Chapter 2: The Reveal

~ Mira's POV ~

“Attention,” intoned a smooth robotic voice, “security breach reported in the sixtieth story. Please go directly to the nearest fire exit.”

The hall’s lights started flickering and changing to an ominous crimson color.

I glanced around me. Other workers seemed undisturbed by the situation, calmly marching to their destination. This is definitely a drill.

Though there is no way for me to know…

There passed a guard, speaking into his headset: “Sector Four clear. Moving on to the executive section.”

Executive section… Where Luca had gone.

It was foolish. It was insane. And yet, I did not run for the stairs. I went towards where Luca went, because if I needed to beg him to get the job, I will.

I walked towards the executive suite instead of the direction of evacuation, my way illuminated by the red lights. I reached the pair of doors barely ajar and leading into what used to be the private suite of the company’s CEO.

There was a growling sound.

Deep. Guttural. Inhuman.

I froze. It sounded like some huge dog, or bear. I don’t know if I was delusional or not, but the sound can never come from the middle of a freaking company.

Back off! My instincts shouted.

Run! But my legs wouldn’t turn in the opposite direction. It was as they had a mind of their own.

But curiosity, along with the strange urge I had previously felt, kept my feet planted to the ground. I slightly pushed the door open. I couldn't be anymore stupid for doing so. But it felt as if my body was acting on impulse. My legs moved on their own towards the room and I entered it.

The office was huge, with one entire wall being made up of windows with a view of the city. There were some overturned pieces of furniture; the massive mahogany desk was cut into half. Everything was a mess, all the furniture that was turned was, destroyed. And this kind of things needed an earthquake to happen.

But what got my attention in the middle of the room was something out of this world.

This thing had a body covered with dark, furry hair, and claws that were digging into the shoulder of the screaming man in a suit, while the beast stood on its two legs.

With a howl that shattered the glasses in the windows, the monster threw his head back.

I froze, putting my hand over my mouth, trying to stifle the gasp that nearly escaped from my mouth.

The monster stopped.

Turning its head slowly and menacingly, the beast revealed its features.

It looked like a wolf, but with those crystal blue eyes...

Luca's eyes.

I backed up, almost tripping on the carpet.

The wolf bared its teeth through its mouth that was smiling. It had seen me before; it knew who I was. Its blue eyes glowed red in anger, a rage that went far beyond the natural animal kind.

Before I even managed to take a step in her direction, the wolf pounced, not at me, but at the door. Within mere seconds, he was shifting; fur was retracting, bones snapped into place, and the creature vanished.

A couple of seconds later, Luca Moretti stood there, completely human again, yet completely nude, sweaty, and bleeding. Yet those eyes were still crazed.

Nicolas entered the room through another door, pointing a gun and holding a robe in the other hand.

"Luca, the intruder is defeated, but-"

Nicolas noticed me. He noticed Luca. He noticed the terrified expression on my face.

"Fuck," Nicolas whispered.

Luca remained silent. He did not question me or Nicolas. Grabbing the robe Nicolas had thrown at him, he put it on and stepped toward me in one swift movement.

I could not move. I could not breathe. I could not make sense of what I had just witnessed.

“YOU!” he snarled, venomous sound emanating from his throat.

“Luca …” I breathed. “What … what ARE you?”

“You didn’t go into the stairwell,” Luca said in a menacing, threatening voice. His voicw wasn't entirely human.

Am I going crazy?

He stalked towards me without stopping until he towered above me, inches away. My back was to the wall, body quaking.

“Seven years,” he murmured, his voice vibrating through my bones. “You slither back into my life, after all these years, and the very first thing you do … you spy on me?”

“I didn’t know! It wasn’t meant to be –”

“You didn’t know?” He let out a cold laugh, humorless. He grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. “You had the nerve to walk into my office, without an invitation, and see the ONE thing that I keep hidden away from everyone else, after all these years?”

“Please,” I implored. “I won’t tell anyone … I just needed a job. I’ll get out of your life … I’ll go, leave the city –”

“Do you think I will allow you to exit that door?” Luca whispered, his face inches from mine. “Do you think that knowing my secret is enough, but even worse… you are indebted to me.”

“I am not in any kind of debt!”

“You have seven years owed to me,” Luca growled. “You think that becoming someone like me requires forgiveness for all those who hurt me? No. Becoming a king requires conquest over them.”

He turned his gaze toward Nicolas.

“Nico, evacuate the premises,” Luca commanded. “Get the lawyers on speed dial.”

“Luca…” Nicolas began slowly. “This is Mira. Are you sure –”

“Never have I been more sure of anything in my life,” Luca replied without taking his gaze off of me. “She wants to play games? Wants to run away again? She isn’t going anywhere this time.”

He lowered his face next to my ear, whispering something that would terrify me forevermore.

“You did not want me while I was poor, Mira. But you are going to learn to want me now.”

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