Page 17 of Billionaire Wolf Needs an Assistant

After losing everything, what surprised me the most was how little any of it mattered. The weight of the empire I had walked away from felt like a faint echo now, fading into a distant memory. What remained was something far more profound, something I had never truly allowed myself to believe in until Katie came into my life.

I had transformed one of the spare guest rooms in my house into my new home office. It was a space that bore the unmistakable imprint of my mate's touch. Katie had insisted on filling it with life and soft touches, making it feel warm and inviting. Lush green plants spilled over their pots, and soft throw pillows in various shades of blue and yellow reminded me of her when she wasn't around. It was quite a change from the cold glass and metal of my old office.

Looking back, I realized Alpha Fang was more of a prison than a workplace. My current office was a harmonious mix of modern lines and natural warmth. Katie's signature style was everywhere, from the crocheted throw draped over the back of the couch to the pictures we took of ourselves on our ski trip at Paradise Peaks. This was a sanctuary where the comforting and delicious aromas of coffee and Katie's honey scent made both sides of me feel at home.

Three weeks had passed since I walked away from the Song empire. Three weeks of ignored calls, deflected threats, and the beginnings of a new future built one careful piece at a time. Through our mate bond, I felt Katie before I saw her, her presence lighting up my senses.

She padded into the office barefoot, another plant in a huge pot cradled in her arms. The sight of her in my old Harvard t-shirt, sleep-mussed and perfect, made my wolf surge with possessive joy. Mine, it howled. Forever.

"Blake called again," she said, setting the Monstera on the floor beside my desk with careful hands. The neck of her t-shirt slipped down her shoulder, revealing the silver scar where my wolf had claimed her. A purr rumbled from my chest. "He's pretty insistent about that meeting."

My oldest friend had been relentless in his support of my new venture, even after Victoria tried to pressure him to cut ties. "The Bean Brewing account?" I asked.

"Mmhmm." She adjusted the plant's leaves, her smile turning me into a begging pup. "He says, and I quote, 'Tell that stubborn bastard to stop wallowing and let me give him my business. The fastest-growing coffee chain in the country needs the best consultant to develop a robust online commerce platform'."

My friend's offer was generous, almost too generous. But that was Blake, the angry wolf turned marshmallow-soft since finding his own human mate. His happiness with Lacey had given me hope when my wolf first recognized Katie as mine.

I caught her wrist gently, pulling her into my lap. She came willingly, fitting against me like she'd been designed for it. "I'm not wallowing," I protested, though the words sounded hollow even to me.

"No?" She traced my jaw, sending sparks of pleasure down my spine. "Then why haven't you taken any clients yet? Your reputation is solid. Companies are practically begging to work with you."

Because accepting clients meant this was real. It meant truly stepping away from generations of Song family legacy. It meant admitting that I was no longer the heir to an empire but a man building something entirely his own.

"Stop thinking so loud." She kissed me softly, breaking my spiral. I felt her unwavering faith, her absolute certainty in us. "You're allowed to be happy, Reeve. You're allowed to build something that's just yours."

But beneath her faith, I caught something else, a fizzy nervousness she tried to hide. She'd been blocking part of the bond all week, the way she did when planning surprises. My wolf stirred, curiosity piqued.

"What are you up to?"

"Nothing!" Her reply was too quick. The rapid thudding of her heart gave her away. "Just thinking about the Bean Brewing proposal. And, you know, future stuff."

I narrowed my eyes, scenting the air. No fear or worry, just that bubbling excitement she couldn't quite suppress. "Katie, what do you have up your sleeves?"

"Don't you have work to do?" She squirmed away, straightening my shirt and tugging the hem down her thighs. "Client calls to return? A business empire to rebuild?"

"You're deflecting."

"And you're paranoid." But her mischievous smile held secrets. She kissed my nose, her lips warm and soft. "I have errands to run. Try to actually answer some emails today?"

She darted away before I could press for answers, leaving me with the ghost of her kiss and the echo of her laughter.

The morning passed in a blur of potential client calls. Katie popped in and out, carrying mysterious packages. Her phone was glued to her ear, and I heard bits of her whispered conversations with Lacey that stopped whenever I got too close. By afternoon, my curiosity was driving both man and wolf crazy.

On her next trip into my office, I pulled her onto my lap. She smiled against my neck. Her fingers played with the hairs at the nape of my neck. "Valentine's Day is next week."

Ah. There it was, the reason for her secret plans and nervous energy. The holiday that had become entwined with betrayal and loss. Until now.

"Katie, you know how I feel about holidays."

"I know you hate it." She pulled back to meet my eyes, determination shining through. "And I know why. But I want, no, I need to show you it can be different. That love doesn't have to hurt."

My heart ached at the pure hope in her voice. Through our bond, I felt her desperate need to heal this wound, to replace pain with joy. "You've already shown me that. Every day since we met."

"Still, let me try?" She traced my lips with gentle fingers. "One chance to give you new memories? Better ones?"

How could I deny her anything when she looked at me like that? "One chance," I agreed, already knowing I'd give her a thousand if she asked. "But no big gestures. No public declarations. Just us."

Her smile could have lit up the whole city. "Just us," she promised, sealing it with a kiss that tasted of forever. "That's all we need."

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