LOGINRyder West“Find her!” I shouted, my voice cracking as I slammed my fist down on the desk in the security room. The monitors flickered in front of me, showing different angles of the building. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely click through the footage. “I want every camera, every second from the last hour. Now!”The guards scrambled around me, typing frantically on keyboards. One of them tried to speak but I cut him off with a glare. “Don’t give me excuses. Just find my girl.”I dropped into the chair, my chest heaving as I pulled up the feed from the 28th floor. The timestamp showed Clara walking into the bathroom. Then nothing. Ten minutes later the window was open and she was gone. No clear images of the intruders. Just shadows moving too fast, too professional.“Fuck!” I growled, slamming my fist down again. The mouse cracked under my hand. Tears burned in my eyes and I didn’t even try to stop them this time. They spilled down my face as I stared at the empty room
Ryder West“Here, this should help,” I muttered to myself as I stirred the hot cocoa in the mug. I didn’t want Clara feeling like I was looking down on her or treating her like some fragile thing that needed fixing. She had already been through enough. I just wanted to do something small, something normal, to show her I was there.The spoon clinked against the side of the mug while I added a little extra marshmallow on top the way I had seen her do once at the office. I was just turning toward the hallway when my senses suddenly sharpened. My hearing picked up something faint... a soft scrape, almost like fabric brushing against glass. Then a strange scent hit me, sharp and almost like a chemical, before it vanished just as quickly.Intruder.“Shit!” I gasped, the mug slipping from my hand. It crashed onto the floor, hot cocoa splattering everywhere and shards of glass scattering across the tiles. I didn’t even look down. My heart slammed against my ribs as I bolted toward the be
Clara Bennett“I’m fine,” I called out through the bathroom door, my voice sounding weak even to my own ears. “Really, Ryder. I just need a little more time.”There was a long pause on the other side. I could almost picture him standing there, running a hand through his hair like he always did when he was worried.He let out a deep breath, the sound heavy and tired. “Alright. I’ll make some hot cocoa for you. Take it easy on yourself, Clara. You’ve been through hell.”Then his footsteps faded away down the hallway. He didn’t push. He never really did.I let out a short, bitter laugh that echoed off the tiled walls. Take it easy? How the hell was I supposed to do that? My mom was gone. Victor was out there playing the grieving hero on every news channel while I was here falling apart in a luxury apartment I didn’t deserve. And the worst part? Ryder already knew everything. He had known for who knows how long, and he still looked at me like I was worth saving.I turned the water back
Clara Bennett“I need a minute,” I whispered, pulling back from Ryder’s arms. My voice sounded small and raw. “I just… I want to freshen up. Everything feels so heavy right now.”Ryder searched my face for a second, his eyes full of understanding. Just a while ago, he was just my boss and now, he was listening to my heart's cry. How could anyone disappoint such a pure heart? No way. Suddenly, I felt so shamed just thinking about it. I lowered my head, feeling my cheeks flash pink. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment. “Take all the time you need, Clara. I’ll be right out here if you want me.”I nodded and slipped out of his hold, my legs still shaky as I walked toward the bathroom. I heard his footsteps outside, as if he was pacing in the room.The second I closed the door behind me, I locked it and leaned my back against the wood, letting out a long, trembling breath. The fancy bathroom felt too clean, too perfect for the mess
Clara Bennett“Ryder, I can’t keep doing this,” I whispered, sitting up straighter in bed as the morning light grew brighter around us. My voice was still thick from crying, and my eyes burned. I pulled the blanket higher around my chest, suddenly feeling exposed even though I was fully dressed. “You’ve been so good to me, and I… I don’t deserve any of it.”Ryder sat up beside me, the sheets pooling around his waist. He looked at me with those intense dark eyes, his hand reaching out to tuck a strand of messy hair behind my ear. “Whatever it is, just say it. I’m right here.”I shook my head, my heart racing as the guilt finally became too heavy to carry alone. “No, you don’t understand. I’ve been lying to you this whole time.”Before I could talk myself out of it, Ryder stood up from the bed and walked to the center of the room. The morning sun streamed through the windows, catching on his bare shoulders. He rolled them back once, then looked straight at me.“You need to see this, Cla
Clara Bennett Sunlight filtered through the big windows the next morning, soft and warm across the bed. I woke up slowly, my eyes puffy and heavy from all the crying. For a second I forgot where I was, until I felt the steady rise and fall of a chest beneath my cheek and strong arms wrapped around me. Ryder. He was still asleep, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw during the day. His dark hair was messy, one arm tucked under his head while the other held me close against him like he was afraid I might disappear. I stayed perfectly still, listening to his heartbeat, letting myself have this one quiet moment before everything crashed back in. My mom was gone. The thought hit me again like a fresh wound. Tears stung my eyes immediately, but I blinked them back. I didn’t want to wake him yet. Not when he looked so peaceful holding me. Ryder stirred a few minutes later, his eyes opening slowly. The second he saw me watching him, a small, sleepy smile tugged at his lips. “Morni
Clara Bennett“Clara!” Ryder’s voice cut through the quiet night like a lifeline I didn’t deserve.I looked up from the park bench, my vision blurry with tears. He was jogging toward me, his black t-shirt clinging to his chest, hair messy from the wind. Even in the middle of my breakdown, he looked
Clara BennettI sat there on the edge of the bed, still holding Ryder’s hand, my mind spinning in a thousand directions. The confession about him being an alpha werewolf should have sent me screaming out the door, but instead I felt this strange mix of fear and connection. He looked so raw sitting
Clara BennettMy eyes fluttered open slowly, the soft glow of a bedside lamp blurring everything at first. My head felt heavy, like I had been hit by a truck. I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar ceiling and the expensive sheets wrapped around me. Then it all came rushing
Clara Bennett“I don’t want this night to end yet,” Ryder said quietly as the car pulled away from the gala. His arm was still around my shoulders, holding me close in the back seat. The city lights flashed across his face, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the way his eyes kept flicking t







