. Nothing about that was human.

I pressed a palm against the wall, forcing myself to breathe. It must've been the lighting, I told myself. The stress. Anything but what I actually saw.

"Tessa."

I turned. Eli was there - leaning casually against the opposite wall, as if nothing had happened.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharper than I meant.

He smiled, too easily. "I was just passing through. Thought I'd check on my favourite workaholic."

"Don't." I shook my head, taking a step back. "Don't lie to me right now."

His smile faltered. "Tess-"

"I saw you," I said. "In his office. You were talking to him. Like you knew him. Like you've known him for years."

For a second, something flickered behind his eyes - a crack in that calm, joking mask. Then he laughed, forced and flat. "I think you're overreacting."

"Eli." I swallowed hard. "What's going on? Who is he?"

He looked at me for a long moment, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You shouldn't be asking questions you don't want answers to."

"That's not an answer," I snapped.

He met my gaze - and for a heartbeat, his eyes glimmered faintly under the lights.

My chest tightened. "Eli..."

"I'll take care of this," he said quietly. "Just... stay away from him. Please."

"Why?"

His lips parted like he wanted to tell me everything - then he just shook his head. "Because if you don't, Tess... you'll remember."

"Remember what?"

"Never mind, we'll talk better tomorrow," he said, snatching my car keys from my hand.

"I'll drive, no complaints." he added

And I was left standing there - heart pounding, mind spinning, knowing that whatever secret they were hiding... somehow, I was part of it.

The ride had been painfully silent, except for the faint hum of some pop song he'd turned on halfway through to "lighten the mood."

I wasn't in the mood.

Not after that.

Lucian's voice, the look in his eyes - the way he'd acted like I was nothing but another employee. I clenched her fists as I got out of the car.

"Tessa, wait-"

"I'm fine, Eli."

"You don't look fine."

"Good thing I didn't ask for your opinion."

I slammed the door before he could respond and marched up the steps.

By the time I got inside, I was shaking, half from anger, half from something I couldn't name. I paced around my tiny living room, took off my heels, threw my bag on the couch, and then finally exhaled.

Five minutes. That's all I needed. Just five minutes to breathe.

But then-

A knock on the door

My head snapped up.

Another knock. Firmer this time.

"Eli?" I called out.

No answer.

When I opened the door, my heart nearly stopped.

Lucian stood there tall and composed.

For a moment, my brain refused to connect the dots.

He'd left the building after me.

There was no car following us.

No time for him to get here.

My throat went dry. "How-how did you-?"

He didn't answer. His eyes dragged over my face like he was memorizing every detail.

My words caught in my throat before I could speak. Then he said it, like a confession and a threat all at once.

"I can't stop thinking about you, Tessa."