Chapter 1

(Julia's POV)

"I'm busy right now. Please leave messa—"

Once again, my call to my boyfriend Kevin was dumped into voicemail—the seventh time today.

He used to answer my calls immediately, replying to my messages without fail. Now, staring at the endless string of unread texts on my screen, that initial excitement faded, and my heart sank like a stone.

Just moments ago, I found out about my promotion. My first instinct was to share the news with my beloved and best friend Kevin.

As the adopted second daughter, I'd grown accustomed to being overlooked, to never being anyone's favorite. It was Kevin who reignited my heart's long-dormant hopes.

But now... I forced down the unease coiling in my chest. Kevin was an adult. Maybe he was just caught up in something urgent.

I need to pull myself together and handle this with the same professionalism I show at work. I'd just been promoted to Acting Beta, with piles of work waiting for me. And my boss Alpha Ronan would probably revoke my promotion if he learned I took time off just to check on my boyfriend, and that's not an exaggeration.

Many of my colleagues who've worked in the packhouse for years still don't dare speak to him face-to-face. They say he verbally shredded a 6-foot-3 male colleague over an error—left the guy sobbing.

After downing a coffee, I forced myself to focus. My absentee sister Sandy had dumped a mountain of unfinished work on me before sneaking off early.

Classic Sandy. The golden child at home, the popular girl at school. Sandy basked in all the praise and admiration while leaving me to clean up her endless messes behind the scenes.

God, I couldn't wait to leave that house and start my own family with Kevin.

But the unease in my chest grew heavier, yet I couldn't quite untangle the reason why. I grabbed a stack of folders from my desk and started down the hall towards the accounting department.

I didn't get more than a few steps before I started feeling lightheaded. No, no, this is not happening, not here!

These dizzy spells have been happening a lot lately, though they usually hit after my late-night shifts, even my wolf, Aura, who should be healing me faster, has been listless. I'd assumed it was just exhaustion from overwork, but today... what the hell is going on?

Even worse, this time a searing pain tore through my chest—like someone was ripping my heart apart. My vision darkened as Aura whined low in my chest. The pain so intense I had to brace myself against the wall, doubling over to gasp for air.

"Should I prepare a bed for you here?"

The moment I steadied myself, that rumbling voice set my nerves on edge again. I instantly recognized it as Ronan's.

Not wanting to be mistaken for slacking off, I straightened up as best I could and met Ronan's gaze. I opened my mouth to explain, but stopped when his sharply carved features tightened slightly. His nostrils flared almost imperceptibly. "No perfume during work hours."

Confused, I insisted I'd strictly followed that rule. Ronan just gave a curt nod and walked away, his face unreadable.

By the time I finally cleaned up Sandy's mess and got off work, it was already past nine. As I made my way through the parking garage towards my car, I checked my phone again. Still no response from Kevin; should I go check on him at his place?

I called again but, just like before, it went to voicemail. I was about to hang up when I noticed something odd: Sandy’s car was still parked in her space. Weird. Didn’t she left early?

Maybe Sandy hadn't taken her own car. I wasn't planning to interfere until a muffled moan from the backseat caught my attention.

Peering through the window, I saw two figures entangled. My frown deepened—so this was why she'd stayed behind. I moved closer, ready to knock and tell her to leave, when another voice reached me. Quiet, but unmistakable.

It’s Kevin.

The one person I trusted most has betrayed me. It feels like my heart has been shattered into a million pieces.

I backed away from the car, my ears ringing and that same dizziness from before flowing through my body. Of course, no wonder even Aura couldn't heal this dizziness—the broken mate bond is affecting us both.

Unprecedented rage burned through me. Had all those loving words of support been lies?

Perfect. Just perfect. My mate and my own sister.

I heard the car door open, and watched Kevin stumble out.

“Julia?” Kevin reached out, but Sandy grabbed his arm, yanking him back towards her. She turned to me, looking concerned, but I could see the dark glee in her eyes. “Julia, I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”

I glared at Sandy in disbelief, furious that she could still act so self-righteous. "Save your ridiculous excuses—I know exactly what happened."

I didn’t spare Sandy a glance before locking eyes with a stunned Kevin. "And you. You make me sick. All those lies—was fucking my sister part of your ‘kindness’ too?"

Before they could even process my unprecedented outburst, my phone rang—a lifeline I desperately needed before this all-consuming rage burned away my last shred of sanity. I silenced the two traitors with a sharp gesture and answered the call.

“Hello?”

"I need that file we just discussed in today's meeting." Ronan's deep voice cut through before I could respond, followed immediately by an address rattled off without care for my agreement.

Resentment simmered in my chest—of all times to demand overtime, now? My reply came out sharper than intended: “I can’t, I’m dealing with a personal matter.”

"Make no mistake, this isn't a request. Either you come now, or don't bother showing up tomorrow."

He hung up before I could respond. I looked at Kevin and Sandy. “Kevin, we're done. Sandy, enjoy my leftovers.”

Kevin didn’t seem to have processed it yet when Sandy let out a shrill scream: "Who the hell do you think you are?! A boring workaholic like you, no man would ever want someone like that!"

Sandy's sputtering fury earned nothing but my turned back. Obviously, keeping my job trumped dealing with those two snakes and their excuses.

To my surprise, Ronan's address led me to a pub—the last place I'd expect to find him. But my worries were unnecessary. There he was, effortlessly negotiating with business partners, the deal already sealed. My documents just needed final confirmation.

Normally, I'd never drink during work hours, but today's timing and setting felt like fate itself. I couldn't resist ordering a drink, hoping to drown my grief.

Maybe it was the alcohol taking hold, but gradually, the rest of the world faded away. My gaze kept drifting back to Ronan, almost without conscious thought.

Probably the pub lighting, but Ronan—with an extra button undone at the collar—looked uncharacteristically relaxed... dangerously alluring. For the first time, I saw Ronan not just as an Alpha, but as a man—those broad shoulders, powerful arms, deep-set eyes...

God, I must've been under some spell before. Kevin was nothing compared to him.

My gaze locked onto his throat as he swallowed whiskey, the movement hypnotic enough to make me feel intoxicated by proxy.

Then came the real shock: hauling a drunk Alpha through the doorway. His scorching proximity burned my cheeks crimson.

I let myself be led, shivering as he pressed his chest against mine. I made a halfhearted effort to put some space between us, but then his nose brushed against my cheek and my body felt like it was on fire.

“Baby, you smell amazing... Wait, who are you again?"

My heart pounded as his stubbled cheek pressed against my own, then further down to my neck. Meanwhile, a subtle twinge of pain flickered through my core—the telltale prelude to my heat.

For months, Kevin and I had been too busy to be intimate. Now, long-dormant sensations flooded through me. Ronan’s arm locked around my waist, and just feeling the heat of his muscles visible even through his clothes, breathing in his woody scent... I could already feel myself getting wet.

When Ronan nuzzled my cheek again, I leaned in and kissed him.

How ironic—those lips that spat such cold words could be this soft.

A taste was all I'd planned, until Ronan's wicked hands turned my bones to liquid. My second attempt to escape his mouth just earned me a flight through the air. The bed creaked under me as his growl shook the room: "Mine."

A wave of throbbing pleasure ran through my body like wildfire, and I knew it was too late for me to leave now.

I was in heat. Uh oh.