6 Chapter 6


    Seraphina’s POV 1


    At exactly eight o’clock Monday morning, I stood on the top floor of Nightshadow Industries, my heart hammering against my ribs. The skyscraper practically dominated an entire block of Silver Moon Harbor’s most prestigious district, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire harbor sprawled beneath us like a glittering jewel. 1


    “Wee to Nightshadow Industries, Miss Knight.” ire greeted me with elegant grace, radiating the natural authority of a mature


    female, though her eyes held genuine warmth. “Let me introduce you to everyone.”


    The office décor was sophisticated and refined-rich mahogany furniture ented with silver details, and the Nightshadow family crest


    gleamed from every corner in polished chrome. Everyone I met was polite and weing, though I could sense their slight hesitation


    when interacting with me. After all, omegas were indeed rare in such high-level corporate environments. 2


    “The boss is still handling pack business out of town and won’t return until the weekend,” ire exined as she showed me around my


    work area. “You’ll be working directly for our Alpha-it’s quite an honor.”


    Alpha… I swallowed hard. As an omega, I’d never imagined I’d one day work so closely with one of the most powerful Alphas in the entire


    werewolf world.


    “Sera, rx. We can do this,” A whispered soothingly in my mind.


    At ten o’clock, I received a text from Ophelia confirming she’d arranged Adrian’s interview at a new elementary school. Nervously, I


    approached ire to request time off to handle my son’s school matters.


    “How old is your child?” ire asked gently, without a trace of reproach.


    “He’s four years old. His name is Adrian.” I took a deep breath. “He wasn’t nned, but he’s the entire meaning of my life.”


    “Adrian-that’s a beautiful name.” ire smiled. “And his father? Are you two still in contact?”


    My heart plummeted. How could I exin that I didn’t even know Adrian’s father’s name? But I wouldn’t lie.


    “Adrian’s father is someone I met at the Lunar Assembly five years ago. We… we only had one night together.” I lowered my head, bracing


    for her judgment.


    To my surprise, ire’s expression grew even more gentle, almost understanding.


    “Seraphina, you have my respect,” she said, grasping my hand. “Single motherhood isn’t easy, and sharing something so personal with


    such honesty takes tremendous courage. Thank you for trusting me. Go take care of your son’s school arrangements. It’s your first day—


    there’s nothing urgent. Take your time.”


    During lunch, I met Ophelia and Adrian downstairs from the building. My little boy looked adorable in the new clothes I’d bought him,


    his dark brown curls catching the sunlight, but what drew attention most were those eyes-deep blue with silver flecks that looked


    exactly like…


    “Mommy!” Adrianunched himself into my arms, his smile capable of melting my heart entirely.


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    The elementary school was wonderful. Adrian passed his interview with flying colors and immediately began ying with the other children. Interestingly, the other kids seemed naturally drawn to him, clustering around him like he was their chosen leader. The teacher


    “He’s delightful,” the teacher said softly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “You and your husband have done an excellent job raising him.”


    I just smiled awkwardly without responding.


    At one-thirty, I returned to the office, my heart still warm from seeing Adrian’s excited face at his new school. ire hadn’te back yet, so I sat at my pristine new desk, carefully organizing my morning notes. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to- ceiling windows, casting everything in a golden glow that made me feel almost optimistic about this fresh start.


    Then the phone rang.


    The sharp sound cut through the peaceful silence like a de. This had to be my work line-my first real call as a Nightshadow


    Industries employee. My palms instantly grew damp, but I took a steadying breath and answered as professionally as I could manage:


    “Nightshadow Industries, CEO’s office. Good afternoon, how may I help you?”


    The silence that followed was soplete I wondered if the call had dropped. Then I heard it—a long, frustrated sigh that seemed to


    carry the weight of the world. When the voice finally came through, it hit me like a physical force.


    Deep. Rough. Absolutely dripping with irritation and something far more dangerous-an aura of raw power that reached through the


    phone line and wrapped around my throat like invisible fingers.


    “Put ire on the phone.”


    Every instinct I possessed screamed at me to submit. My wolf practically ttened herself against the ground in my mind, whimpering.


    My hands began to shake, but I somehow managed to keep my voice steady:


    “I’m sorry, sir, but ire isn’t back from lunch yet. Is there anything I can help you with, or would you like to leave a message?”


    The pause that followed felt like an eternity. I could practically feel his impatience crackling through the connection like electricity


    before the storm.


    “Who the hell are you?”


    My free hand clutched the edge of my desk so tightly my knuckles went white.


    “My-my name is Seraphina,” I stammered, then forced myself to sound more professional. “I’m Mr. Nightshadow’s new senior assistant.”


    “Tell ire I want to see her the moment I step foot in that office. Not five minutester. Not when she’s convenient. The moment.”


    “Of course, sir. I’ll make sure she gets the message immediately.” I paused, knowing I should just hang up but unable to stop myself from


    asking, “May I ask your name so I can tell her who called?”


    The explosion of rage that followed made me jerk the phone away from my ear.


    “Your BOSS!” he roared, the words practically vibrating with fury.


    The line went dead with such violence I could practically see him mming the phone down.


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    372 <ul><li> спартer o </li></ul>


    I sat frozen for several heartbeats, the receiver still pressed to my ear, listening to the dial tone while my entire world tilted off its axis. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hang up the phone. Every cell in my body felt electrified with terror and something else 1 couldn’t name.


    “Oh God,” I whispered, burying my face in my hands. “Oh God, oh God, oh God.”


    I’d done it. On my very first day, I’d managed to enrage the most powerful Alpha in Silver Moon Harbor.


    “Sera?” ire’s voice made me jump so violently I nearly fell out of my chair. She was standing in the doorway, concern etched across her elegant features. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What happened?”


    My mouth opened and closed several times before I managed to croak out, “Boss called.”


    ire’s eyebrows shot up. “What did he say?”


    “He-he wanted to speak with you, and when I told him you weren’t here, he got very…” I swallowed hard. “Very angry. He said he wanted


    to see you the moment he gets back to the office.”


    ire studied my face with sharp eyes. “And how did he sound to you?”


    I let out a shakyugh that bordered on hysterical. “CHe was about to explode. Actually, I think he did explode.”


    To myplete bewilderment, ire burst into delightedughter.


    “Oh, Seraphina,” she chuckled, settling into her chair with obvious amusement dancing in her eyes. “You look perfectly intact to me. Do


    you know what happened to thest girl who answered one of his calls?”


    I shook my head mutely.


    “She quit. Immediately. Didn’t even finish out the day.” ire’s smile widened. “And you’re still here. That’s rather impressive.”


    “Impressive?” My voice came out as a squeak.


    “I think I just sealed my own professional death warrant.”