The question carried weight beyond the simple dessert offering. I nodded; it was impossible to resist. He was charming, charismatic, and devastatingly handsome. When he looked at me with those violet eyes, my resistance crumbled.
Ryan didn’t miss the opportunity to tease, “Hey, Clara, our Alpha’s now addicted to chocolate cake. I’ve told him he’ll end up getting fat.”
“That’s why,” Draven replied smoothly, sliding the plate between us, “I’m sharing my cake with my executive assistant.”
“Caroline,” Clara said, “you need to make it clear to these two and Kyle that you’re the one in charge. Don’t forget what I taught you about handling alpha males.”
“Oh look,” Ryan laughed, “Clara’s already trained the new Beta-in-charge.”
“The worst part,” Draven said, his eyes never leaving mine, “is that the new executive assistant already has me wrapped around her finger.” His admission made me blush furiously.
When it was time to leave, Clara offered to drop me home, but Alpha Draven wouldn’t allow it, insisting on taking me himself so Clara wouldn’t have to go out of her way. As we pulled up in front of my building, he turned off the engine and turned to face me.
“Today was… intense,” he said, his voice softer than I’d heard it before.
“Draven,” I began, finally using his first name, “I want to apologize. I wasn’t professional today. I gave in to provocations and crossed lines that shouldn’t be crossed between an Alpha and his employee. I completely understand if you want to reconsider whether I’m the right person for this position.”
I took a deep breath before continuing, “I was actually prepared to hand in my resignation at the end of the day, but then the incident with Howard happened. I can submit it tomorrow if you prefer. This isn’t like me-I don’t behave impulsively or act without thinking, but you… you awaken something in me that I can’t explain. When you provoke me, I just… I lose control.”
When I finally looked up at him, he was smiling, his violet eyes glowing softly in the dim light.
“Caroline,” he said, “this is the first time you’ve called me by my name without formality. I like it. Can it be like this from now on?”
I nodded, confused by his reaction, and he continued, “Look, I know exactly who you are. When I was deciding on new staff, I asked Clara to send me your resume, and I even spoke with your former supervisor at BuildRight Corp. I know you’re typically composed and professional.”
He leaned closer, his scent intensifying. “And honestly? You’d have to be made of stone not to respond to me when I’m deliberately trying to get under your skin.”
“So you admit you’ve been provoking me intentionally?” I challenged, feeling braver.
“Completely guilty,” he confessed with a wolfish grin. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching you react. But during that video conference…” He groaned, running both hands over his face in that gesture I already found endearing. “I didn’t catch a damn thing that happened in that meeting, and I’m usually laser-focused on business. Do you have any idea how difficult it was watching you when I couldn’t… participate?”
“I’m sorry,” I replied, not feeling sorry at all. “But I was furious after what you did after lunch.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said, his voice dropping to a growl that made Rory whimper with anticipation. “Just remember next time that I want to play too.” The wicked smile that crossed his lips sent heat pooling low in my belly.
“And what exactly are we playing at, Alpha?” I asked boldly, surprising myself.
His eyes darkened at my challenge. “Something dangerous and delicious,” he replied. “But I’m not going to fire you; you’re exceptionally competent, and whatever happens between us won’t affect work. Can we agree to that? Let things flow naturally?”
“And if I say no?” I tested, needing to establish some boundaries.
“Then I’ll respect that,” he said seriously, his eyes holding mine. “I may be an Alpha, but I’m not a monster, Caroline. I won’t force anything you don’t want.”
I nodded, strangely touched by his assurance. “Then yes, we can let things flow, but no more making me lose my composure during important meetings.”
“I make no promises there,” he laughed. “Now go rest. You must be exhausted.”
He took my hand, surprising me by bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss that lingered just long enough to make my heart race. As I got out of the car and headed toward my building entrance, he called after me, “Caroline?” I turned back to find him leaning out the window, eyes gleaming mischievously. “I’m definitely going to keep provoking you.”
His laughter followed me all the way to the elevator, and I couldn’t help but smile despite myself. Goddess help me, I was playing with fire, and I knew it.
Caroline’s POV
I entered my apartment with Draven’s last words still echoing in my mind. “I’m definitely going to keep provoking you.”
What did he really want from me? Today had been an emotional roller coaster. Would things ever become normal at Thorne Enterprises?
I went to check on my son, who was already sleeping like an angel, clutching his teddy bear. His violet eyes, so much like his father’s, were peacefully closed, his golden hair splayed across the pillow. I thought about asking Eleanor if we could spend Sunday at the park with him. Liam would love that. I passed by my friend’s room, who was also asleep, and grabbed the baby monitor.
I took a shower to wash away all the day’s stress, fell into bed, and drifted off to sleep thinking about my Alpha boss. Goddess help me, I must be going crazy.
I woke up early and got my little one ready to drop him off at daycare. Liam always woke up in such a good mood, his violet eyes sparkling as he smiled at me and chattered about how much he loved his school. While I was getting him dressed, he told me a thousand things about everything he was discovering.
“Mommy, Miss Sarah says I draw the best wolves in class!” he announced proudly, making my heart swell.
I smiled like a fool. It was wonderful to see my son growing up happy, even without knowing his father. The thought sent a familiar pang through my chest.
I got myself ready and went to the kitchen, where I found Eleanor had already prepared our coffee. The scent of fresh brew filled the air as my best friend’s brown eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Good morning, Caroline,” Eleanor grinned, sliding a mug toward me. “I want to know everything that happened yesterday. Your life is better than those human soap operas!”
“Elle,” I sighed, taking a sip, “I’ll tell you everything tonight, but just to give you an idea, Alpha Draven was the devil himself yesterday.”
“Uh-huh.” She raised an eyebrow. “And by any chance, honey, didn’t you provoke the devil? I know you, Carrie. You went to work early and left me a note saying you were ‘going to war.’”
“And I did,” I admitted, “wearing that black dress you gave me for my birthday last year and those blood-red heels.”
My friend’s eyes widened, her mouth hanging open. Rory preened inside me, proud of our boldness.
“By the Moon Goddess! If that Alpha didn’t jump you yesterday, I’ll change my name and join a different pack.”
“No need for that,” I laughed. “But I’ll tell you everything tonight. I have to drop Liam at daycare. Are you coming with us?”
“Hmm, yeah.” She said, taking a final sip of coffee. “But I’ll be dying of curiosity until tonight. Joseph’s been asking about you, by the way. Says you made quite the impression on Alpha Draven.”
“I want to hear about your day too. Working as Joseph Taylor’s assistant at Puma Global seems more fun than dealing with my Alpha.”
“You have no idea. Being the Blood Moon Pack Alpha’s daughter has its perks, but Joseph is quite a character. Having our pack alliance with Storm Valley means I get all the gossip about your boss too.”
She paused, eyeing my outfit critically. “But tell me, do you think wearing that pantsuit will help you go unnoticed by an Alpha wolf? If your intention is to hide those curves, sorry, but it won’t work. Your assets look amazing in that shirt.”
I rolled my eyes at her. After being too exposed yesterday, I’d decided to wear a charcoal gray pantsuit with a blazer to hide a bit today, paired with a white shirt. I hoped Elle was wrong, but the shirt was indeed quite form-fitting. Damn, there’s no time to change now.
Thursday started quietly at Thorne Enterprises. Alpha Draven had a meeting with the financial director, so he wouldn’t show up for a while. I was getting through my scheduled tasks when I received a message from Clara saying she’d be arriving a bit late.
“Sorry, Caroline, I’m handling some last details for my transfer to London. I’ll be there soon.”
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply