Page 18 of Billionaire Wolf Needs an Assistant

She stood up, and as I watched her walk out of the office, for the first time in three years, I looked forward to Valentine's Day.

Because this time, I had real love to celebrate.

Chapter 10

KATIE

It was still early, and I made sure to walk on tiptoes as I made my way down the hall to his office. My bare feet barely made a sound on the polished wooden floor and each step brought me closer to what Lacey had dubbed "Operation Heal Reeve's Heart." The name was so dramatic, it made me roll my eyes every time I thought about it. Today wasn't about grand gestures. It was about understanding, healing, and trust. The kind of trust that had been shattered by others and was now slowly being pieced back together by me, stitch by careful stitch.

Reeve was still sleeping peacefully in our bed, fully unaware of what I had planned for today. My fingers trembled slightly as I reached into my bag and pulled out the crocheted wolf. Weeks of late-night work had gone into this piece, hidden while Reeve focused on rebuilding his consulting business. My fingers turned into gnarled claws from the hours it took to get the details right, the shimmering black yarn that matched his wolf's fur, the proud tilt of his head, the hint of vulnerability in the hand-painted glass eyes that matched what I sometimes glimpsed in my mate when he thought nobody was looking.

I placed the wolf carefully on his desk, arranging it so that it faced the door. There were no hearts, no red balloons, no flowers. None of the traditional Valentine's Day trappings that would trigger memories of Celeste's betrayal. Instead, there was only a piece of my heart crafted into something he could hold. Something that would remind him of me and my faith in him as he rebuilt his business empire on his own terms.

The note had taken me longer to write than the gift itself. I had gone through dozens of drafts, trying to find words that conveyed my feelings without being overwhelming or saccharine. Finally, I settled on something simple. "Some things are worth trusting again. Happy Valentine's Day, my love."

I placed it beside the wolf, along with a cup of his favorite coffee from Bean Brewing. A tiny detail to remind him that I understood the delicate balance between personal and professional lives. That I could love him fiercely while still respecting his boundaries.

Through our bond, I felt him beginning to stir. Confusion rippled between us as he reached for my side of the bed and found it empty. His consciousness brushed against mine, a silent question. I sent back waves of reassurance and love, hurrying to my own desk on the other side of the room before he could fully wake.

Through the walls, the sounds of him getting ready for the day soon filled the house. The soft padding of his feet on the floor, the rustle of clothes, the rush of water from the tap, the faint hum of his electric razor. His scent preceded his arrival. I kept my eyes fixed on my computer screen, pretending to be absorbed in early morning emails.

He paused at his desk and I heard the catch in his breath when he picked up the crocheted wolf. "Katie." His voice held shades of meaning.

I looked up, aiming for professional composure despite the emotions churning inside of me. "Good morning, Mr. Song. You have a nine o'clock video meeting with Blake about the Bean Brewing partnership. Would you like me to get the office ready?"

The rest of my carefully planned script vanished as he crossed the room in three long strides. His kiss was firm and tender, tasting of minty toothpaste, gratitude, and healing. When he finally pulled back, his eyes shone with unshed tears. He cradled the crocheted wolf like it was the most precious thing he had ever held.

"How did you know exactly what I needed?"

I reached up to touch his cheek, feeling the faint stubble beneath my fingers and the warmth of his love through our bond. "Because I love you," I said softly. "The real you, not the billionaire CEO or the wolf shifter or the Song heir. Just you." I smiled. "And real love means understanding what hurts, what heals, and how to bridge the gap between them."

"I've spent three years dreading this day," he admitted. He set the wolf carefully on my desk, right next to the framed photo of us at Paradise Peaks. "I can't believe I let one moment of betrayal poison everything about love and trust. I almost lost you because I was too stubborn to open my heart." He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "But you make me want to believe again."

"Then believe," I said, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "Believe in us."

The computer on his desk chimed, announcing that Blake had connected to the virtual meeting room. Reeve growled softly at the interruption, but I just laughed and straightened his collar.

"Later," I said, sealing it with a quick kiss. "We have all the time in the world."

His smile, which made his eyes crinkle at the corners, warmed me better than any Valentine's chocolate. "Later," he agreed, his voice dripping with dark promise.

My thighs clenched together in anticipation as a rush of heat flooded my core.

"And Katie? Thank you. For understanding."

The day passed in a blur of meetings and emails. Every time Reeve opened his drawer, happiness pulsed through our bond. Whenever our eyes met across the room, we shared a secret joy.

As night fell, Reeve made a show of stretching his shoulders before he got up from his desk.

I eyed him warily. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing." But his happiness leaked through our connection, matching the barely contained smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Can't a man just want to spend time with his mate? Oh, Katie? Wear something warm. We're going out tonight."

I raised an eyebrow, recognizing my own earlier deflections. "Now who's being mysterious?"

He just grinned, looking younger and freer than I'd ever seen him. The transformation from this morning's tentative healing to tonight's quiet joy made my heart swell.

"Reeve?" I asked as he steered the car toward the mountains instead of heading into the city.

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