Ashley’s POV
“Who… what’s your name?” he asked, his voice low and authoritative.
“My name is Ashley, Sir. Ashley Green,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. His piercing gaze felt like it was drilling into me.
He stared at me for a few seconds, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
“Are you okay, Sir?” Debby asked, breaking the tension. He quickly released my gaze but not without a lingering intensity that sent chills down my spine.
“Everyone leave,” he said coldly.
The others began walking out, including Alice. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should stay, but his words echoed in my mind-everyone. I decided to step out too.
“Not you,” he said, gripping my hand firmly.
The door shut behind the others, and my stomach dropped.
What have I done?
“Sir… I… think there’s a mis… misunderstanding. I honestly didn’t mean to touch you. I… I was just concerned when… when I noticed you winced in pain. Please… please forgive me,” I stuttered, panic rising.
He released my hand, and I breathed a sigh of relief, but before I could fully process it, he gripped my throat instead.
“She sent you, didn’t she?” he demanded, tightening his grip.
“Am… I… I can’t… can’t… breathe,” I gasped, my voice struggling to escape.
He let go of my neck, and I fell to the floor, panting as I tried to regain my composure.
“Go back and tell her that I said no. I’ll only marry whomever I choose, and I refuse to fall for her whims!” he yelled, his voice echoing in the small office.
He swiftly went to his desk, pulled out a white envelope, and threw it at me.
“Your employment is hereby nullified. That is your dismissal letter. Never show your face in my company again.”
“Dismiss?” I echoed in disbelief, staring at the envelope as if it were a bomb set to explode.
“But, Sir? This is just my first day at work! I really need this job. If it’s because I touched you, then I apologize, but I really need this job, Sir! My mom… my mom has been in a vegetative state for six months now, and I’m owing the hospital two months of bills. This job is my only hope of paying. Please, Sir! Please forgive me!” I cried, desperation spilling over.
He stepped toward me, gripping my face tightly, his expression cold and unyielding.
“Whatever you are going through is your business, not mine. I don’t want you in my company, and that’s the end of it. I don’t want to see your face again. Now, get out!” he roared, and I flinched, my heart racing with fear.
“Do I need to call security to throw you out?!” he barked, and I scrambled to my feet, clumsily making my way out of his office.
*******
Steven’s POV
“Sir, it’s time for your interview,” Debby said as she walked into my office, her voice a mixture of professionalism and concern.
“Get out!!!” I yelled, the words escaping my lips with more venom than I intended. She quickly dashed out, her eyes wide with shock.
What plan is the Moon Goddess concocting? My mind raced, caught in a whirlwind of disbelief and anger. How on Earth did my supposed soulmate find a job right in my company at the exact moment the goddess required me to find her and marry her? What are the chances of this happening?
This was all planned by the goddess, I’m sure of it. I won’t let her control me. I trusted her once, and she failed me. She’s deceitful, and I won’t allow her to drag me into such a ridiculous marriage.
She…
“Ahhh!” I screamed as a bolt of pain sliced through my head, like someone was cracking my skull with a hammer. Panic surged through me.
“Ahhh!!” I screamed again as the pain intensified, a relentless wave crashing over me, and I felt warm blood trickling from my nose.
I fumbled for my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed Liam. It rang twice before he picked up, his voice distant and confused.
“Where the hell have you been?!!” I yelled, wincing again as another wave of agony threatened to pull me under.
“This isn’t Liam; this is Williams. He was with me when suddenly he grabbed his head, screaming, and then he collapsed,” Williams said, panic threading through his words.
“What?! You know what? Get help from the other werewolves in the mansion and take him to the Moon Goddess’s shrine. I’m sure this is one of her tricks too; I’ll be there soon!” I said, urgency fueling my tone as I ended the call.
Frantically, I searched my drawers until I found a car key, my heart pounding in rhythm with the throbbing in my head. I tried to stand, but my legs buckled beneath me, and I fell back into my chair, a wave of nausea rolling over me.
“Oh, I know you are behind this, Moon Goddess. Will you grant me just a few moments of peace? Let me go meet your mouthpiece!” I spat, forcing myself to stand again, my determination battling against the pain.
Gripping the car keys, I rushed out of my office, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Sir, the interview!” Debby yelled after me, but I didn’t stop.
I got into my car, the engine roaring to life, and drove off at high speed, the trees blurring into a green haze around me. The headache still clawed at my mind, unrelenting, making me feel as if I were spiraling into madness.
“Damn you, Goddess,” I cursed under my breath, each word laced with frustration and fear.
The path to the Moon Goddess’s shrine was hidden, accessible only by foot. I drove as far into the forest as I could, the trees towering around me like silent sentinels, before finally abandoning my car. I stepped out, the fresh air stinging my nostrils, and began to walk.
Each step was a battle. I’d walk a few paces, fall, struggle to stand up, and then continue walking again, the pain throbbing in rhythm with my heartbeat. The forest seemed to close in around me, the weight of fate pressing down on my shoulders.
Finally, I reached the shrine, where Liam lay unconscious on the ground. A knot twisted in my gut at the sight, and I felt a surge of desperation as Williams, Maya, and a few other werewolves stood beside him, their expressions grim.
“Steven!!” Maya screamed as soon as she saw me. She ran towards me, worry etched across her face, and grabbed me, her grip firm yet comforting.
“Are you okay, Steven?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.
“I’m fine,” I managed to push her away gently, the urgency driving me toward Landon’s side.
“Where’s the Priestess?” I demanded, scanning the area for the one person I knew could help.
“Right here,” she said, stepping forward with a creepy smile that sent a chill down my spine. I felt a surge of rage at the sight of her, wanting nothing more than to tear her heart out right then and there, but I had to keep my anger in check.
“What is the meaning of this?!” I asked coldly, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
“You know what it means, Alpha. You are running out of time. The goddess wants you bonded to your mate right here in seven days,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain.
“I care not for what your goddess wants!” I shot back, but the words faltered as another wave of pain crashed over me. I screamed, falling to my knees, the world around me spinning.
“You have no choice, Alpha. Her will is your will too,” the priestess stated, her voice cold and unyielding.
“But her problem is with me! So why the hell is Liam like this?” I yelled, desperation spilling from my voice. The priestess bent down, touching Liam’s forehead with a strange look of satisfaction.
Liam sprang up, gasping for breath. “What… what happened, Steven? I thought I was dead.”
The Priestess stood up, her smile widening. “The goddess brought your mate right in front of you, but you denied her and disregarded the goddess’s decree. Liam being like this is your undoing, Steven. This time, only you and those you share a blood relation with were affected. Next time, it will be you and your entire pack, and they might not survive it. Seven days, Alpha, that’s all you’ve got.”