Chapter four

THE WOMAN WHO WALKED INTO MY OFFICE

KARIN'S POV

The door slammed shut behind her, and my office fell into complete silence.

I remained seated behind my glass desk, staring at the closed oak doors. My mind was still trying to process what had just happened. Annie Moonbane. The name echoed in my head. She had walked in like a storm, kissed my neck, and slipped something into my pocket without a single moment of hesitation and she just left like that.

My security team and secretary rushed into the room, looking panicked.

“Alpha! Are you alright?” my head of security asked, his hand already on his gun. “Should we stop the woman who barged in?”

I didn’t answer right away. I just kept staring at the door. Something was… wrong. Or maybe something was finally right. I couldn’t tell yet.

The secretary spoke next, her voice nervous. “Sir, I tried to stop her but she pushed past everyone. Do you want us to bring her back or call the authorities?”

I raised my hand slowly. “Leave.”

They looked surprised

“Alpha?” The secretary asked hesitantly.

“I said leave. I want to be alone.”

They bowed quickly and backed out of the room, closing the door behind them. The silence returned.

For the first time in years, my wolf, Kaelan, was completely calm.

He had been restless for as long as I could remember. He growled at almost every woman who came near me. He rejected them. Ignored them. Made me feel irritated and empty. But today…

For one reckless, bold woman…

Kaelan was calm.

And then he spoke inside my mind, clear and strong.

Mine.

I froze in my chair. My hand gripped the edge of the desk so hard the glass creaked.

Mine, Kaelan repeated, his voice deeper this time. She belongs to us.

I shook my head, trying to push him back. “No. You’re wrong.”

For years, Kaelan had hated every woman who came close, after Myra died. He had rejected every potential mate the pack elders suggested. He made me feel cold and isolated. I had learned to live with it. I had accepted that marriage would only be a business arrangement. Nothing more.

But Annie Moonbane had walked in, grabbed my tie, kissed my neck, and left  like it was the most natural thing in the world. And instead of feeling angry, my wolf was purring like a satisfied cat.

I stood up and walked to the window. Fur City stretched out below me, full of lights and power. This was my city. My empire. I had built Voss International into a global powerhouse after my parents died. I had learned early that emotions were weaknesses. Alliances were tools. Marriage was a contract.

I reached into my suit pocket. My fingers brushed against something soft. Lace.

I pulled out the panties Annie had left. They were delicate, black, and still carried her scent. Sweet. Wild and addictive.

I stared at them for a long moment.

Then I laughed.

A real laugh. The sound surprised even me. It had been years since I laughed like that.

My assistant knocked and peeked in, looking horrified. “Alpha? Are you… alright?”

I folded the lace and put it back in my pocket. “Interesting,” I said simply.

He looked shocked. No one had ever seen the cold Alpha laugh before.

I sat back down and called my head of security. “Run a full investigation on Annie Moonbane. I want every detail. Her life, her family, her reputation, her work history, her relationships,  everything. Do it quietly and quickly. I want it on my table before the end of today.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I hung up and leaned back in my chair. Why had she done it? Why walk into my office and demand I marry her instead of her sister? It wasn’t love. She had anger in her eyes. But my wolf didn’t care. Kaelan kept repeating the same word.

Mine.

I tried to ignore him. I had an arranged marriage with Lina Moonbane. The alliance was important for both packs. Business came first. Emotions were dangerous.

But I couldn’t stop replaying the moment. The way she grabbed my tie. The softness of her lips on my neck. The confidence in her voice when she said “Make me your Luna.”

No woman had ever spoken to me like that.

A short time later, my head of security sent the file. I opened it on my computer and read every word carefully.

Annie Moonbane. Twenty-four years old. Adopted into the Moonbane family as an infant. She dreamed of opening a small bakery one day. She loved animals. No major scandals. Known for being kind, hardworking, and quiet. A graphic designer who kept to herself.

The report didn’t explain why she suddenly walked into my office and asked me to marry her. That mystery only made me more curious. My instincts told me there was much more to Annie than anyone realized.

I closed the file and placed it in my drawer.

My secretary reminded me gently, “Alpha, you have dinner with the Moonbane family tonight to finalize the engagement with Lina.”

I looked at the drawer where Annie’s file was hidden. “Tonight will be… interesting.”

I stood up, straightened my suit, and walked toward the elevator. Kaelan whispered one final time.

We are about to meet our true mate.

I ignored him and stepped into the elevator, determined to treat the dinner like any other business meeting.

The drive to the Moonbane pack house was quiet. The city lights of Fur City faded as we drove to the outskirts. The mansion was grand and traditional, but I could already sense the tension in the air.

I stepped out of the car and looked at the house for a moment. Somewhere inside was Annie Moonbane. The woman who had walked into my office and turned my world upside down in five minutes.

I straightened my jacket and walked toward the entrance.

This dinner was going to be anything but ordinary.