Chapter 2

Three Years Later

Keyla's POV

"Ms. Andrew!" The organizer called out.

"That's me!" A girl sitting three seats away from me answered, raising her hand.

"You're up!"

I watched as the girl stood up and walked towards the interview room. Before she got in, the guy who had gone in earlier stepped out. He had a depressed look on his face.

I felt my heartbeat fasten. This was a huge opportunity for me, but yet I was scared I was going to mess up. Knights Group was the wealthiest company in the country. It belonged to the family of the Alpha of the Knight Pack.

After Mom and Dad died, I moved to the White Moon Pack with Curtin. But a month ago, I returned to Knights Pack to stay with Oakley, my best friend, and her family. Though they were nice and accepted me with open arms, I still didn't want to be a burden to them, just like I was to Curtin. If I could get a spot here in the Knights Group, then I would definitely be able to fend for myself.

I watched as the person next to me went in. But when it was supposed to be my turn, someone else was called. I walked towards the organizer.

"Excuse me, Sir, you skipped my name," I said to him.

He looked at the notepad in his hand, and then back at me. "What's your name?"

"Keyla. Ms. Keyla Scott."

I watched him glance through the list of names in his hand. "Hmm. It's not here."

My heart skipped a beat. "Can you please check again?"

He glanced through once more but shook his head. "Still not here." He pulled out the Notepad beneath the one he was looking at earlier and glanced through it too.

"Oh. Here it is," He said, pointing to my name. "There seems to have been an error."

I panicked. "An error? What kind of error?"

He looked at me. "Well, you applied to be a receptionist at the front desk, but instead, your name was inputted into the list of those applying for the position of secretary."

I was taken aback. "What does that mean? Am I not getting the job?"

"That depends on your performance during the interview," he replied.

"So I'll still be taking the interview, right?"

"Yes, you will." I felt relieved at first until he said his next words. "But not now."

"What do you mean by that, Sir?"

"Since your name isn't on this list," He tapped the notepad from earlier. "And is on the other one, then you'll have to take the interview for that one. That's if you're okay with the position."

I didn't know what else to do, so I nodded. "Yes, Sir, I'm okay with it."

"Okay then. So the interview will start in three hours—"

"—THREE HOURS?!" I yelled, grabbing the attention of everyone in the hallway.

The organizer raised a brow at me. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Umm... No Sir. It's just that I arrived at 8 a.m. and have already been here for three hours. I don't think I can wait much longer."

He chuckled. "Well, I am sorry Ms. Scott, but Knights Group is a prestigious organization that follows order, and we do not bend it for anyone. The other interview starts in three hours. You can either leave or wait. Besides, you seem to have forgotten something: you need Knights Group, not the other way around."

Without saying anything else, he walked away, leaving me both shocked and devastated. But he was right. I couldn't help but sigh. I had my options laid out before me, and I knew the one to pick.

But first, I needed to have breakfast. I left Knights Group and headed for a Café by the corner. This morning, Oakley had insisted that I eat before leaving, but I refused. Who would have thought that I would be in such a situation?

I walked up to the Barista at the counter. He was a young guy, maybe my age. He was handsome and tall. He was probably some human boy who had to make money to pay off his college bills.

When I got to the counter, he leaned in. "Hello," he said, his smirk deepening. "So what can I get you?"

I scanned the menu above him. “Umm... I’ll take a cappuccino and an everything bagel with cream cheese.”

He nodded, penning down the order. “Anything else?”

“That’s it,” I said, sliding a bill across the counter.

He handed the note to someone through the window opening behind him. I was about to walk away when he spoke up.

"So tell me, what's a beautiful wolf like you doing here in the city?"

I was shocked, but not by his question. Though most cities in the country were governed by wolves, we still loved to stay close to the woods and away from the big cities. What surprised me was the fact that he could tell I was a wolf.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Know what?" He looked confused.

I looked behind me; there was no one there. Then I leaned towards him. "How do you know that I'm... You know, a wolf?"

"Uhh... I can smell it on you. Though it's faint, it's still there."

"Oh."

He raised a brow at me. "Don't you?" He asked. My silence seemed to have given him his answer. He couldn't help but chuckle. "What kind of grown-up wolf can't smell others around her?" He stopped and narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute, don't tell me you haven't gotten your wolf. How old are you?"

Just then, someone came out of the door behind the counter with my order. I grabbed the tray.

"Hey, wait a minute!" The Barista yelled, but I didn't stop. I found a table far away from the counter and sat there. I was sure he wouldn't be able to leave his post of duty.

As I took a bite out of my bagel, I recalled the Barista's words. It brought back memories. Memories I had tried to forget. He was wrong. I had my wolf. At least I had her—once—three years ago. She just had to come at the wrong time.

After eating, I rested my head on the table, reminiscing. While I was together with Curtin at the White Moon Pack, he never tried to hide his anger and blamed me for Mom and Dad's death. I knew I deserved it. But what hurt more was him trying to reconnect me to her, Karen, my wolf.

He would make me go through brutal trainings; trainings that would cause me pain and push me to anger just so it would trigger a shift and a reconnection to my wolf. Well, it didn't work—I didn't allow it.

"Hello. Hello Miss," Someone called out, tapping me. I rubbed my eyes as I opened them. It was the Barista from earlier. He pointed towards my bag. "Your phone. It has been ringing for a while now."

"Thank you," I muttered. I opened my bag and pulled out my phone. Oakley was calling.

"What's up?" I said as I picked up the call.

"Where the heck are you, Keyla? I've been trying to reach out to you for ages now."

I rolled my eyes as I chuckled at her exaggeration. "Sorry about that. My phone was in my bag."

"Okay. So tell me, how was the interview?"

My eyes widened as I heard the word 'interview.' I pulled away my phone from my ear and stared at the screen. It was already three hours past.

"No, no, no." I stood up, picking up my bag. "I'm sorry, Oakley, but I'm going to have to call you later."

I ended the call and zoomed out of the Café. In less than five minutes, I was in the Knights Group. Just as I got to the hallway where the interview was taking place, I heard the organizer call out my name.

"I'm here!" I screamed and then crouched over, gasping for breath.

He looked at me for a few seconds before shaking his head. "You're up."

I tried to straighten my disheveled hair as much as I could. Just as I closed the gap between me and the interview room, I felt her, Karen. A chilly sensation ran through me, something I had never felt before.

I froze one spot, confused by the sudden feeling I was experiencing. Why the heck was she there? We never reconnected. I thought she was gone forever. Why did she have to show up again?

"Are you okay?" The organizer asked.

"Yes, I am. I'm just feeling a little bit nervous," I lied.

He sighed. "Well, that doesn't matter, because they are waiting for you."

I nodded and started for the door again. The feeling doubled. Karen was hopping inside of me, panting and... longing. It was like she was excited about something.

Stepping into the room, that was when it hit me—like a thunderbolt. Woodsmoke, leather, and cinnamon mixed. I wasn't a fan of cinnamon, but right now I long for it.

I scanned the room. All of a sudden, my eyes landed on him—the cinnamon—my mate.