LOGINELIANA My head was pounding. No—throbbing, like someone had lodged a tiny drummer inside my skull and given him very poor rhythm. I groaned and rolled onto my side, immediately regretting it as the room spun. Okay. Breathe. I opened my eyes slowly. This was… not my room. The ceiling was unfamiliar—sleek, modern, with soft recessed lighting instead of the faint crack near the fan in my bedroom at home. The sheets beneath me were smoother, cooler. The air smelled different too—clean, faintly masculine, with something warm and comforting underneath it. Panic flared. I bolted upright and instantly clutched my head. "Bad idea," I muttered to myself. My heart hammered as I scanned the room. Large windows. Dark curtains. A minimalist dresser. A chair with a jacket draped over it. Someone else’s bedroom. Oh God. My hands flew to the blanket, and I yanked it down just enough to check. Fully dressed. Skirt. Blouse. Even though my shoes were gone, but everything else was exactly w
JEREMIAH The office didn’t look like itself that evening.The harsh white lights were dimmed, replaced with warm gold tones. Music floated through the open space, laughter echoing off glass walls, and for once, people weren’t glued to screens or rushing between deadlines. The project launch had been a success—months of work paying off—and the celebration was well deserved.I stood near the edge of the gathering, a glass of water in my hand, watching.I didn’t drink. Never did. Not because I couldn’t—but because I didn’t want to lose control. Especially not tonight.Eliana was there.She stood with Moana and a few others, her laughter lighter than usual, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol. She looked… free. Relaxed in a way she rarely allowed herself to be during office hours. The sight tugged at something deep inside my chest.My wolf stirred.Mine.I clenched my jaw.Chris was there too.I noticed him the moment he stepped closer to her—too close. His laughter was louder, his postu
ELIANA I woke up to the soft glow of morning sunlight filtering through my curtains—and confusion.For a long moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together how I’d ended up in my own bed. The last thing I clearly remembered was sitting in Jeremiah’s car, clutching a cup of hot chocolate while cramps twisted mercilessly inside me.Then… nothing.I slowly pushed myself upright, wincing a little, but to my surprise, the pain was almost gone. Not completely—but it was reduced enough that I could breathe normally again.That was strange.I looked around my room. Everything was familiar. My blanket. My bedside lamp. My phone charging exactly where I always left it."How did I get here?" I murmured.I definitely hadn’t walked upstairs on my own.A faint blush crept up my cheeks as a memory surfaced—strong arms, warmth, the faintest hint of a familiar scent.Jeremiah.My heart skipped.I shook my head quickly and climbed out of bed, trying not to overthink it. As
JEREMIAH By the time the day finally dragged itself to an end, my patience was in ruins.I shut my laptop with more force than necessary and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling for a long moment. Work had been impossible—every report blurred, every meeting dragged—because my attention kept drifting back to one thing.Her.I stood and walked out of my office, ready to leave for the pack. I needed distance. Control. Space to breathe without her scent clouding my thoughts.But when my eyes fell on the desk outside my officeEliana wasn’t there.Her chair was pushed in. Her computer was shut down. Her bag was gone.A flicker of unease slid through me.She usually waited until I left.I inhaled instinctively.Her scent was still there.Not faint. Not lingering.Present."She’s still in the building," I muttered.My wolf stirred, alert immediately.'Find her.'I followed the trail without thinking—down the corridor, past empty offices, toward the quieter end of the floor. The s
JEREMIAH Yesterday was a mistake.That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I stood in front of the mirror, tie perfectly straight, expression perfectly calm and mind absolutely not.I could still feel it.That almost-kiss.The brush of her lips against mine had replayed itself all night, cruel and relentless. I hadn’t slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her wide-eyed, breathless, warm in my arms.'Control yourself,' I told my reflection.My wolf scoffed.'You pulled away.'"Yes," I muttered under my breath. "Because I had to."'Because you were scared.'I clenched my jaw. "Enough."The elevator ride up was worse than yesterday. Every sense was already on edge, tuned to one thing, one person. By the time the doors opened on the executive floor, my wolf was restless, pacing like a caged animal.And thenHer scent hit me.Fresh. Familiar. Dangerous.She was already at her desk.My heart rate spiked instantly.She looked up when she heard my footsteps, and for half a seco
ELIANA The ride was… quiet.Not the comfortable kind.The kind that pressed against my chest and made it hard to breathe.Jeremiah drove with one hand on the steering wheel, his posture rigid, eyes fixed on the road ahead. The city lights slipped past the windows, blurring into streaks of gold and white, but I barely noticed them.He said that he wanna discuss some work but haven't said anything about it yet.All I could focus on was him.The car felt too small. Every movement, every breath, every shift of air between us felt magnified."So," I said finally, just to break the silence, "you wanted to discuss… business?"He cleared his throat. "Yes."But he didn’t start.I glanced at him briefly, then looked away just as fast. My heart was racing for no logical reason. This was my boss. A man I’d known for barely a few days.Then why did it feel like this?The car hit a slight bump, and my hand slid against his arm where it rested near the gearshift.The contact was brief.Accidental.







