Chapter 4

Bella's POV 

His voice was calm, professional but yet it still sent a strange feeling in my chest.

I slowly walked toward the desk. Each step was more difficult than the previous.

Thousands of questions suddenly sprang into my mind.

Out of all the places in the world, why was he here? And why would the moon goddess mated me to him?

My heart was pounding and it hurt me.

What kind of cruel twist was this?

I had been avoiding anything to do with that night for three months. I had left Nightwood Pack behind. I had a new life here. I had convinced myself I would never see him again.

Yet here he was.

I moved forward but the closer I got, the harder it became to breathe.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to stay calm.

No. I wouldn't want to lose control now. I needed this job

"Sit." he ordered.

And I quickly lowered myself into the chair across from him.

My hands rested in my lap while I tried desperately to compose myself.

Forget that night.

Forget his face.

Forget everything.

This was an interview, Nothing more.

I lifted my gaze and found him already watching me.

His eyes were so sharp, they could see anything.

"What's your name?" he asked.

I wanted to laugh, but I didn't. I was shocked at the question. How could he ask that?

I still remembered the way he had moaned my name that night. The memory flashed through my mind before I quickly pushed it away.

He knows my name. Or at least he should. Unless that night meant nothing to him.

The thought hurt more than expected in my heart.

"Bella," I answered quietly.

Something flickered across his face So fast I almost missed it. Then it disappeared.

He quickly looked at the file in front of him.

"Tell me about your previous work experience."

The question brought me back to my senses.

I cleared my throat and answered with my lies carefully because apparently I had never worked in any company before.

During the interview he asked a question one after the other.

Why did I apply for the position?

How did I deal with stress?

What would I do when faced with difficult situations?

In the beginning I got so nervous it made things worse. I felt my voice shaking very slightly, and the fear of saying the wrong thing was still in my head.

Then I slowly started to get comfortable.

I knew my lies to answer him.

I was ready for this!

Every time he asked something, I answered confidently even though I could feel his eyes on me.

As if he was trying to understand something.

Finally, he leaned back in the chair nodding his head.

I felt some relief and a bit of a disappointment simultaneously.

Relief because he hadn't discovered the truth.

Disappointment because...He truly didn't recognize me.

I didn't like it more than I had to when I realized it.

How could he not remember?

That night had altered my whole life. It had brought me a child in my womb.

And worst moon goddess given him as my second chance mate.

Yet he sat across from me looking completely unaffected, as if he didn't feel the bond.

I tightened my hands into fists under the table.

Stop it, Bella.

What did you expect?

For him to jump up and recognize you immediately?

To remember all that for one night?

I forced the thoughts away.

“Accountability is a priority for this company,” he added. "Do you believe you'll be able to balance your life with the job?"

"Yes sir," I replied firmly.

He lifted his eyebrow a little.

We were frozen silent for several seconds. So for a long time, there was no sound.

It was a type that had me see everything.

The deep sound of his breathing.

How he patted his fingers on the desk once.

The faint scent surrounding him.

The same fragrance which tormented my sleep for months.

Quickly parted my eyes. Goddess, get yourself together.

This was ridiculous.

Finally, Alpha Xander closed the file, the sound made me jump slightly.

His face took on a blank look.

"Miss Bella."

The beat of my heart increased.

This was it.

The decision.

I straightened up in my seat.

"Yes?"

He folded his hands on top of the desk.

"You performed well."

I felt relief and a hope flickered inside me.

"Your test scores were average compared to some of the other candidates," he continued.

My stomach dropped.

"But."

One word take the panic from me.

His eyes met mine.

"The oral interview was impressive."

I lost my ability to breathe.

"You demonstrated good judgment. Adaptability. And honesty."

I could hear my own heart pounding in my ears.

Then Alpha Xander took a piece of paper and signed it, without even breaking his gaze from me.

Then he pushed it over the table.

I stared at it.

Appointment Letter.

I felt I experienced this for a second, but then I knew it was not a figment of my imagination.

My eyes widened.

"I..."

My voice cracked.

I swallowed and tried again.

"I got the job?"

"You got the job, you will be working as a receptionist."

The words echoed in my head.

Unable to hold back a laugh, it spilled out.

Relief rushed through my body so powerfully my eyes stung.

I had done it. For the first time in months I was able to breathe again.

"Thank you," I whispered.

I can't keep my gratitude from my voice.

His eyes glinted a little.

Report tomorrow morning at 08:00.

I nodded quickly.

"I will, thank you."

So I walked out of the office, then. I hardly recall when I had left the building.

Afterwards, it was all blurry.

The appointment letter remained clutched tightly in my hand as I stepped into a cab and gave the driver my address. The city moved outside the window in a stream of traffic, people, and towering buildings, but I hardly noticed any of it.

My mind was in another place.

With him.

I looked down at the folded up paper in my hands.

I got the job.

The thought should have filled me with nothing but happiness.

For months, I've been thinking about money. About rent. About how I was going to take care of a baby when I could barely take care of myself.

There was finally stability in my life.

A job.

A salary.

A future.

So why was Alpha Xander the only thing I could think about?

I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes.

The memory of his face immediately appeared.

His golden eyes.

His deep voice.

His look behind that desk being powerful without having to do it.

A shiver ran through me.

Goddess.

Of all companies in Atlanta, why did I have to apply to his?

And why was he the owner?

The driver's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"We're here."

I blinked and quickly paid him before stepping out.

The night air was now cooler.

I hovered over my stomach as I walked toward our apartment building.

It will be alright.

It wasn't really a strength in the words even in my own mind.

Because I wasn't sure they were true.

The trouble was not the work itself:

The problem was keeping it.

I couldn't afford any complications.

I could not afford to have some drama.

Most importantly, I couldn't afford Alpha Xander discovering the truth.

If he found out this baby belonged to him...

I kept from completing the statement.

No.

That couldn't happen.

He didn't recognize me.

That, though, was obvious.

To him, I was simply Bella, a new employee.

Nothing more.

That's exactly how I wanted it to remain.

When I walked in the apartment was quiet.

Asma wasn't home yet.

I felt a little bit better.

I wasn't ready for questions.

Dropping my bag onto the chair, I kicked off my shoes and slowly sat on the edge of my bed.

The room seemed rather quiet for that time.

I took out the appointment letter once again and unfolded it.

I read the words a hundred times looking for something I would recognize.

A smile slowly touched my lips.

I had done it.

Against all odds, I had done it.

Yet the smile didn't last long.

My thoughts drifted back to Alpha Xander.

Tomorrow I would see him again.

Not as an applicant.

As his employee.

A nervous knot formed in my stomach.

Would he be there every day?

Would I have to interact with him often?

What if my wolf reacted the same way every time she saw him?

What if I accidentally meet one on one with him?

What if—

I thought I almost jumped out of my skin as someone knocked so hard on the door of my apartment.

My heart pounded so hard against my ribcage.

Who was that?