Chapter 5 Mr. Grumpy Alpha

Caroline's POV

I sat in the conference room of Thorne Enterprises, my palms slightly damp as I waited for the interviewer. The company was one of the most powerful in the country, located in Storm Valley Pack territory, where they dominated both land and business.

The conference room door opened, and a woman in her fifties entered.

Her light blonde hair was cropped short, and her clear blue eyes radiated elegance. Her tailored suit matched her refined presence.

"Caroline Bennett?" she inquired, extending her hand.

I nodded, shaking her hand firmly. "Yes, that's me. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Reed."

She gestured for me to take a seat. "Please, call me Clara. Now, let's begin your interview."

The next hour flew by as Clara asked me a series of questions about my qualifications, experience, and goals. I answered each one confidently, drawing on my preparation and genuine passion for the role.

As the interview wound down, Clara leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. "Well, Caroline, I must say I'm impressed. Your skills and enthusiasm are exactly what we're looking for in this position."

My heart leapt with joy. "Thank you so much, Clara. I'm thrilled to hear that."

"We did it!" Rory howled triumphantly in my mind.

Clara's expression then turned slightly hesitant. "However, there's something I feel I should mention before we proceed. It's about our Alpha, Draven Thorne."

I leaned forward. "Oh? What about him?"

Clara chose her words carefully. "Alpha Draven is... well, he can be quite demanding. He has high expectations for all pack members and employees. His leadership style is rather... intense."

I nodded, processing this information. "I see. Could you elaborate a bit more?"

Clara sighed softly. "He's brilliant, no doubt about that. But he's also known for his strong personality and exacting standards. Some find it challenging to work under his leadership."

I felt a flutter of curiosity mixed with apprehension. What kind of Alpha was Draven Thorne? My wolf, Rory, perked up, equally intrigued.

"I appreciate your honesty, Clara," I said. "I believe I can handle a demanding work environment. In fact, I thrive under pressure and high expectations."

Clara's smile returned. "That's good to hear. In that case, I'm pleased to offer you the position. Welcome to Thorne Enterprises, Caroline."

I smiled, unable to contain my excitement. "Thank you so much! I'm honored to accept."

As we shook hands, I couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious Alpha Draven. What would it be like to work for him?

The following Monday, I arrived at Thorne Enterprises bright and early, eager to start my new job.

I was greeted by Clara Reed.

"Caroline," she said. "I'll be showing you around today. Welcome to the pack... well, almost."

I smiled. "I'm really excited to be here."

Rory stirred within me as I followed her through the corridors. "Clara seems just as welcoming as she is capable," she mused.

Clara led me through the office, introducing me to various colleagues along the way. As we strolled past open workspaces and vibrant common areas, she explained more about both the company and the pack.

"Thorne Enterprises isn't just any company," Clara said with a note of pride in her voice. "We dominate the largest territory in the country, and our business operations stretch across the globe. It's a huge challenge, but Alpha Draven always handles everything in an organized way."

I nodded in awe. "That's truly impressive. How does he keep everything running so smoothly?"

Clara chuckled softly. "Well, let's just say he's a bit of a workaholic. Alpha Draven is incredibly driven and expects the same level of commitment from every member of our pack and team."

As we continued our tour, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation from a few employees.

"I heard Alpha Draven really laid into the marketing team yesterday..."

"He's tough, but damn, the results speak for themselves..."

With each comment, my curiosity about Alpha Draven deepened, and Rory was practically pacing in my mind, eager to learn all he could about our enigmatic leader.

Clara eventually guided me to a small, well-appointed office. "This will be your workspace," she said with a reassuring smile. "Now, let's get started on some paperwork."

Clara gave me a stack of forms, the Storm Valley Pack application right on top. I stopped at the membership section.

"Clara," I glanced up, "when do I meet Alpha Draven?"

"He's handling pack business in Europe," she said, checking her phone. "He'll be back this weekend. You'll meet our Alpha soon enough."

Clara noticed me studying the application and moved closer.

"Let me explain how we accept new pack members. First, there's a trial period where we check everything about you, including your pack record and if you've broken any wolf laws. We also watch how you fit in with our pack bonds and hierarchy. After you prove yourself worthy and all checks come clean, Alpha Draven performs the pack bond ceremony himself. It's a sacred ritual where your wolf truly becomes one with Storm Valley Pack."

As I filled out the rest of the paperwork, Clara continued describing the pack and company.

"We're one of the country's most influential packs," she said with pride. "And unlike some others, we have a strict non-discrimination policy. Scentless wolves and non-shifters—anyone with talent is welcome here. Under Alpha Draven's leadership, we've built not just a thriving business empire, but an inclusive, unified pack community. The standards are high, but the benefits of belonging here are absolutely worth it."

Her words buoyed my confidence and determination. I realized that I was not only stepping into a promising career but also into the midst of an extraordinary, dynamic pack.

After Clara's morning orientation and lunch break, I returned to my office early. While reviewing my notes, the phone rang.

"Thorne Enterprises, Executive Office. Good afternoon, how may I assist you?"

I answered the phone with my most professional voice.

What greeted me on the other end was silence. Then, a long, irritated sigh cut through the line.

"Put Clara on."

The voice was deep and powerful—made my wolf instincts react. Inside me, Rory let out an uneasy growl.

Still, I kept my tone cool and courteous.

"I'm sorry, sir, but Mrs. Reed hasn't returned from lunch yet. May I take a message, or..."

"Who is this?" His voice was angry and impatient.

Okay. Deep breath, Caroline. He's not going to rip through the phone and maul you. Probably.

"This is Caroline. I'm Mr. Thorne's new executive assistant."

There was a pause. "I don't know you."

"It's my first day, sir," I said, forcing a calm I didn't feel. "Would you like to leave a message?"

"Tell Clara to call me the moment she walks through that door."

"Certainly, sir. And may I ask who's calling?"

The response was immediate, curt, and pure Alpha fire.

"Looks like I'm your Alpha."

Click. The line went dead. My soul nearly followed.

Goddess above. What kind of beast was that?

No one ever said this job involved handling grumpy Alphas throwing tantrums over the phone. Was this what they meant by demanding? This was not what I had expected at all!

My throat tightened, and Rory whimpered in my chest. Had I already messed up on my very first day? Was I about to be demoted to coffee-fetcher before lunch—or worse, banished from Storm Valley Pack before I could even join?

Clara returned not long after, and I relayed the message, probably looking like I'd just seen a ghost—or heard one through a landline.

She took one glance at my face and chuckled.

"Let me guess, he was... calm?"

I blinked. Then snorted before I could stop myself.

"If that was calm, I'd hate to see him during a full moon. I'm pretty sure his wolf almost clawed its way through the phone line."

Clara laughed so hard I thought she might cry.

"You'll be fine. You might even be the one to tame him."

She winked. "Draven needs someone who won't tremble the moment he growls."

Tame him? Please. I'd be lucky not to end up as his mid-morning stress snack.

I wasn't so sure about that. Maybe I shouldn't even unpack my bags—this Alpha was going to eat me alive!

Rory snorted in my mind. "Don't sell yourself short, Caroline. We've faced worse."

I tried to take comfort in my wolf's confidence, but the knot in my stomach refused to loosen. What had I gotten myself into?