Chapter 9
“Damn it, Blue, stop this!” My shout echoed in the room, startling even myself. My chest rose and fell heavily, the war inside me raging louder than ever.
Quinta’s hand reached out, resting lightly on my shoulder.
“Hades,” she said softly, her voice a tether pulling me back from the edge. “You need to think carefully about what you’re saying. Don’t let pride blind you to the gift the goddess has given you.”
I shrugged her hand off, standing abruptly and pacing the room like a caged animal. My mind spun with conflicting thoughts, my wolf snarling in the background, and Quinta’s words hanging in the air like an accusation.
But I couldn’t shake it. The image of my mate, her soft human-like scent void of any wolf’s power, haunted me. This wasn’t the mate I’d imagined. This wasn’t the Luna I needed.
And yet, her face lingered in my thoughts, her eyes holding something I couldn’t quite name.
Blue’s growl echoed one last time. “You’ll see, Hades. You’ll see.”
I stopped pacing, gripping the edge of the desk, my knuckles white. My heart pounded as I stared at the floor, my mind in chaos.
What kind of cruel joke was this?
Quinta’s voice was both soft and insistent as she perched on the armrest of the couch, her watchful eyes locked on me.
“Where is she?” she asked, her tone tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Your mate?”
I scoffed, my jaw tightening. “I have no idea,” I answered curtly, my eyes avoiding hers.
Her brows knitted into a deep frown. “Hades, she’s your mate. You should have returned with her.” Her voice rose slightly, her disbelief evident.
I shook my head, leaning back and pressing my palms into my temples. “It’s better she doesn’t even realize our connection,” I muttered, more to myself than to her.
Quinta gasped, her hand flying to her chest. “So what? You’re planning to reject her?”
Her words lingered in the air like a dark cloud. I didn’t respond. My jaw locked as I stared at the floor, the silence between us almost deafening. Deep inside, Blue stirred.
“Say it,” my wolf growled, his voice reverberating through my mind like a challenge. “Dare to reject her, Hades.”
A low, guttural growl escaped my throat, unbidden and raw, silencing any further protest from Quinta. She stared at me, her expression shifting between confusion and sadness, but before she could press further, a knock echoed through the room.
It was Matt, my beta. His presence was a relief and a disturbance at the same time. Quinta straightened and gave me a long, lingering look before excusing herself. She left the room with deliberate steps, her disapproval hanging in the air like a tangible weight.
Matt stepped in, his usual composed demeanor intact, though his sharp eyes scanned me briefly as if assessing my mood.
“Alpha,” he greeted, his voice steady.
I turned toward him, the tension still coiled in my body like a spring. “What did you find out about her?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.
Matt held his ground, unfazed. “She’s from this city,” he began, his tone factual. “And she’s from-”
“I don’t care which bloody pack she’s from!” I cut him off, my patience wearing thin. “Why was she at my company?”
1/2
Chapter 9
The hesitated briefly before contiming “She came for an interview. For the assistant position we’re looking to fill.
“What?” The word came out like a hiss, disbelief flashing through me.
“And Alpha Arson Matt hesitated again, clearly bracing for my reaction. “He’s already approved the job for her.”
“What?” My voice rose, the single word dripping with frustration and shock.
Matt nodded, his tone cautious now. “She’s going to be assisting you directly.”
I fraze, my fists clenching at my sides. “Why the hell would he accept without us doing the general review tomorrow?” My voice was low, simmering with restrained anger.
Matt held my gaze, his face calm, as he handed me a file. “That’s everything I’ve gathered about her.”
I snatched the file from his hands, my movements brisk and tense. Flipping it open, my eyes immediately fell on the name printed at the top.
Serena Carlton.
The name struck me like a bolt of lightning. My grip tightened on the file as my breath caught. That’s my mate.
