Chapter 34


    “Hazel, Chloe,” their superior called, her voice interrupting their thoughts.


    Both women turned their attention to her, ready to receive their next set of instructions.


    “You will be working with Tesco’s design team starting next week,” the woman exined, her tone


    carrying an air of finality. “You can go over there to meet them and familiarize yourself with how they


    work.”


    Hazel couldn’t help but feel perplexed by this sudden change in their work arrangement. She


    approached their superior, trying to gain some rity. “Wait, ma’am,” she began, her brows furrowing in


    confusion. “We already have a team here at Starlight. Why do we need to be part of Tesco’s


    design team?”


    The superior offered a sinct response, leaving no room for further questioning. “Well, that’s part


    of the offer. Listen, Tesco isn’t like otherpanies we’ve worked with. We’ll amodate their


    demands. Understand?”


    Hazel reluctantly sank back into her seat, her face paling as the implications of this change. began to


    sink in. Working at Tesco meant bumping into her husband, Ethan, practically every day. The thought


    filled her with a mix of anxiety and apprehension.


    Chloe walked into the room, dropping some files on Hazel’s desk. “We need to review these designs


    and styles. They were sent by Tesco.”


    Hazel, still processing the news, looked up in disbelief. “I thought we were supposed to handle the


    designs ourselves. Why are they sending us their choices? What was the point of winning the bid?”


    She fumed inwardly.


    Chloe tried to calm her colleague down. “Let’s just check them out first. Examining Tesco’s choices


    might inspire us toe up with a better design that suits their needs.”


    Hazel reluctantly agreed with a sigh, and the two of them delved into their work. The rest of the day


    passed uneventfully, with Chloe working overtime while Hazel had to leave early to pick up her twins


    from school.


    As Hazel left thepany building, she decided to take a stroll to clear her mind. She walked through


    a pedestrian walkway, the gentle breeze rustling through her hair, and flower petals sca t t e r e d


    around her, creating a serene atmosphere. She paused for a moment, reflecting on the past.


    Hazel remembered walking along a simr path during her teenage years, with Ethan by her side. She


    had been deeply in love, convinced that the intense attraction she felt toward him was their destined


    mate bond. Back then, she had hoped that they would discover their bond when she came of age. But


    Ethan’s demeanor had changed drastically. His once warm gaze now appeared cold and emotionless.


    He had transformed from the Ethan Wild she had known into a powerful and feared figure in the city.


    Hazel couldn’t help but wonder about his intentions in offering them the contract, especially given her


    connection to Starlight. When she had seen him that day, she had already epted the likelihood that


    they wouldn’t secure the contract, making the Midden offer a shock.


    Her trip down memoryne was interrupted by the vibrating of her phone. She answered the call with a


    somewhat distracted tone.


    Hello!” she greeted.


    “Good day, ma’am. Calling from Tiny Tots,” the voice on the other end responded. “The kids’ school


    closed a while ago, but you haven’t shown up. It’s very unlike you.”


    Hazel immediately felt a pang of guilt. “Oh, I’m very sorry. I got caught up at work,” she admitted,


    facepalming herself for losing track of time.


    “It’s okay. If you’re busy, we could drop the kids off at home for you or something,” the kind voice on the


    line offered.


    Hazel appreciated the gesture but declined politely. “Oh no, please don’t bother. I’m on my way there


    already.”


    With that, she quickly hailed a cab and settled into it, realizing how much time she had unintentionally


    spent standing on that pathway, lost in thought. As the car approached her kids’ school, she pushed


    thoughts of Ethan and hispany from her mind, mustering a smile. But one thing was sure, she


    would meet with and talk to Ethan, her time at his


    would be strictly business; there was no need to dredge uppany


    theirplicated history and rtionship. It wouldn’t be easy but she would try.


    Hazel reached the school, where her twins were waiting by the slide, looking a bit bored. “Mommy!”


    Liam squealed with excitement, running toward her immediately.


    After apologizing to the school staff for the dy and time wasted, Hazel led her cubs back to the taxi,


    and they headed home.


    Ethan’s car glided smoothly into the driveway, but as he stepped out, an overwhelming restlessness


    coursed through him, urging his inner wolf to break free from its dormant state. It had been a while


    since he’d allowed his wolf to take control.


