Page 7 of Billionaire Wolf Needs an Assistant

Katie stepped back quickly, face flushing. "You should go. Everyone is expecting you to dance with Ms. Roberts."

Before I could protest, she twisted out of my arms and retreated into the ballroom and the safety of the crowd.

One...

I growled in frustration as she slipped away, taking her warmth and that maddening scent with her. My wolf howled in protest, but I forced myself to return to the ballroom. To duty. To expectations.

All eyes were on me, their gazes burning with hunger for me to create a scene that they could gossip about for the rest of the year. But I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. Even as I took Sophia's hand for the traditional dance, my eyes found Katie across the room. She was watching us with an expression I couldn't read, still wearing my jacket like a claim.

My wolf knew what it wanted. The question was, how long could I keep denying the truth?

I had finally found my fated mate, but it was in the very last person I should want.

Chapter 4

KATIE

I stared at the email from Reeve, reading it for the third time to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and anxiety. After our almost kiss on New Year's Eve, which I was now sure was a figment of my imagination, he had barely spoken ten words to me. But this request meant that he wasn't mad at me. Hope blossomed in my chest. He wanted me to join him on a trip to Paradise Peaks for a crucial meeting with Alpine Tech. Tomorrow.

"I need you to prepare all documentation for the Alpine Tech project," his email read. "We leave at 7 AM sharp. Pack appropriately for mountain weather."

My fingers flew across the keyboard as I arranged everything from meeting schedules to accommodation details. Winter storms were forecasted, but the meeting was too important to postpone. I'd barely finished booking the last details when Sophia came up to my desk. As usual, her designer heels clicked on the floor with each step.

"I hear you're heading to Paradise Peaks," she said, her perfectly manicured nails drumming on my desk. Something predatory flickered in her eyes. "I should really be there to ensure you don't miss any important details."

"Mr. Song specifically requested just us two for this trip," I replied. I kept my tone professional despite her obvious disdain. The way she looked at me reminded me of a wolf sizing up its prey. It was an odd thought that sent a shiver down my spine.

"How convenient for you." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Well, don't get too comfortable. I know your type isn't used to traveling to places as upscale as Paradise Peaks. Try not to embarrass the company."

Before I could respond, Reeve's office door opened. "Katie, my office. Now."

I gathered my tablet and hurried in, eager to get away from Sophia. Closing the door behind me, I caught the scent of his cologne, woodsy and wild, like a pine trees after a heavy rain. My stomach did that strange flutter again, the one that had been happening more frequently lately whenever he was near.

"Is everything prepared?" he asked, not looking up from his computer.

"Yes, sir. Hotel reservations are confirmed at the Hughes Hotel. I have all documents related to Alpine Tech organized and backed up both digitally and in hard copy. The weather reports show that a storm is on the way over the mountains."

"Fine." He cut me off, finally looking up. For a moment, I could have sworn his eyes gleamed gold. "7 AM. A driver will come to pick you up. Don't be late."

The next morning, I waited outside my apartment at 6:45 AM, travel mug of coffee in hand and overnight bag packed. Following his directions, I wore a thick down jacket and thermals under my thick wool pants. When I got into the backseat of the car, I was surprised that Reeve was behind the wheel. He looked devastating in a charcoal suit that fit him perfectly. The fabric seemed to ripple with his movements, like shadows flowing over muscle. He barely acknowledged me as he began to drive.

The first hour of the drive was silent, except for my occasional updates about the meeting schedule. As we climbed higher into the mountains, snow began to fall. What started as gentle flurries quickly turned into thick, heavy snowfall. He handled the conditions well, but tension rolled off of Reeve in waves.

"The weather's getting worse," I murmured. The windshield wipers struggled to keep up with the falling snow. Not that it mattered much, as the world outside had become a swirling white void.

"I'm aware," he growled. He squeezed the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip. Something about his posture reminded me of a coiled spring ready to snap.

"Maybe we should pull over." My words cut off in a gasp as the car suddenly fishtailed. Reeve fought for control, but the vehicle spun, sliding toward the edge of the road. I caught a glimpse of his face, his eyes definitely glowing with a strange golden light, before the car hit the guardrail with a sickening impact.

Everything happened in slow motion. The crunch of metal, the world turning upside down as we rolled down the embankment. When we finally stopped, the SUV was on its side, and icy wind howled through the shattered windows like a hungry beast.

"Katie!" Reeve's voice shook with panic, which was more emotion than I'd ever heard from him. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm okay," I managed, though my whole body shook. "Just scratched and dinged."

"We need to get out. Now." His urgency frightened me more than the crash. There was something primal in his voice.

The temperature was dropping rapidly, and the storm was getting worse. We managed to climb out through the broken windshield, but the wind nearly knocked me over. Snow was falling so thick I could barely see three feet ahead.

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