MasukAfter I left Kiera’s office, I went straight to my office.The door closed softly behind me, but the silence inside felt heavy. The lights were dim, the curtains half drawn. Everything looked exactly the same as always, neat, controlled, untouched. Yet something felt different. Something was missing.The envelope was placed neatly on my table.I stopped walking.For a moment, I just stood there, staring at it. I knew what was inside. I had known since yesterday. When she called that night, asking for a leave, my fingers had tightened around my phone.I almost asked her not to go.The words were right there, on the edge of my tongue. Stay. Do not go. Tell me why you need to leave so urgently. Tell me you want me to care.But I stopped myself.I had already crossed enough lines. I had already let myself feel too much. If I asked her to stay, then what? What right did I have?She saw me as nothing.That was what she said.So I let her go.I sat down on the chair slowly and opened my lapt
Instead of leaving that night, I decided to leave the next morning.I did not know why, but something in me wanted to stay a little longer. Maybe it was the warmth of the pack, the familiar laughter, or the way I finally felt like I belonged somewhere. When I told my aunties in the morning that I was leaving, they reacted as if I had just announced something terrible.“No,” my auntie said immediately, holding my hand tightly. “You are not leaving today.”“Yes,” another auntie added, shaking her head. “You just arrived. You cannot leave already.”I laughed softly. “I have work. I only took one day.”My grandfather, who had been sitting quietly on his chair, suddenly stood up. His eyes were already red.“You are leaving?” he asked.I walked toward him and knelt in front of him. “Grandfather, I have to.”His lips trembled. “You remind me so much of your mother.”My chest tightened.“You look exactly like her,” he continued. “Your eyes. Those blue eyes. Your long black hair. Even the way
When I entered my apartment, I locked the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment.The silence welcomed me, but it also reminded me how tired I truly was. I slipped off my shoes slowly and dropped my bag on the chair. My body wanted nothing more than to fall onto the bed and sleep for hours, but I could not afford that luxury.Not yet.I walked into the kitchen, washed my hands, and began preparing something light to eat. I did not have much appetite, but I forced myself to eat anyway. I knew better than to let hunger add to my weakness.When I was done, I cleaned up quickly and went straight to the small table by the window. I placed my laptop there, spread out the documents neatly, and took a deep breath.Focus, Kiera.You have to finish this.The screen glowed softly as I opened the files. Numbers, projections, reports. My fingers moved over the keyboard, correcting, arranging, double checking everything. Time passed without me noticing. The only sounds were the clicking
By the time the clock struck evening, my head felt like it was about to split open.Stacks of files covered my desk, some neatly arranged, others scattered like they had been thrown there in frustration. My eyes burned from staring at the screen for too long, and my shoulders ached from sitting stiffly for hours without rest. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the pressure building there.This was too much.I exhaled slowly and pushed my chair back. I needed a break. No, I needed permission to breathe. Just one day off. One day to clear my head and reset before I completely lost myself. And also to visit my late mother's pack.I gathered the courage I had left and stood up.The Alpha’s office was down the hall. My steps felt heavy as I walked, each one filled with hesitation. I rehearsed my words in my head.Just be honest, Kiera.You are exhausted. You need rest.I knocked on the door.No response.I knocked again, slightly louder.Still nothing.I frowned and tried the handle. Lock
This morning, I forced myself to wake up as early as possible.My body felt heavy, like it had not rested at all, but I dragged myself out of bed anyway. I could not afford to be late again. Not today. Not with everything already going wrong.I washed up quickly, dressed, and took the Alpha’s car keys from the table. Driving his car back felt strange. I appreciated the gesture more than I could put into words, yet I never had the chance to thank him properly. The moment I stepped into the company premises, everything dissolved into chaos again.I returned the car keys quietly and went about my duties like nothing was wrong.By late morning, my head was pounding.Phones rang nonstop. People rushed past me with files clutched tightly in their hands. There was panic hidden beneath forced professionalism. Meetings followed meetings, and then another meeting in his office. Everyone was on edge.I excused myself to the restroom, needing a moment to breathe and answer a call.As I washed my
The next morning at the company was nothing short of chaos.From the moment I stepped out of the elevator, I could feel it in the air. Tension. Panic. Fear dressed up as professionalism. Employees moved back and forth with tablets clutched to their chests, voices hushed but urgent, heels clicking too fast against the marble floor. Phones rang endlessly. Screens flashed red numbers that no one wanted to look at for too long.Our stocks were still dropping.And I knew this was not ordinary market behavior.“This is interference,” I muttered under my breath as I walked down the hallway. “Someone is deliberately stirring trouble.”Another pack. Another Alpha. Someone bold enough to test me.I entered the boardroom without slowing my steps. Conversations died immediately. Every eye turned to me.“Sit,” I said curtly.They obeyed.The meeting resumed with sharp words, overlapping explanations, and endless charts projected onto the screen. I listened. I analyzed. I dissected every detail. Ye







