"Hey! How can you boss me around like that?!" I shouted, struggling against Elliot's grip, but his hold was unyielding. My wolf growled low in warning, muscles tensing, instincts screaming at me to fight back but he was my Alpha, stronger and faster than I could ever be. Every step he guided me toward the car, I felt that irresistible dominance pressing against my senses, making my heart pound and my wolf whine in both frustration and fascination.
Fine! Just drop me off already! At least I'll save on a cab fare, I thought, trying to keep my defiance alive despite the Alpha control over my body.
Once inside the car, I slumped into the leather seat and gave Rey my address, letting my body melt into the cushion as if I had fallen asleep. My wolf still bristled, sensing every subtle movement from Elliot across from me, alert and reactive, muscles taut with instinctual control. I refused to meet his gaze, stubbornly pretending to ignore him, even as my pulse raced with residual heat from the night's chaos.
Elliot didn't speak either. He sat rigid, commanding, radiating power in every movement, every controlled breath. The air between us was thick with unspoken dominance and pack tension. Outside, the city moved quietly beneath the night sky, streetlights painting shifting patterns on the windows, but inside, time seemed suspended my wolf alert, his Alpha presence pressing against every instinct I had.
About an hour later, the car finally slowed in front of my apartment complex. I quickly turned to Rey, my voice soft but grateful. "Thanks, Mr. Osborne. I really appreciate it."
Rey nodded and drove off, leaving just me and Elliot. I drew a shaky breath, steeling myself before looking up at him. "Thank you… for tonight."
Elliot's gaze met mine, steady, piercing, like a wolf locking eyes with its mate. His subtle nod carried an acknowledgment of everything that had transpired a silent claim, a promise of protection, and a tether I couldn't yet name but instinctively understood.
I closed the car door behind me and felt my wolf relax ever so slightly as I entered the building, the familiar scents of home grounding me. Each step toward my apartment felt like a return to my own territory, a safe place to let my wolf and my human side coexist again.
Inside, Jared was already asleep, curled beneath his blankets, while Francis stood watch over him like a vigilant beta guarding our pack's youngest. His eyes lifted when he saw me, and he immediately pulled a card from his wallet, pressing it into my hands.
"Anastasia, there's 2 million on this card. I want you to have it. You shouldn't overwork yourself. If you're tired, resign and take care of Jared with this money," Francis said, his voice steady but filled with concern the quiet authority of a protector, a father, a Beta to our small family pack.
My wolf stirred at his care, muscles coiling, sensing the intensity of his protection. I pursed my lips, a small wry smile touching my face. "Naomi would get mad if she found out about this," I murmured, half-joking, half-serious.
Francis shook his head, unwavering. "I earned it. No one can stop me from giving it to you." He left the card in my hand like a silent vow, then picked up his briefcase and departed. Fathers often spoke their love without words, through acts and instincts, and I could feel it radiating in the weight of his gesture.
I sighed deeply, letting go of old resentments Naomi's intrusion, Francis's forced marriage after my mother's death. Those things no longer mattered; the present was what counted, and my wolf curled around me in quiet acceptance, soothed by the sense of safety, the strength of my pack.
After a warm, calming shower, I returned to Jared's side, curling up next to him. I pressed a gentle kiss to his pale forehead, feeling my wolf coil protectively around him, ready to defend my mate, my pack. The warmth of family, the bond that connected us, grounded me, and I allowed myself to drift into the kind of sleep that comes when your pack is safe and the Alpha has claimed his place in your life.
The next morning, a familiar, small voice tugged me from dreams. "Wake up, Mommy. I'm going to be late."
I blinked, stretching, my wolf alert yet calm, muscles humming with readiness. I smiled, reaching out to my son. Another day had begun, and my pack my life was mine to protect. My Alpha, my son, and I, bound together by instincts, care, and unspoken bonds that no city lights or human world could ever sever.
I woke with a start, heart pounding, realizing it was already 8:20AM. My wolf growled softly in annoyance the sedatives from last night had completely knocked out my internal clock. Jared's pack duties well, school would begin in ten minutes. I scrambled out of bed, ruffling his hair as he yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"I'll get you to your pack meeting I mean, school right now," I muttered, hastily dressing him and ushering him out the door. The streets smelled of early morning city smoke mixed with the faint trace of other wolves in the distance, our scents mingling invisibly. Once he was safely in the kindergarten den, I heaved a breath of relief and flagged down a cab, glancing at my watch. 8:50AM. My Alpha instincts tensed.
By the time I reached the company, it was 9:40AM. My paws or rather, my feet felt leaden as I entered my office, guilt gnawing at me for the lost attendance bonus and the risk of the deal with John falling apart. My wolf snarled at the memory of last night, every instinct telling me I had been too trusting, too exposed. I needed to be smarter, sharper, more attuned to my pack instincts next time.
Felicia knocked and entered before I could even grumble. Her grin was wide, almost predatory. "Anastasia, good job! You successfully secured the contract yesterday!"
"What? Is the deal finalized? Did John transfer the payment?" I asked, suspicion twisting in my chest.
"He sent a hundred thousand as a deposit this morning. The full set he commissioned is worth two million, and it'll be ready by month's end," Felicia explained.
I narrowed my eyes, tail flicking in irritation. John. That man. My instincts told me it wasn't just business he was trying to compensate me for the failure of his earlier desires, the ones that had tested my boundaries last night. The thought made my fur bristle in disgust. "You should assign someone else to follow up on his pack dealings. I'm done dealing with him," I snapped, voice low but firm, my Alpha authority in my tone.
Felicia tilted her head, worry creeping into her expression. "Since you finished the draft, I already assigned someone to handle him. But… you don't look well. Didn't sleep last night?"
I exhaled sharply, eyes flashing. "Let's not talk about it. Something… upsetting happened." My wolf stirred uncomfortably, memories of John's actions mixing with the guilt and heat from kissing Elliot, who was Hayley's mate a rival Alpha's mate, the one woman in the city I hated most. The regret coiled in my chest like a snapping leash.
Around 11:00AM, I slipped into the washroom to escape the growing tension in the office. My senses were alert, ears straining for the normal rhythms of my pack yet a sharp sound of approaching footsteps drew my attention immediately.
"Guess what I saw just now?" a girl's voice rang out, high-pitched and full of excitement.
"What?" I asked cautiously, instincts on edge.
"I was lucky enough to take the same elevator as President Presgrave just now," she gushed. "And I saw a love bite on his neck! Oh my God! I can't help but wonder which woman would be so fortunate to leave such a mark!"
My blood ran cold, fur prickling. My Alpha senses flared possessiveness, jealousy, and an undeniable thrill all tangled together. The pack's code of dominance and territory, the sharp instincts of mate and bond, screamed inside me. Elliot. My Alpha. And the mark? A visible claim, a territorial sign that only the strongest could leave. My claws itched not to attack, but to remind the world who his true mate was.
I clenched my fists, breathing steadying, wolf instincts warning me: today, my pack, my bond, and my dominance would not be challenged by whispers or gossip. My eyes narrowed. Let them talk. I would show them, in my own way, that no one threatened my Alpha or my place beside him.