CHAPTER 9

WADE'S POV

Liam. Right. Just hearing his name makes my jaw lock. My best friend would literally tear me apart if he knew I’d fucked his little sister. Twice.

"There's nothing to tell, Zach," I say firmly. "Now, was there an actual reason you came here, or did you just want to annoy me?"

Zachary sighs dramatically. "Fine, be a secretive bastard. But yes, there's another reason. Your father called me last night."

Of course he did. "And?"

"He's still on your ass about settling down. Says you need to have a mate before you can officially take over as Alpha." Zachary gives me a pointed look. "He's not going to let this go, Wade. You know how traditional he is."

Oh, I know.

Alpha Jonathan Cross. My father. The current Alpha of our pack and the biggest pain in my ass.

He's been pressuring me for years to find a mate, settle down, produce an heir. All the traditional bullshit that comes with being the son of an Alpha.

"I'm aware of his feelings on the matter," I say dryly.

"It's not just feelings anymore. He's kinda making it a requirement." Zachary leans forward. "And don't forget, you've got that big business deal and pack alliance event in three days… the one with the Silvermoon Pack and Northstar Industries merger. You need to look stable and committed, Wade. Not like some bachelor playboy who can't keep his dick in his pants. Having a mate would go a long way toward securing that deal."

Fuck. I'd almost forgotten about that.

The Silvermoon alliance is crucial for expanding our territory and business interests. But the Silvermoon Alpha, Douglas Hawke, is even more traditional than my father. He won't take me seriously unless I have a mate by my side.

"I'm working on it," I lie.

"Working on it how? You planning to pick up a random woman at a bar and claim she's your mate?" Zachary raises an eyebrow. "Because I gotta tell you, that's not going to fly."

"I've been thinking of hiring someone," I admit. "Someone to play the role temporarily. Just long enough to close the deal and get my father off my back."

Zachary stares at me. "You want to hire a fake mate?"

"It's not ideal, but it's practical."

"It's insane is what it is." He shakes his head. "What happens when people find out? When your father finds out?"

"They won't find out if we do it right." I say. "I'll find someone professional. Someone who can play the part convincingly without making it complicated."

"Right." He snorts, clearly unimpressed. "You know what would be less complicated? Actually finding someone you give a shit about and dating them like a normal person."

"I don't have time for normal dating, Zach."

"You don't have time, or you don't want to deal with the emotional baggage?"

"Both."

Zachary sighs, standing up and clapping me on the shoulder. "Well, good luck with your fake girlfriend plan. I just hope it won't blow up in your face at all."

"I'll manage," I reply. "I don't have a lot of other options right now."

~~~

Zachary leaves, and I finish breakfast in silence before grabbing my briefcase and heading out to where my driver is waiting.

The ride to Meridian Enterprises is uneventful, and I spend most of it reviewing emails on my phone and trying not to think about Zachary's words.

A fake mate. It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud, but it's the only solution I can think of. I need someone who can attend the event with me, smile and play the devoted partner for my father, and then disappear once it's over.

Someone who won't ask questions or get attached.

Someone like...

No. Absolutely not.

I am not even considering asking Lila to be my fake mate. That would be insane. She's Liam's sister, my new secretary, and someone I've already complicated things with enough.

But my wolf disagrees.

By the time I arrive at the company, I'm wound tight with anticipation and something that feels dangerously close to nervousness.

Which is fucking ridiculous. I don't get nervous.

I acknowledge a few employees with a curt nod and take the private elevator to the fifteenth floor, and the moment the doors open, I see her.

Lila.

She's at her new desk just outside my office, arranging files and looking absolutely fucking gorgeous in a fitted brown dress that hugs her curves in all the right places. 

Her hair's pulled back in a neat ponytail that makes me want to wrap it around my fist, and she's biting her lower lip in concentration as she organizes papers.

My wolf perks up immediately.

She hasn't noticed me yet, too focused on her work, and I take a moment to just... look.

To admire the curve of her ass as she bends to grab something from a lower drawer. The way her dress rides up slightly, giving me a glimpse of her thighs.

My cock twitches, reminding me of the dream, and I have to adjust myself before walking over.

I move silently, years of Alpha training making my steps nearly soundless, and come up right behind her. Close enough that I can smell her shampoo again. Close enough to feel the heat radiating off her body.

I reach out and gently grab her waist, my hands spanning the curve of her hips, and she jumps, spinning around so fast she drops the stack of papers she was holding.

"Oh shit!" Her hand flies to her chest, and her eyes widen when she realizes it's me. "Mr. Cross… you… you scared me!"

"Good morning to you too," I murmur, not letting go of her waist. 

Fuck.

She feels even better than I remembered, soft and warm and perfect.

"S-Sir..." She tries to step back, but I hold her in place. "What are you doing?"

"Greeting my secretary." I let my thumb trace small circles on her hip, watching her pupils dilate. "Is that a problem?"

Her breathing quickens, and I can see her pulse hammering in her throat. She's nervous and flustered.

Good.

"Yes, actually. This is..." She glances around nervously. "This is inappropriate. Anyone could see."

"Let them see."

"You have a fiancée," she hisses, and there it is. The hurt I saw yesterday still fresh in her eyes.

"About that…"

"I don't want to hear it." She finally manages to pull away, putting distance between us. "Whatever excuse you're about to give me, I don't want to hear it. What happened yesterday was a mistake. It won't happen again."

"Lila…"

"Miss Reeves," she corrects sharply. "At work, I'm Miss Reeves. And you're Mr. Cross. My boss. Nothing more."

My wolf snarls at the rejection and at the invisible wall she's trying to put up between us. But I can see the way her hands are shaking, the way her breath is coming faster.

She wants me just as much as I want her. She's just too stubborn to admit it.

"Fine," I say, my voice dropping to a commanding tone that makes her shiver. "Miss Reeves. My office. Now."

"But I need to finish…"

"Now."

She opens her mouth to argue, then seems to think better of it. Good girl.

She bends down to pick up the scattered papers, and I get a perfect view of her ass in that dress, and my cock immediately stirs with interest.

Fuck. This is going to be a long day.

She pulls herself upright, clutching the papers to her chest like a shield, and walks past me into my office. I follow, closing the door behind us with a soft click.

The moment we're alone, the air changes. Gets heavier. More charged.