Chapter 31
I gulped, unsure of what to do or say. His nearness was suffocating, yet I couldn’t bring myself to pull away. His expression was a mizfore of lunging and restraint, as though he was fighting an infernal battle.
The silence between us was deafening, each second dragging on like an eternity.
And then, as it realizing he had let too much slip, Aeson straightened, his expression hardening once more. But the tension lingered, thick and unyielding.
The clock ticked louder in my ears as my eyes darted to it. My breath hitched. I jerked up, panic lacing my voice. “Can I leave now, Alpha?*
Aeson looked at me briefly before nodding. “Yeah. It’s almost lunch break.”
I nodded briskly, avoiding his piercing gaze. “It is.” With that, I gathered my things and hurriedly left the room, my heels clicking against the polished floor.
As soon as I reached the hallway, I released a shaky breath. My thoughts were scattered, and the tension from earlier still clung to me like a second skin. I needed fresh air–some space to think.
“Serena.”
1 froze mid–step, turning sharply to find Aeson standing just a few feet away, his expression unreadable.
“You want to have lunch?” he asked, his deep voice carrying a foreign softness I wasn’t used to.
I blinked, caught off guard. Lunch? With him? I hesitated, unsure how to respond. “I…uh—”
“I was hoping we could…”
“Serena!”
Caiden’s voice rang out, cutting through the moment. I turned to see him strolling toward me, his signature grin plastered across his face. Before I could utter a word, his hand grabbed mine, the sudden touch making me jump slightly.
“Let’s go have lunch. Together.” He winked, his tone playful and carefree, as though his presence alone could ease the tension I felt.
I glanced over my shoulder at Aeson, catching the subtle shift in his demeanor. His jaw was tighter, his shoulders stiffer.
Before I could process anything, Caiden began tugging me along, his grip firm but not rough.
But then another hand gripped my free arm, stopping me mid–step.
I turned slowly, my eyes landing on Aeson, whose steely gaze was locked onto Caiden.
“You can’t just take her, Caiden,” Aeson said, his tone calm but laced with authority. “I need her now.”
Caiden didn’t flinch. “Chill. It’s lunch time, and she needs to eat.” His voice was casual but decisive, a stark contrast to Aeson’s intensity.
They locked eyes for a moment, a silent battle of wills playing out between them. Finally, Aeson let go of my arm, his hand dropping to his side. Without another word, he turned and walked back to his office.
Caiden smirked, whistling as he pulled me along toward the company cafeteria.
The cafeteria buzzed with the chatter of employees, but the moment we walked in, a hush fell over the room.
Staff members bowed their heads respectfully as we passed, their movements synchronized like a well–rehearsed routine. I tried to focus on anything else, but I couldn’t ignore the curious gazes that followed us.
eyes
Their flitted to me, filled with surprise and thinly veiled questions. I could feel their stares burning into my back, but Caiden seemed entirely unbothered, his grin unwavering as he fed me to a booth at the center of the room.
1/2
Chapter 31
When we arrived, I finally found my voice. “What?” I asked, my tone sharper than intended.
He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Nothing,” he said nonchalantly.
I slipped my hand from his grip, needing to reclaim at least some semblance of control.
Noticing the stares still lingering, Caiden snapped at the onlookers. “Mind your own business.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a whip. The other staff members quickly averted their gazes, returning to their meals.
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