    Shedding his jacket and suit, he surrendered to the transformation, and within moments, a magnificent


    grey wolf stood where Ethan had been. With a surge of energy, he sprinted into the woods surrounding


    their pack’s vast estate. This secluded haven was nestled on the outskirts, cocooned by nature’s


    embrace-a sanctuary free from intruders and prying eyes.


    The wind whistled through his fur as he raced across the grassy expanse, his powerful paws devouring


    the terrain. Suddenly, a foreign scent wafted into his nostrils, intruding upon his territory. It was a smell


    unfamiliar, one that did not belong to any of his pack members. Instinctively, he emitted a low growl and


    elerated toward the lingering scent.


    His keen senses guided him to a sight that puzzled him-an unfamiliar brown wolf up ahead. Determined


    to confront the potential threat, he elerated, closing the gap swiftly. Yet, before he could apprehend


    the intruder, Be, appeared seemingly out of thin air. The suddenness of her presence nearly caused


    a collision between them.


    “Be?” Ethan questioned, shifting back into human form. Confusion etched across his face, mingling


    with concern. “Why are you out here?”


    The stranger wolf had vanished from his sight, its scent growing fainter by the second. Be looked


    flustered and perspiring, an uncharacteristic state for her.


    “I was just taking a stroll,” she replied with an uneasy demeanor.


    Ethan’s gaze scrutinized her, and her clothing appeared undisturbed. “In this form?” he inquired


    skeptically, raising an eyebrow,


    She nodded hesitantly, her actions contradicting her words. Something was amiss, but he couldn’t


    pinpoint what she was hiding.


    You must be tired. Be suggested, eager to change the topic. “Let’s go back.


    Ethan hesitated but finally consented. “You go on ahead. There’s something I must check.” With that,


    he shifted back into his wolf form and dashed off, determined to trace the origin of the lingering scent.


    Be proceeded alone to their opulent mansion, her heart racing. Ethan had nearly caught her today,


    and that was a risk she couldn’t afford. He rarely traversed these woods, hadn’t shifted in years, yet he


    had an uncanny knack for appearing wherever he pleased. She kept ncing over her shoulder as she


    approached the house.


    You’d better not get caught,” she muttered to herself irritably. Once inside, she breathed a sigh of relief


    but remained anxious.


    “Get the Alpha some clothes to change into,” she instructed a pack member, her voiceposed


    despite her inner turmoil. She then headed upstairs, desperately needing a shower to wash away not


    just the scent of the forest but the smell of that man as well


    Ethan halted his pursuit at the very spot where the unfamiliar scent had inexplicably dissipated into


    nothingness. He couldn’t fathom how it could have vanished so abruptly. After a moment of frustration,


    he decided to return home. Shifting back into his human. form, he stood stark n*ked, seemingly


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    unconcerned about his nudity as the butler promptly provided him with clothing.


    Ignoring the offered attire, Ethan ascended the stairs, his purpose clear in his determined. stride. His


    wife, Be, stood apprehensively at the bedroom door, awaiting his return. The doors mmed shut


    behind him as he advanced toward her, a palpable tension in the air.


    “Is something wrong?” she inquired with feigned innocence, her voice trembling slightly.


    Ethan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he loomed over her, scrutinizing her intently, as if trying to


    extract the truth from her very skin and hair.


    “Did you meet anyone in the woods?” he finally questioned, his voice a low rumble.


    Be vehemently denied having encountered anyone or anything unusual, her eyes wide and guileless.


    However, Ethan remained unconvinced, a persistent suspicion lingering in his


    gaze.


    “Okay,” he conceded atst, breaking the intense scrutiny. He turned away, leaving Be to sink onto


    the bed, her b*dy trembling with fear and relief. The encounter had left her shaken to the core.


    In the aftermath, Be reached for her phone andposed a terse text message, her fingers


    trembling as she typed.


    “Don’t evere to my home. If you need anything, meet me at the office.”


    It was a stark warning, a measure she couldn’t afford to overlook. The walls were closing in, and Be


    knew she could take no more chances, next time she may not be that lucky.