Ep 4.

Reynold's POV.

"It's that special moment when we extend a warm welcome to the newest addition to our pack, Kayla Hamilton!" Gamma Sam joyfully declared, setting off a symphony of applause from everyone gathered.

The atmosphere was charged with happiness and anticipation, as the purpose of this gathering and event revolved around the introduction of my new assistant.

Personally, I found myself in the dark about her identity, eagerly awaiting the disclosure of who my assistant would be.

My eyes anxiously surveyed the crowd, searching for any signs of someone making their way through the crowd to ascend the stage.

To my surprise, however, there was no such struggle.

A sudden, graceful movement to my right seized my attention, and as I turned, a wave of excitement washed over me.

There she was; Kayla Hamilton.

Unbeknownst to me all along, the woman with whom I had shared a brief and somewhat awkward encounter at the airport was now ascending the stage as my personal assistant.

The realisation hit me, and a surge of emotions followed.

I couldn't quite explain why, but the sight of her ignited a deep desire to have her close, to claim her as mine.

A smile automatically spread across my face, as having her had always been a secret wish of mine after seeing her at the airport.

Yet, in an unexpected twist, she came to a sudden stop in her tracks, leaving me hanging on the edge of anticipation.

Caught in a brief moment of astonishment and stillness, Kayla appeared taken aback, and the realisation dawned on me.

She hadn't expected that I was the Alpha, the CEO of the company she was about to join.

In an attempt to ease her discomfort, I extended my hand toward her, giving a sign for her to join me on the stage, to stand by my side.

However, she blatantly ignored my gesture. Undeterred, Kayla forced a smile as she composed herself and walked past my outstretched hand.

At that moment, I couldn't help but feel I had gone too far.

I retracted my hand quickly, and a wave of frustration swept over me, manifesting in a furious expression.

I was angry at myself for extending a gesture of help that she outright ignored.

Her refusal, especially in front of everyone, felt like a direct insult to the Alpha himself, which was me.

If she had uneasiness about accepting assistance, she should have conveyed them to me instead of making me appear foolish before everyone.

The badge was handed to me promptly, and without hesitation, I turned toward Kayla.

A frown etched across my face as I locked eyes with her, the intensity of my gaze reflecting the brewing tension between us.

Observing her face, I couldn't escape the noticeable emotions of pain, regret, and guilt that seemed to cloud Kayla's expression.

Although the reasons for her pain eluded me, I found myself unwilling to delve into the difficulties of her feelings.

At this moment, my decision was to reciprocate the coldness she had shown me.

However, a sense of duty prevailed; I needed to officially appoint her as my Assistant to complete the inauguration.

"I, Alpha Reynolds, bestow this badge upon you, Kayla Hamilton! From this moment onward until your tenure concludes, you shall serve as the Alpha's personal assistant,"

I declared, handing the badge to her. The usual act of attaching it to her shirt, however, was met with resistance.

Her earlier rejection of my attempts to make her comfortable lingered, making the task more challenging.

Turning back to the crowd, I wore an emotionless expression as they collectively bowed, a display of the respect expected in such moments.

With the inauguration concluded, the atmosphere transformed into a lively party.

Having fulfilled my responsibilities, I readied myself to leave the venue without uttering any additional words.

Coming down from the stage where Kayla stood, I instinctively scooped up Adora, my adorable little cup of cutie, into my arms.

Adora, ever the sensitive one, couldn't resist probing into the tension that lingered.

"Dad, are you mad at her?" she inquired, her smartness on full display.

"Adora, not one more word!" I sternly commanded, attempting to stifle any further discussion on the matter.

However, her stubbornness prevailed.

"Will you make her your second Luna and my mother too?" she persisted, causing me to halt in my tracks and turn to face her.

"Mind your words, Adora. Don't let rumours spread about Daddy, is that clear?" I cautioned, to which she nodded.

She then enveloped me in a warm embrace, her tender arms encircling my neck.

Exiting the venue and reaching my parked car, Ava's radiant smile greeted me.

Adora, overcome with joy, rushed towards her.

"Mommy!" she exclaimed with a beaming face.

However, Adora's eagerness was met with an unexpected sternness and harshness from Ava.

"Don't you dare call me that outside! Now, get into the car!" Ava warned sharply, leaving me puzzled by her sudden change in behaviour.

Approaching Ava, I was about to speak when she instantly embraced me tightly and planted a peck on my cheek.

The complexity of the situation only deepened, leaving me with a multitude of questions about the situation at play.

Silently, I entered the car, and Ava settled in beside me, clasping my hand tightly in hers.

Glancing at Adora, who appeared visibly disheartened, a pang of remorse tugged at me.

"Why do you always act so mad at her? Is there something she did to you that you're not telling me about?" I questioned, delving into the heart of the matter.

The anxiety etched across Ava's face was unmistakable.

"What? Did she tell you that? Come on, Alpha Reynold, you know Adora, and how stubborn she can be."

"I was just trying to correct her!" Ava forced a laugh, her hand brushing against my hair in a feeble attempt to lighten the mood.

"You act like you're not her mother, Ava! That's not right and you know it!" I asserted, openly sharing my emotions.

Immediately, Ava's expression shifted to one of fear, her eyes trembling.

Before I could inquire about her sudden fear, she skillfully redirected the conversation.

"Enough about Adora, Alpha Reynold! Who is your new assistant sent from the states?" she asked, attempting to shift my focus.

Releasing a deep breath, I stared ahead at the car's windshield.

Initially hesitant to respond, my attention was abruptly drawn to Kayla, who came out from the hotel building.

The sight left me momentarily speechless before finally speaking up.

"There she is, Kayla Hamilton!" I announced, prompting Ava to turn her gaze towards Kayla.

As soon as she laid eyes on Kayla, an observable mix of anxiety and shock swept across Ava's face.

"What? That can never be possible!" she muttered in disbelief and fear, her reaction revealing a layer of emotion that I couldn't quite understand.