-Alex’s POV-


    -Seven Years Agon


    The phone ttered down on the polished mahogany desk, the sharp crack echoing through the office. I mmed my list


    onto the armrest, the growl already rising in my throat, raw and primal.


    “What did Daniel Stone do this time?” Adrian drawled, sauntering in with the unruffled case that always grated on me in these moments.


    I threw him a re, the fury simmering beneath the surface. “Trying to bait me out again, the pompous ass. It’s getting hard to ignore,” I admitted, the gro


    I could feel it, my wolf stirring


    within, ws scraping against the confines of my control. Daniel Stone, the Alpha of a rival pack had always enjoyed pushing my buttons, andtely, he


    “You know he is. Alex,” he said, his voice calm and steady, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. “Don’t give him the satisfaction. Let it roll–


    off your back like you always do. He’ll get bored eventually, fighting a war with himself.”


    He had a point, damn him. Adrian, my right–


    hand man, confidante, and the only person who truly understood the beast I kept caged within. He was always the voice of reason, t


    the anchor in my ever–churning sea of emotion and he was right. Reacting was exactly what he wanted.


    I clenched my jaw, forcing the wolf back into the shadows. “Fine,” I conceded, the word grating like sandpaper on my raw nerves. “But he’s pushing it.”


    A ghost of a smile yed on Adrian’s lips. “Then let’s drown the frustration before it takes control. Drinks? My treat. Consider it your reward for not turing


    I shook my head, but the amusement flickered in


    “You my eyes.


    ou don’t need my help wooing women, Adrian.”


    “True,” he winked, “but hearing you say it never gets old. Now, brooding billionaire or charming billionaire? Your choice.”


    “It’s the middle of the day, Adrian,” I protested, knowing it was


    futile.


    “And?” he countered with a shrug. “If the boss has a problem with my work hours then he should go ahead and fire me.”


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    “One of these days, I will,” I muttered, but a grin tugged at my lips. He knew it was an empty threat.


    The club throbbed with the usual Friday night energy. Bodies pulsed on the dance floor, fueled by alcohol and adrenaline. Women adorned in glitter and


    The usual scene. And yet, the moment I stepped into the VIP section, the world seemed to tilt amidst the kaleidoscope of color and movement, my eyes


    its axis. The music muted, the chatter dimmed, and


    Her hair, the color of burnished copper, cascaded down her back like a waterfall of fire. Her emerald eyes, sparkling withughter, held the entire room c


    And then, our eyes met. Time stopped. The air crackled with an unseen energy. The words I was about to say evaporated. My wolf, ever–


    attuned to my emotions, let out a guttural growl, a primal recognition echoing through my soul.


    “Mate,” I breathed, the word raw and powerful, leaving no room for doubt.


    Her eyes widened, mirroring the shock in my own.


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    And then, it was gone. The connection, the intensity, all faded as quickly as it appeared. But the echo remained, a tremor in my c my soul.


    core, a brand seared into


    My eyes snapped open, the stark reality crashing down with the sting of a p. The phantom pain of the brand throbbed on my shoulder, a constant rem


    “Mex!” Miranda’s voice yanked me back to the present,ced with a tinge of annoyance. “You gonna park the car or what?”


    I turned towards her, imitation simmering beneath the surface. My jaw clenched, and she could probably feel the heat radiating off me. “What the hell wa


    Miranda, ever the master of ying dumb, blinked innocently. “What was what about?” she feigned confusion, tilting her head like a curious puppy.


    But I wasn’t buying it. “Don’t y coy with me,” I growled, my wordsced with frustration. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”


    She shrugged nonchntly, the smile on her face not reaching her eyes. “Just trying to be friendly with my future sister–in–


    law, darling. Get to know her a little better.”


    “Did you just happen to “know” that Ivan made reservations here?” I shot back, skepticism dripping from my tone.


    She offered another shrug, feigning ignorance. “Maybe I overheard him talking about it? Who knows?”


    I scoffed, her act transparent as ss. “Miranda, stop ying games. It’s unbing.”


    Instead of backing down, she


    leaned back in her chair, a sly smile twisting her lips. “Oh, honey, I never get tired of ying games. Especially when I’m always two steps ahead.”


    Her words were like a lit match tossed into a pool of gasoline. My anger red, fueled by her maniptive nature and veiled hostility towards Amaya.


    “Two steps ahead, huh?” I countered, my voiceced with icy calm, “Let’s see how far that gets you when everythinges crashing down.”


    The smug smile faltered for a fleeting moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her eyes. But it was quickly reced by a defiant smirk.


    “We’ll see about that, Alpha,” she purred, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “But until then, I suggest you get your act together. You wouldn’t want


    Her words hung heavy in the air,den with veiled threats and unspoken warnings. The tension in the car was thick enough to cut with a knife, a silent ba


    I held her gaze, refusing to break under the pressure. My jaw remained clenched, but my voice was steady when I spoke.


    “Whatever


    happened with her is in the past and I do not care what you do but make no mistake, Miranda,” I said, each wordced with quiet menace. “You keep tes


    I trailed off, letting my silence speak volumes. The unspoken threat hung heavy in the air, a promise of consequences if she dared to cross the line.


    Miranda’s smile faltered again, reced by a flicker of something akin to fear. But before she could reply, I turned and walked away, leaving her fuming


    the car.