Chapter 15 Marcus Warning

MARCUS POV

Today, I’m really frustrated. Rylan has been bothering me nonstop since yesterday, telling me to go and see Selena because she went home early. I know she’s probably upset with me for saying she was seducing men. I know I was wrong to say that, but the truth is, I couldn’t tolerate seeing her with another man. I was so angry, and Rylan almost force-shifted to kill the guy whose hand was on her, but I controlled myself.

But I didn’t listen to him. I just kept thinking she would come to work today anyway, and I could at least try to be a little kinder to her. I’ve asked Rylan too many times why we’re so attracted to Selena, and he never has a full answer. He only says the feeling is natural and that we shouldn’t reject it, that we should accept her as our mate since we haven’t found ours yet.

But what if we later find our true mate? I don’t want to betray her. I’m confused. The mate I’ve dreamed about for so long and then Selena, who is not my mate, but I feel everything I should feel for my true mate with her. It doesn’t make sense. None of this makes sense.

As I entered the office building and walked to my private elevator, my mind was a mess. Soon, I reached the first floor.

“Good morning, sir,” Sofia said.

“Morning,” I replied and continued straight to my office. When I passed Selena’s door, I noticed it was locked. Maybe she went out to buy something.

I stepped into my office and sat down, but instead of focusing, my mind drifted straight to her. Selena’s scent has been changing too much these past three days. The first day she came in for the interview, she didn’t smell like that at all. But the night I went to her house, something was different, faint, but there. And yesterday, her scent was overwhelming. Natural, fresh, a scent any shifter would feel drawn to. Why? 

Yesterday, I had to control myself too many times not to take her right there, to kiss her, to touch her, to claim her. Every thought, every image was screaming at me. And Rylan wasn’t helping at all. He kept sending vivid scenes into my head, showing me all the things we could do to her. What am I even thinking?

I looked down and realized I was already hard as a damn rock.

“I want to see her. Now,” Rylan growled, his deep voice echoing through our bond.

I took a long breath, trying to calm myself. After a few minutes, when I finally managed to steady my heartbeat and force my mind away from her body, I reached for my office phone and dialed her number.

The phone kept ringing, but no one picked up. I dialed again. And again. Still nothing. Maybe she wasn’t back from wherever she went. I sighed and dialed the receptionist instead.

“Sofia, where is Miss Isolde? I’ve been calling her but she isn’t picking up. Tell her to come to me,” I said.

“Sir… Selena didn’t come to work today. She took a leave for the day,” she replied.

For a moment, my mind went blank.

She didn’t come?

Was it because of yesterday?

Did she avoid me?

“And did she say the reason why?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“For a family matter, sir.”

“Alright,” I said, ending the call.

A family matter, What happened?

Or did she just use that as an excuse so she wouldn’t have to see me today?

The thought hit harder than I expected.

I tried focusing on the files in front of me, but my mind wasn’t cooperating. I was frustrated, irritated, and restless. Rylan wasn’t helping either, he kept blaming me.

‘This is your fault. She probably didn’t come because of how you behaved with her’ He growled.

I pushed back from my desk abruptly. I needed to talk to Aiden. Maybe I could calm down a bit. He knew everything going on between me and Selena. He also kept telling me to accept her, to stop fighting this connection since my true mate still hadn’t appeared. 

Aiden was my bestfriend and my sister Zara mate. He was also my second-in-command, the junior Beta for now, since his father, the current Beta, hadn’t officially passed the role to him yet. But titles didn’t matter. He was my Beta in everything that counted. And even though my parents still sat on the throne, everyone knew I was the one ruling. The king. The one making decisions. The one rebuilding the Lycans. I had vowed I wouldn’t be crowned until our kind was strong again.

As I walked to his office on the second floor, I tried to push away the frustration eating at me. But the moment I stepped onto the second floor, voices caught my attention.

Women from different offices, talking. Whispering. Laughing.

But what they were saying made my blood boil instantly.

“Sleeping with the boss”

“Seducing men left and right”

“She’s so cheap”

“No wonder she didn’t come today”

My vision darkened at the edges.

Rylan roared inside me, furious, claws already out. Selena. They were talking about Selena.

Before I even realized it, I was storming into Aiden’s office, my anger barely contained.

As I entered his office. “What the hell is going on in this company?” I snapped. “And when did this place turn into a gossip center?”

Rylan growled again, demanding blood, and I clenched my fists.

Whoever started this.

Whoever dared spread lies about her.

I was going to make sure they regretted it.

“What are you talking about? And why are you furious?” Aiden asked, looking up from his laptop with a confused expression.

“I’m talking about what everyone is saying regarding Selena,” I said through clenched teeth.

