Freja’s POV
“You… you’re a werewolf,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart pounded as I took an involuntary step back, the realization sinking in like a lead weight.
The man before me, calm and seemingly unbothered, tilted his head slightly, as if amused.
“And you couldn’t have dislocated my shoulder so easily without using werewolf strength,” he countered, his lips curling into a sly smirk. “So, obviously, you’re one too.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine. My instincts screamed at me to retreat, but my pride rooted me to the spot.
“Why are you hiding?” I demanded, trying to mask my fear with defiance. “Why pretend to be human, to live as a doctor?”
His smirk faded, replaced by a look of mild annoyance. “Listen to yourself,” he said, his tone cutting. “We *all* live among humans, you included. Or do you howl at the moon every night to prove otherwise? And for the record, I’m not *pretending* to be a doctor. I *am* one.”
I clenched my fists, his dismissive attitude fanning the flames of my frustration. “What pack do you belong to?”
“That’s none of your business,” he replied sharply, turning toward his car. “Now, if you’ll excuse me-”
“When you used your power, your eyes glowed blue,” I interrupted, my voice laced with accusation.
He stopped mid-step, his back stiffening. Slowly, he turned to face me, his expression unreadable.
“And what of it?” he asked, his voice dangerously calm.
“You know what it means,” I said, taking a bold step forward. “An Alpha’s eyes glow red. A Beta’s glow yellow. But a blue-eyed werewolf… that’s the mark of a killer. A psychopath who’s taken innocent lives without remorse.”
For a split second, something dark flickered in his eyes-anger, regret, pain? It was gone as quickly as it came.
In an instant, he was in front of me, his speed a blur. His hand shot out, wrapping around my throat and lifting me slightly off the ground.
“Enough!” he roared, his voice reverberating through the air. His grip wasn’t tight enough to choke me, but it was firm enough to make his point.
His blue eyes burned with an intensity that made my blood run cold. Yet beneath the fear, there was something else-a strange, inexplicable pull.
“I was in a good mood today,” he growled, his voice low and menacing. “But you’ve pushed your luck. If you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing me.”
He held me there for a moment longer, as if daring me to speak, before slowly releasing me. I stumbled back, gasping for air, my heart racing.
“Do not show your awful red-haired self before me again,” he spat before turning and getting into his car.
I stood frozen as he drove away, my legs trembling beneath me. My mind raced, replaying the encounter over and over.
There was something about him, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. His aura was unlike anything I’d ever encountered-dangerous, commanding, and yet… magnetic.
I didn’t know why, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to know more about him.
*****
Ashley’s POV
“Welcome, sir. I didn’t expect your arrival today,” Debby, Steven’s secretary, said as we entered the company building.
Steven strode past her without so much as a glance, his presence radiating authority.
“I suppose I need your permission to enter my own company, Debby,” he said coolly, his words dripping with sarcasm.
“N-no, sir, of course not,” Debby stammered, her face flushing with embarrassment.
“A board meeting is scheduled today, and it will proceed as planned. I want everyone in the meeting room in ten minutes. No one should keep me waiting,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Before heading into his office, he turned to me. “Ashley will be my personal assistant from now on. Fill her in on everything she needs to know. If she makes a mistake, you’ll be the one to face the consequences,” he added, his cold gaze piercing through Debby.
Without another word, he disappeared into his office, slamming the door behind him.
Debby turned to me, her expression a mix of pity and curiosity. “We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“Yeah,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “I used to work in the fashion department… though that didn’t last long.”
“And now you’re his wife and personal assistant. Quite the change,” she said with a small smirk.
“It’s surprising for me too,” I admitted.
“You do know what being a personal assistant entails, right?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I guess… assisting him at the office?”
“Not just at the office,” she corrected. “You’ll be managing his schedule, meetings, emails, calls, and even his personal errands. Basically, you’ll be on call 24/7.”
My stomach sank. “Oh.”
“Let’s start with something simple,” she said, handing me a stack of files. “Take these to the meeting room and place one on each table. I’ll handle the calls.”
*******
The meeting room was pristine, the kind of place that screamed wealth and power. I began placing the files on the tables, trying to ignore the weight of my nerves.
But my clumsiness got the better of me. I tripped over a chair, and the files scattered across the floor just as the doors opened.
“What is this?” Steven’s voice cut through the room like a whip.
I looked up to see him standing with Debby and several board members. My face flushed with embarrassment.
“I’m… I’m sorry. I tripped…”
“What is she doing here, Debby?” Steven demanded, his tone icy.
“You asked me to…”
“I asked you to fill her in, not give her an important task on her first day!” he snapped.
“I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t….”
“Pack your things and leave. You’re suspended for four weeks.”
“What?!” Debby gasped, her face pale.
“But it was my mistake!” I interjected. “Why are you punishing her?”
Steven turned to me, his eyes as cold as ice. “Another word, Ashley, and her suspension will extend to six weeks.”
“This isn’t fair!” I protested.
“Eight weeks,” he said sharply.
I opened my mouth to argue again, but Debby stopped me. “Ashley, don’t. You’re making it worse.” She gave me a small, sad smile before walking out.
Steven turned to the board members as if nothing had happened. “Shall we begin?” he asked, his tone calm and composed.
I stared at him, my hands clenched into fists. How could someone be so heartless? So cruel?
And yet, despite my anger, I couldn’t deny the strange pull he had over me-the way his presence consumed every space he entered.