“I know you will. I like you already!” He smiled warmly. “You’ll make good friends here. Hope you like coffee,everyone here lives for it. There’s always someone offering a cup or bringing you one.”
“Is this paradise?” I joked,making him laugh heartily.
After assigning my work and giving me a list of tasks to complete by the next day,he introduced me to the team and showed me to my desk. Everyone seemed friendly,and I felt the knot in my chest loosen slightly. Maybe this would be okay after all.
As Mr. Reeves returned to his office,I sat down to start my tasks. Minutes later,someone caught my attention.
“Hey gorgeous,you’ve already got about fifteen admirers just on this floor!”
I looked up to see a young woman with vibrant red hair,bright green eyes,and charming freckles across her round face,extending a coffee mug to me. Her sweet honeysuckle scent was warm and welcoming.
“You’re kind,” I smiled,accepting the mug. “But I doubt there’s a single man on this floor who isn’t completely captivated by you. You’re stunning.” I meant it,her energy was infectious.
“Oh,nonsense!” she laughed,tossing her fiery mane back. “I’m hardly standard beauty material,men don’t look at me that way. I’m Ruby,by the way.”
I extended my hand. “Caroline Bennett. It’s nice to meet you.”
Her desk was next to mine,and we chatted between tasks. Ruby was incredibly friendly,always smiling,and genuinely funny. She introduced me to several colleagues working in adjacent cubicles.
“You’ll get to know everyone gradually,Carrie,” she said as she returned to her desk.
The day passed quickly. Despite the department’s bustling activity,the atmosphere felt like being part of a supportive pack,everyone helping each other,casual jokes flowing between cubicles,people dropping by to check if I needed anything. The work itself was straightforward compared to my responsibilities at Thorne Enterprises,but I was grateful for the simplicity.At day’s end,Ruby walked out with me. Her curiosity got the better of her.
“So,Carrie… do you have a mate?” she asked carefully.
“I’m a single mother,” I replied,trying to keep my voice light. Ruby’s eyes widened.
“Really? You’re so beautiful,I’d think wolves would be lining up!”
I forced a smile,my heart clenching at the memory of Draven. After that heartbreak,the thought of opening up to someone new terrified me.
“Single mothers are amazing,” Ruby continued warmly. “Is the father involved?”
“No,” I answered awkwardly,hoping she wouldn’t press further.
“You know,my brother loves kids,” Ruby brightened. “He owns this amazing bar downtown. You should come!The place is amazing,and there are some seriously hot guys. Let me introduce you.”
“That sounds fun,” I replied,not wanting to discourage her enthusiasm though I had no desire to socialize. “I’ll talk to Elle,her boyfriend arrives this weekend,so maybe next week?”
“Perfect! I’ll ask my brother to reserve a special table for us.”
Elle joined our conversation in the parking lot and immediately loved the bar idea. After saying goodbye to Ruby,we headed home. It had been a good day,keeping busy had kept my mind occupied,though my heart still ached beneath the surface.
When we got home,Mabel greeted us with Liam,who rushed into my arms. His violet eyes sparkled with excitement as he babbled about his day at daycare.
“Mommy! I drawed a wolf today!” he announced proudly,holding up a colorful scribble that only vaguely resembled an animal. Then his expression turned serious. “When is Draven coming back? Everyone at daycare has a daddy. I want Draven to be my daddy.”
My heart shattered.
“Sweetheart…” I began,struggling to find the right words.
After dinner,bath time,and tucking Liam in with his favorite stuffed wolf,I finally collapsed onto my bed. Despite the promising new job and Ruby’s friendship,the weight of everything crashed down again. Rory whimpered as tears began flowing.
“He doesn’t even know what he’s missing,” she murmured within me. “Our pup needs his father.”
“Draven made his choice,” I whispered into my pillow,letting the tears come. “We’ll be okay without him.”I’d convinced myself that Liam would be complete without a father. Eleanor’s endless love and support,combined with Nate’s genuine affection for him,should have been enough.
But hearing him ask about Draven today made me wonder,was my son secretly longing for his father? That mysterious man from that one night had disappeared,and now Draven had walked away too.
Maybe what Liam needed most was something I couldn’t provide,a father’s love?
I cried myself to sleep,my heart heavy with this realization.
Draven’s POV
Today,I dragged myself into the office with a brutal hangover,my head pounding as if it might split open. The whiskey from last night still coursed through my veins.
I wasn’t in any condition to face my team’s disapproval. Clara watched me with quiet,disappointment,Alpha Arthur fixed me with stern judgment,while Ryan and Kyle barely contained their frustration and concern.They had spent the entire day defending Caroline,insisting she couldn’t have sent those emails or betrayed me.
“You should have let her explain,” Clara said for the hundredth time.
“A true Alpha listens before he acts,” Alpha Arthur reminded me.
But I couldn’t meet their accusations,not while we waited for the audit results to reveal the truth.
Clara had gone down to the finance department to retrieve the documents supposedly being verified.Minutes later,Howard contacted me through our mind-link.
“Alpha Draven,Clara wants to take the financial report.I refuse.Your people are overstepping their authority.”
Before I could respond,Alaric was already growling in my mind.”Is he challenging you?He’s forgotten who the Alpha is.”
I replied coldly,”If you want to keep your position in both the company and the pack,hand over those documents to her immediately.”
Howard attempted to argue,”But this is internal…”
I cut him off with my Alpha command,”Shut up and give her the files.”
The connection went silent instantly. I severed the link,not wanting to waste any more time on his nonsense.
Clara collected the documents and promptly delivered them to the auditors.
“Alpha Arthur,” I said as soon as he picked up the call.
“I told you it was pointless,”I continued. “Howard handed over the documents himself. That proves Linda didn’t leak anything.”
There was a brief silence on the other end before Arthur’s cold voice came through. “I already had a copy. It won’t hurt to compare them.”
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