“I don't know what you’re talking about,” he said.

“Just now, I heard them talking about her in disgusting ways, saying she’s seducing men and sleeping with every man in this company.” My anger spiked just repeating it.

“When did that even start? You need to do something about it,” he said quickly.

“Are you in the staff group chat? Check there. See if anything is being said.” I said.

“Okay.” He pulled out his phone. As he scrolled, his face slowly twisted into something ugly.

“What happened?” I demanded.

He handed me the phone.

What I saw made my blood boil. The messages were worse than what I had overheard, vile, cruel lies spreading like wildfire. My hand shook with rage.

“Call all the staff to the conference room,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “We’re having a meeting. Now.”

I didn’t wait for his reply. I stormed to the top floor and walked straight into the conference room. Fury was burning through every inch of me. I was already angry before, this just poured gasoline on it.

One by one, they filed in. Soon the room was packed.

“I want to know who started the rumor about Selena,” I said, my voice echoing through the room. No one answered. Cowards.

“I’m asking again,” I said louder. “Who started the rumor that Selena is sleeping with me for her position and with every other high-ranking man in this company?”

“Sir, it was Miss Lyra who told everyone,” Sofia finally said.

My jaw tightened. “Where is she?”

“She’s not around, sir,” someone replied.

“Fine,” I said. “All of you listen to me, and listen well. If I hear any rumors about Selena after this, or any other rumor in general, you will be fired.”

A few people flinched.

“I hired you to work, not to gossip. Don’t turn this place into a marketplace. If I find out anyone is still talking after this meeting, that person can just submit their resignation letter. Do you understand?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, the conference room doors burst open.

Lyra walked in with a bright, fake smile. “Sorry, everyone, I’m late.”

“It’s good that you’re here,” I said, staring straight at Lyra. “Why did you start a rumor that’s disrupting the company atmosphere?”

“What rumor? What are you talking about?” she asked with that annoying confused tone.

“Don’t act smart with me. I’m talking about the rumor about Selena,” I said, trying to control my anger.

“I didn’t start any rumors,” she replied instantly. “I only told the truth. I simply thanked her for attending and listening to our meeting and for taking care of you physically. I saw you and her kissing each other, that’s all. Am I not allowed to say what I saw?”

My anger boiled. “That’s our privacy. What gives you the right to talk about it? What gives you the right to speak about anything that concerns me?”

Her eyes dropped but she still tried to look innocent.

“Lyra, don’t think because I know you means I won’t fire you. I won't tolerate any negative words about Selena. Don’t test me,” I warned, my voice low and dangerous.

I didn’t wait for her to answer. I turned around and walked out of the conference room, my anger still burning as I headed straight to my office.

How could they all say that about her? Was that the reason she didn’t come to work today? Was she hurt by their words? The thought made something twist painfully in my chest. I know my harsh words yesterday probably made everything worse. She must have been devastated, that’s why she left early.

In the middle of my thoughts, the door burst open without a single knock.

Lyra stormed inside.

“Marcus, I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her voice trembling. “I know I shouldn’t have done that. It’s just that I love you. I love you so much I can’t stand another woman being close to you. Seeing you kiss her, seeing how close you two were, it made me furious and jealous. That’s why I did it. I’m truly sorry.”

I stared at her coldly.

“I don’t care about your feelings,” I said, my voice sharp. “I don’t like you, and you will never be with me. I know how you warn off every woman who comes near me, and I turned a blind eye because I didn’t want them getting ideas. But listen carefully, Selena is different.”

Her face twisted instantly with irritation and envy.

“If you try anything funny,” I continued, “if you dare hurt her, I will not spare you. And it’s Alpha Prince to you.”

She swallowed hard but still asked,

“Then tell me something, Alpha Prince. She isn’t your mate, so why did you kiss her? Why do you let her near you? What does she have that I don’t? I’m prettier than her.”

“That’s none of your business,” I snapped. “Get out. And don’t test my patience. If you harm Selena. I will tear you apart.”

“Fine,” she whispered, then left.

But I didn’t trust a single word from her mouth. All I could hope was that she wouldn’t push her luck, because Rylan didn’t joke when it came to Selena. If Lyra tried anything, he would kill her without mercy.

I tried to work again, but by the time I finished the files, it was already evening.

I went home, but Rylan refused to let me rest. He kept pushing, growling inside my head, urging me to go see her. He was restless, pacing, demanding.

We must see her tonight.

I didn’t have a choice.

Her address was on her profile, so I drove straight to her parents’ house.

But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I arrived.

A wolf.

A rogue wolf.

And it was trying to hurt Selena.