73. Scent Of Something Wrong.

Rose POV

I couldn’t get the morning out of my head.

No matter how hard I tried.

I sat at my desk, staring at the screen in front of me, but the words blurred together. Numbers, charts, lines—none of it made sense. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, frozen.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

Get it together, Rose.

I had told myself that at least ten times already.

Still, my mind refused to cooperate.

The feeling of warmth.

Strong arms around me.

The sense of safety that didn’t make sense.

And then… emptiness.

I pressed my palm to my chest.

“I imagined it,” I whispered to myself. “I must have.”

That was the only explanation.

People don’t just appear in your bed and disappear without a trace.

And yet… my body remembered.

The way I had slept so deeply.

The way I woke up calm, not restless like usual.

The way my room still felt… different.

I shook my head and straightened up.

This was exactly how I got dragged into trouble before.

Thinking too much.

Feeling too deeply.

Letting memories control me.

I inhaled slowly and focused back on work.

New city. New job. New life.

That was the promise I made to myself.

I glanced at the file on my desk—the one Damien had asked for earlier. My stomach tightened a little at the thought of seeing him.

Damien was… strange.

Polite one moment.

Cold the next.

And then there were those eyes.

They always felt like they were seeing more than they should.

Still, he was my boss.

I gathered the file, stood up, and walked toward his office.

Each step felt heavier than it should.

I stopped in front of his door and knocked lightly.

“Come in,” his voice said.

I pushed the door open.

Damien POV

The moment she stepped inside, the air changed.

I felt it instantly.

A sharp pull in my chest.

My senses flared before my mind caught up.

Her scent hit me like a wave.

Not human.

Not vampire.

Not wolf.

Her strange scent.

Something layered.

Something new.

And beneath it—

I froze.

That scent.

That damn scent.

Wolf.

Strong.

Alpha.

Fresh.

Too fresh.

My fingers curled slowly at my side.

No.

That wasn’t possible.

She worked all day.

She lived alone.

I had checked.

And yet…

My body moved before I could stop it.

Rose POV

I didn’t even see him move.

One second, Damien was behind his desk.

The next—

He was in front of me.

His hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me sharply toward him.

I gasped.

“What—!”

His other hand came up, gripping my waist.

Too strong.

Too tight.

I tried to step back, but my feet barely moved.

Then he leaned in.

And sniffed me.

Slow.

Deep.

Along my neck.

My throat.

My lips.

My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

“What are you doing?!” I cried, pushing against his chest.

Nothing.

It was like pushing a wall.

Panic crawled up my spine.

Fear burned behind my eyes.

He smelled me again.

Longer this time.

“Where have you been?” he asked, his voice low… rough.

His lips brushed to my skin...sending a sensation to my spine.

My breath hitched.

“Who were you with?”

My hands shook.

I pushed harder, desperation kicking in.

“Let go of me!”

Nothing.

Tears filled my eyes.

I couldn’t break free.

I couldn’t scream.

I couldn’t even think.

I had never felt so small.

So trapped.

My voice broke.

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

His grip tightened slightly.

The pressure hurt.

Then suddenly—

He froze.

Damien POV

The wolf scent was undeniable.

It was wrapped around her like a shadow.

Possessive.

Protective.

Recent.

My head snapped back.

An Alpha...the alpha.

My heart pounded.

That scent should not be here.

Not on her.

Not this close.

Not this strong.

I looked at her face.

Fear.

Pure fear.

Tears pooled in her eyes.

Her body trembled.

Something snapped inside me.

I released her immediately.

My hands dropped as if burned.

“What have I done…?” I whispered.

My control rushed back all at once.

Shame followed.

I stepped back quickly.

“I—” My voice faltered. “I’m sorry.”

Before she could react, I pulled her into a hug.

Careful.

Gentle.

Nothing like before.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, more clearly. “I lost control.”

She stiffened in my arms.

I felt it.

I released her immediately.

Rose POV

The moment he let go, I stumbled back.

My legs felt weak.

My heart was still racing.

I didn’t look at him.

I couldn’t.

I turned and ran.

Out of his office.

Out of his sight.

I didn’t stop until I reached the hallway.

Only then did I realize my hands were shaking.

My chest hurt.

My head spun.

What just happened?

Damien had never acted like that before.

Never.

I leaned against the wall, breathing hard.

Something was very wrong.

I wiped my face quickly and forced myself to walk away.

But inside…

I was scared.

Deeply scared.

Damien POV

The door slammed shut behind her.

I stood alone.

Silent.

The room felt colder.

I ran a hand through my hair and paced slowly.

“That scent…” I muttered.

There was no mistake.

Wolf Alpha.

Strong.

Close.

Possessive.

And it was wrapped around her like it belonged there.

How?

Why?

My jaw clenched.

“That Alpha was with her,” I said aloud.

And worse—

The scent wasn’t threatening.

It was… protective.

I stopped pacing.

My eyes darkened.

“Who are you, Rose?” I whispered.

Rose POV

I sat at my desk again, but work was impossible now.

My mind replayed everything.

His hands.

His strength.

The way I couldn’t move.

The way he suddenly stopped.

Why did he sniff me?

Why did he ask those questions?

I hugged myself slightly.

Then another thought crept in.

Why did he apologize?

I closed my eyes.

This city wasn’t normal.

The people weren’t normal.

And somehow…

I was in the middle of something I didn’t understand.

Damien POV

I stared at the door long after she left.

The Alpha scent still lingered faintly in the air.

My fingers curled slowly.

“If the wolves are involved…” I murmured.

Then my lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile.

“…then things just became interesting.”