In the towering skyscraper, Aldrich sat in his office, just concluding an important meeting. He had a brief moment of relaxation, just a few minutes to recharge, but his mind was consumed with thoughts of Maggie.
The inner wolf in him appeared timely, continuing the conversation that had repeated countless times in the past few days: “Aldrich, you should mark Maggie!”
Aldrich massaged his temples in frustration. “This is the eighteenth time you’ve brought this up. Inside my own body, you should know that I’m in my prime, far from suffering from dementia or memory loss!”
“But I deeply doubt your ability to sense your own bodily desires and emotions!”
Aldrich chose to ignore the silver wolf’s rant; otherwise, it would only get louder. “You should know that when I talk about marking, I’m not talking about the kisses and touches you see happening right now, you fool!”
“I understand that. I desire to mark Maggie for real, to the point of insanity, but she hasn’t accepted me yet…”
“Are you still a powerful alpha? Where’s your male charm? You’ve shared the same bed with Maggie for so long, and nothing has happened. How many wolves would believe this? I’m beginning to doubt your abilities!”
Just as Aldrich’s thoughts were drowning in a storm of self-doubt, his most trusted subordinate, Charlie, entered his office. Sensing Aldrich’s distress, he approached cautiously.
“Sir, I’ve retrieved the surveillance footage from the day of the flower shop attack,” Charlie reported, his voice laced with concern.
Aldrich’s attention snapped back to the present, and as he realized the gravity of the situation, his anxiety grew. He nodded, signaling Charlie to continue.
The screen played a clip depicting the moment of Maggie’s attack. Aldrich’s heart skipped a beat, and his body tensed with fear. When the attacker’s figure came into view, even from behind, Aldrich’s veins coursed with a sense of recognition. He exchanged a brief, incredulous glance with Charlie; they knew this person.
Aldrich issued a command to Charlie, his tone urgent yet steady, “Gather your team, Charlie. We need to investigate this immediately. We can’t overlook any leads.”
Charlie nodded, his eyes filled with determination and concern. He understood the importance of their discovery and the gravity of the current situation that demanded their full attention. With a sense of purpose, he swiftly turned and left the room to assemble the necessary personnel.
Aldrich remained alone in his office, thoughts racing through his mind as the implications of this news consumed him. However, amidst the uncertainty and fear, a resolve burned within him. He would protect Maggie and their unborn cubs at all costs.
During the daytime, Maggie was restricted from practicing her abilities. For her safety, Aldrich forbade her from venturing outside of Barrett Manor without bodyguards. Maggie’s choices were limited, and she found herself wandering aimlessly within the vast estate.
Elizabeth handed her a phone. “Ma’am, Mr. Barrett would like to speak with you.”
Maggie took the phone, and Aldrich’s voice came through.
“Maggie, are you doing okay?” Aldrich spoke, but in his mind, he still saw the dangerous scene of Maggie being attacked on the surveillance footage. His voice carried a slight quiver.
“Of course, Aldrich, why do you sound so strange?”
“No,” Aldrich immediately composed himself, “I just wanted to ask how your day has been, whether the food was to your liking, if the babies are restless…”
Maggie interrupted Aldrich’s trivial questions, “I’m fine, Aldrich, but you know, I envy the birds that can soar freely in the vast sky.”
“Oh, Maggie, I understand you have some restlessness within you. It won’t be long, once the babies are born, things will settle down, and your safety will be assured.”
“But, Aldrich, I need to do something. I’ve walked around the garden five or six times already. I don’t know if you’d allow me into your study. I want to explore a wider world through books.”
“Maggie, no one has ever entered my private study…” Aldrich hesitated for a moment; his study represented his absolute private space, a sacred kingdom entirely his.
“I understand. If this offends you, I apologize,” Maggie felt disappointed.
Aldrich’s inner wolf roared. Was he still not trusting Maggie enough? The answer was complete trust.
“No, Maggie,” Aldrich said, “aside from you, I can’t think of anyone else who should enter my study and share my kingdom.”
“You agree?” Maggie’s voice was full of surprise.
Aldrich was infected by Maggie’s joy and a slight smile tugged at his lips. “Yes.”
The butler, Thomas, received Aldrich’s orders and led Maggie to the study’s entrance, opening the thick, imposing doors.
He couldn’t help but confide in Maggie, “Ma’am, Mr. Barrett has never allowed anyone else in here.”
Maggie was surprised, “No one cleans it?”
“No, Mr. Barrett personally arranges all the books here. As for cleaning and tidying, he entrusts it to intelligent robots, so you’re the only visitor.”
Maggie felt an unusual sensation. She sensed Aldrich’s appreciation and trust for her, as well as his anticipation and nervousness. She wanted to learn more about Aldrich.
As Maggie entered the sacred space of Aldrich’s study, a sense of awe enveloped her. The room exuded opulence, authority, and sophistication. The space was adorned with the finest materials – solid wood, marble, leather, and metal, creating a luxurious ambiance befitting Aldrich’s stature. Deep, dark color tones dominated the decor – shades of black, deep brown, or charcoal gray, imbuing the room with gravity and authority. Plush curtains made of velvet or silk added to the room’s opulence, and their somber hues created an intimate and mysterious atmosphere.
Maggie marveled at the meticulously arranged bookshelves, filled with knowledge and wisdom. The shelves held leather-bound books and antique manuscripts, their spines worn with age, each carrying the weight of history. The air was imbued with the scent of aged paper and polished wood, creating a sense of nostalgia and intellectual charm.
With a mixture of trepidation and excitement, Maggie selected a book from the shelf, her fingers tracing the embossed cover. She settled into a luxurious armchair, her fingers caressing the words on the pages, her thoughts eager to be transported to another world.
The room’s ambiance and the weight of history seemed to infuse her with a newfound sense of wonder and curiosity. The rustling of each page and the faint creak of the chair echoed in the silence, as if the room itself were a living entity, gazing at her with a mysterious eye.
As time passed, the afternoon sunlight cast long shadows in the room, and Maggie reluctantly closed the book. Rising from the armchair, the secrets surrounding Aldrich weighed on her. Catching a glimpse of his private sanctuary would only deepen her fascination with him and ignite her desire to uncover his past and understand the man behind the enigma.
She had a premonition that within this space exclusive to Aldrich, there must be stories he had never shared with anyone, waiting for her to discover.