Chapter 2

Violet

Morning came too soon.

Sunlight filtered in through the blinds as I tried to feel a familiar presence by my side.

“He didn’t return all night.” Rain supplied an answer to my unspoken question. Those words caused more pain than the tightly wrapped bandage around my arm.

Yet, I forced my heavy eyelids to open and looked to the side. The chair was empty, and the side of the bed was cold.

The silence pressed against my heart, suffocating me. I wasn’t a stranger to loneliness or silence, but it felt like a weapon poking at me, stabbing me where it hurt the most.

The door to the hospital room opened, and the doctor walked in, smiling at me.

“Glad to see you are awake. Your vitals look good. Just avoid doing anything strenuous for a few days.” 

I nodded and slowly pushed myself up in a sitting position as he scribbled on his notepad.

“Did Alpha Nate stop by?” I asked the doctor hesitantly.

“I believe he has been in back to back meetings all day.”

Of course, he was working. He was always working.

“Thank you, doctor,” I said in a small voice as he changed my bandage.

I tried not to let the familiar pang of hurt cross my features again. Nor did I gather the courage to ask if he had checked on my well-being with the doctor.

He walked away shortly, leaving me to my own thoughts.

“Work is more important than you, I take it,” Rain spoke sharply.

“You know he has a pack to run, Rain. Our pack” I insisted.

She only scoffed. “Yes. He has time for everything else except you. And you are too blind to see it, which makes me sick. So starting today, Nate can receive three chances at most. If he fails all three, which I know he will, we are dumping his ass.”

“We have spent wonderful moments together, Rain. Our love deserves more than three chances,” I said desperately.

“He has already exhausted one.” Rain wasn’t convinced, but I clung to the hope like it was my last resort.

Not wanting to argue with her anymore, I decided to get some air and stepped out after I got discharged.

I had barely enjoyed a second of the cool breeze when my phone buzzed again. Luckily, it was a call from my mom.

“I heard of the attack today at the café and recalled how you had been gushing about your date. How was it? I hope you are okay,” she asked, voice laced with concern.

I lied. “I…am fine, Mom. Just got a few scratches.”

But she noticed how I avoided answering her question entirely.

“Fine isn’t the same as happiness, Violet. I really wonder how my smart girl fell for someone so stupid.”

“Mom!” I groaned, realizing that she was going to lecture me all over again.

“Nate is not worth your time or love. Several people spotted him with a random girl and informed me, but I wanted to hear it from you. Your silence proved that I had been right all along.”

“Mom, Nate is not like that…” I began, but she cut me off sternly.

“I still get an earful from your father for supporting your decision to date that loser. But I can’t see my daughter waste her life anymore. Besides, a war is knocking at our door.”

“Why? What is going on?” I frowned, feeling a stab of guilt at being so engrossed in my own life that I had grown completely oblivious to the things happening back at home.

“It is more of a political crisis, dear. We need to secure an alliance soon and even though I don't like saying this, marriage is a good way to secure it.”

“You are going to leave dad in such a crisis” I joked despite knowing very well she meant a political marriage between me and whatever alpha heir they wanted an alliance from.

“I am sending you a picture and details. Take a look at…” She began but I hastily disconnected when I saw someone approaching me.

“Hey Violet, I heard about the cafe incident and thought of paying you a visit.” Linda, one of the high-ranking she-wolves in Nate’s inner circle, smiled at me.

“Yeah, I am fine. Thanks for your concern,” I replied, and meant to turn away, but her next question made me pause.

“You two lovebirds can’t seem to get enough of each other, can you?” 

“I am not sure I follow,” I replied, and she looked at me teasingly.

“Word has it that some serious reshuffling is going on in the office. And the post of Director Acquisitions just opened up. I wonder who that might be?”

I tried not to grin.

I had been spearheading as the head of the acquisitions department for a while, but never knew Nate was planning on promoting me.

Had we already cracked the Emerald project? Nate had mentioned in passing that he would open up a senior role soon after we secured the bid.

Had Nate finally realized his mistake and wished to make it up to me? Hope soared in my heart.

“See, he is fixing it,” I told Rain, who only muttered, “I guess we will find out soon”. 

The next day as I parked my car and walked towards the office, I kept seeing people staring at me, gossiping with each other.

Apparently, word had spread about the new post.

“I heard there is going to be an announcement of a new Director soon.”

“Ruling the alpha both at home and office…what more can you ask for?”

“She’s got the alpha wrapped around her finger”

Hushed whispers reached my ears, and I fought to keep the grin off my face.

“Good morning, Miss Violet,” my office assistant, Jenna, greeted me as I walked in my cabin.

She would address me as Luna soon after we made it official. 

I smiled at that thought as Jenna briefed me about today’s meetings and my schedule for the week.

“Can you check when Nate’s calendar is free?” I asked, and she quickly connected with his secretary.

After a brief conversation, she informed me, “Alpha Nate has cleared all of his schedule to meet up with a few potential new clients for today.”

“New clients?” I looked up at her.

I was the head of acquisitions, so all new clients came to me first. Only after my approval did they get a chance to meet Nate.

We followed a strict protocol, so it was weird that a new client had shown up without my knowledge. Maybe he was keeping it all a secret for the big reveal.

“Did she tell you who it was?” I asked, and Jenna shook her head.

“It is some classified information.”

“Classified sounds like a lie,” Rain warned.

“Maybe he is planning the promotion,” I told myself rather than her.

"Nope, he is planning on losing his second chance to keep you in his life," Rain seemed to be keeping track of the chances.

I gave Jenna a brief nod, kept my calm and focused on work, despite Rain’s pestering.

An hour later, I had reached the last page of the file.

The contract was ready to be signed. Only Nate’s signature was pending before I sent it out to our legal team.

I could have sent it through Jenna, but curiosity got the better of me, so I headed towards his cabin myself.

His secretary wasn't at her desk, but Derek, his beta, stood guarding the door.

“I am sorry, but I am under strict orders from the Alpha not to let anyone in.”

“I am not just anyone,” I reminded him, but a voice drifted down the hallway.

“Hey, I am here to meet your alpha as he requested.”

I turned around to see Nicole smiling sweetly at Derek, and completely ignoring me.

“Of course, he has been waiting for you,” Derek replied and let her in readily.

My stomach turned.

I meant to follow her, but he put his hand in front of me and closed the door.

“Sorry, alpha’s orders.”

“Let me in! I have an important contract to discuss,” I explained, but he shook his head.

“You will have to wait until the alpha is free”.

“Like hell I will,” I seethed and pushed the door open before he could intervene.

And inside, I saw Nate watching something on his laptop while Nicole was leaning close, her hand thrown on his shoulder possessively.

“What is going on? Nate, why have you been avoiding me all day?” I demanded.

He was about to get up, but then Nicole gently pushed him back and then cupped his face.

“Relax. No need to get worked up.”

“Why the hell are you letting her touch you like that?” I lost my calm.

As if to mock me, Nicole let her arm stay on his shoulder and looked me in the eye.

“Relax, he is overworked, and I am helping him unwind a little.”

“By putting your hands all over him?” I shot back, and she had the nerve to look offended.

"Watch your tone, Violet," Nate barked, and I stared at him in shock.

"I told you to relax, didn't I? You don't need any more stress in your life."

She coddled him like she was his girlfriend while he was shooting glares at me.

"Look, Violet, I know staying honest to your partner is a slippery slope if he is just working all day. But you have to understand that he is doing it for you."

I blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean?"