LOGINEstelle's POV
"I was dead serious, like I was giving a conference presentation."
"He needs a secretary, and I need to break away from Cassius's circle of contacts. The chief secretary position at the Kinnell Group is enough for me to rebuild my network. That's all."
Amelia stared at me. "With a top-tier Alpha like that right in front of you, you really don't have any thoughts about him?"
I looked at her without expression. "Do you think Theron is the kind of man wh
Estelle's POVI nodded impassively. "Yeah. The Moon Goddess must be pretty bored today."The door swung open, and the scent of an Alpha flooded the room.Cassius walked in and sat down beside me. His gaze swept over my face before settling on my hands. Only after confirming I wasn't hurt did the tension in his aura ease slightly.Then, without warning, he reached out, pulled my face toward him, and started feeding me."You're this hungry? You came out here just to eat on your own? Why didn't you tell me?" His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened.I tugged at the corner of my mouth but said nothing.Cassius looked up at Theron.Two Alpha auras clashed in silence, like rival wolf kings sizing each other up across a contested border."Alpha Theron," he said with a cold smile. "You really enjoy hanging around other people's mates, don't you? She has a mate. Didn't you know that?"The entire Italian restaurant f
Estelle's POVThe message had barely been sent when Amelia's call came through.I frantically hung up and switched to text.Amelia replied almost immediately: [Who saved you? In that godforsaken place of yours, who else but me would come looking for you in the middle of the night?]I stared at the screen, momentarily lost in thought.I'd originally planned to brush it off, but since she'd asked, not answering would only make me look guilty. And what exactly did I have to feel guilty about?So I typed a name with complete honesty: [Theron.]There was a three-second pause before her messages exploded across the screen.[??????][What's going on?!][Nightshade's Alpha personally came to save you?!][That's way beyond a boss caring about an employee, isn't it?!]The corner of my mouth twitched. [Because I'm a hero.]Amelia replied instantly. [Then do another heroic deed. Shouldn't he reward you wi
Estelle's POVThe next second, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, and suddenly my feet left the ground."Aaaah—Help! Somebody's trying to kill me!"I struggled wildly, kicking and flailing. Several solid kicks landed on whoever was behind me.Then a deep voice sounded above my head."No one's trying to kill you."The moment I heard it, I froze.That voice was unmistakable—familiar in a way that settled deep in my bones. It was like mountain spring water after the thaw: cool, clear, and strangely reassuring.My struggling gradually stopped, and I turned my head.Moonlight filtered through the treetops, illuminating a face so striking it was almost intimidating. Pale skin. Deep-set eyes. And that presence unique to a top-tier Alpha—like a sandalwood forest beneath a winter sky, powerful and dangerous, yet remarkably restrained.I stared at him, completely dumbfounded.At that moment, a be
Estelle's POVIn that moment, a crimson glow flashed in his eyes."Regret?" He stared at me, his voice low and dangerous. "But you're already my Luna.""I used to be!" I finally screamed, breaking down. "You're the one who betrayed me! You're the one who neglected me! You're the one who left me suffering through the Bond every single day!"The tears came uncontrollably, one after another."Why am I the one paying the price for all of it? Cassius, how did you become this cruel?"The carriage fell silent.I watched the madness in his eyes fracture piece by piece, leaving behind nothing but pain—raw, unbearable pain.He lifted a hand toward me, then stopped halfway, as though he no longer had the right to touch me."I'm sorry," he whispered. "Estelle, I'm sorry. It's my fault. All of it. I just…"His voice broke, sounding like the whimper of a wounded wolf."I just didn't want to lose you."
Estelle's POVThe compartment was hazy with cigarette smoke. His tie hung loose around his neck, and dark strands of hair had fallen across his forehead.I had to admit it—Cassius was still devastatingly handsome. Mature. Dangerous. Every inch the Alpha.But the image that surfaced in my mind wasn't the man standing before me.It was the boy from years ago. The boy who would blush whenever our fingers brushed. The boy who'd hidden his first bouquet behind his back, too embarrassed to hand it over.That boy was gone.He'd been gone for a very long time.I drew a slow breath and met his gaze."So?" I asked. "What exactly do you want?"Cassius exhaled a stream of smoke, his eyes never leaving mine. They were frighteningly dark, like a wolf studying its prey.A long moment passed.Then he suddenly leaned closer.The scent of tobacco brushed against my skin as his deep voice filled the cramped compa
Estelle's POVThe estate's black iron gates slid slowly open.Just as our car rolled out, a white SUV was pulling in from the opposite direction.The two vehicles passed each other in the fading twilight."Cassius!"A shrill voice sliced through the air.I turned my head. Melody was practically hanging out of the back-seat window, which had been rolled all the way down. Half her body was outside the vehicle. Sitting beside her was Lyra.There was no way Cassius hadn't heard her.A werewolf could hear leaves rustling hundreds of meters away. A scream like that might as well have been right beside him.Yet he didn't so much as blink.His dark eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, cold and still as a frozen lake.The oppressive weight of his pheromones filled the car, thick as storm clouds gathering over a forest. It made every breath feel heavier."Melody's calling you," I said cautiously. "Can't you hear her?"No response.Not even the slightest change in his breathing.It was as thou
Third Person's POVMeanwhile, it had been raining all day in Caerwyn, the capital city.Dark clouds loomed over the city like decaying hides, and the cold, damp air carried a heavy mix of metal and earth. The atmosphere felt oppressive, like the last breaths of a dying beast.Inside a law firm in t
Estelle's POVThe party was over.The air still hung heavy with the mingling scents of alcohol, perfume, and the pheromones of various wolf clans—chaotic, cloying, and vaguely unpleasant.I stood off to the side of the hallway, waiting for him to emerge.A few seconds later, Theron pushed open the
Estelle's POVHis tone was so firm there wasn't even a hint of hesitation.I had no choice but to fall silent. After all, he was the Alpha—what he said went.I nodded. "Okay. I was wrong."He didn't move, didn't leave. If anything, the pressure around him seemed to grow heavier."You don't believe
Estelle's POVThe air went still—completely still.It felt like I'd left my brain at the door."Oh… oh," I let out a nervous laugh. "That's good—no, I mean… I get it."That was it. Over. And somehow, the atmosphere only grew more awkward.I turned away to make the call."Alpha, what would you like







