John’s POV
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of my office, casting streaks of gold across the polished wooden desk. I leaned back in my chair, my fingers drumming against the armrest as Diane and Jake entered. Diane’s steps were sharp, her heels clicking against the floor with precision. Jake, ever composed, followed her, his face unreadable.
I motioned for them to sit. “Let’s get straight to business.”
Diane perched on the edge of her seat, her eyes already gleaming with anticipation. She was always eager when it came to taking charge, but today, her eagerness annoyed me. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but perhaps it had to do with the calculated way she looked at me-as if she were waiting for me to say something she could twist in her favor.
“We have two major events coming up,” I began, looking between them. “The Moonlight Party is in three nights, and the elders have sent word that the Mate Choosing Ceremony must happen alongside it.”
Diane’s expression lit up briefly before she composed herself. “You’ve made the right decision, John. The clan will be thrilled to see you finally-”
I raised a hand, cutting her off. “This is not a discussion about my decisions, Diane. It’s about ensuring that both events are perfect.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and I saw the faintest flicker of irritation in her eyes before she masked it.
“You’ll oversee the decorations and preparations for both events,” I continued. “The venue, the setup, the arrangements-everything will be your responsibility.”
She straightened in her seat, the irritation quickly replaced with pride. “Of course, John. I’ll make sure everything is flawless.”
“Good,” I said, my voice clipped. “But you won’t be handling it alone.”
Her brows furrowed slightly, though she tried to maintain her composed demeanor.
“Stephanie and Reyna will assist you,” I added, leaning forward.
The air in the room seemed to shift. Diane’s eyes widened slightly, her composed mask cracking just enough for me to see the anger simmering beneath.
“Reyna?” she echoed, her tone just shy of incredulous.
“Yes, Reyna,” I said firmly. “And Stephanie. They’ll help with everything, from planning to execution. It’s a big event, and you’ll need the extra hands.”
“But-” she began, only to stop herself when Jake shot her a warning glance.
I turned my attention to Jake, who nodded in silent agreement with my decision. Diane, however, was less discreet. Her lips pursed so tightly they turned white, and I could practically see the wheels turning in her mind.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, my voice low.
She forced a tight smile. “No, of course not. It’s just… unexpected.”
I didn’t bother hiding my smirk. Diane hated when things didn’t go her way, and it was oddly satisfying to see her struggle to maintain control.
“Good. Then we’re clear,” I said, standing and signaling that the meeting was over.
Diane and Jake rose, and as Diane made her way toward the door, I glanced at Reyna, who had been quietly sitting in the corner.
“Reyna,” I called, stopping her just as she was about to leave. “Stay for a moment.”
She froze, then turned slowly, her gaze meeting mine. Diane hesitated at the door, her eyes narrowing slightly, but I dismissed her with a curt nod. She left reluctantly, her heels clicking loudly as she disappeared down the hallway.
I waited until the door closed before speaking. “You’ve been quiet today.”
Reyna shrugged, her arms crossing over her chest. “I didn’t think it was my place to say anything.”
Her tone was calm, but her eyes held a spark of defiance that both irritated and intrigued me.
“Do you ever speak without calculating your words first?” I asked, leaning against the edge of my desk.
She arched a brow, the corner of her lips quirking up in the faintest hint of a smile. “Only when it’s worth the effort.”
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “Fair enough.”
She shifted her weight, clearly waiting for me to get to the point.
“I wanted to ask you something,” I said, my tone more serious now.
Her expression sobered, her arms falling to her sides. “What is it?”
I hesitated for a moment, something I rarely did. “I want you to be my date to the Moonlight Party.”
The words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, she simply stared at me, her expression unreadable.
“Your date?” she repeated, her tone carefully neutral.
“Yes,” I said, holding her gaze. “It’s a formal event, and I think it would be… appropriate.”
A faint blush crept up her neck, though she quickly looked away, hiding it.
“Alright,” she said finally. “I’ll be your date.”
The corners of my lips twitched upward, but I kept my expression composed. “Good.”
She nodded and turned to leave, but just as she reached the door, she glanced back at me.
“Is there a reason you chose me?” she asked, her voice soft.
I met her gaze, my own expression unreadable. “Do I need a reason?”
Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but instead, she shook her head and walked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
As the door clicked shut behind her, I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.
Reyna was unpredictable, infuriatingly so. But there was something about her-something I couldn’t ignore, no matter how much I tried.