Page 22 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fake Girlfriend

The heady scent of rosemary and eucalyptus from the bath oils drifted into the air, mingling with the thick steam rising and wrapping around us. It was both reassuring and suffocating.

Across the tub, Sasha sat with her legs tangled with mine. In this brief moment of normalcy, she became my anchor in a day that had been anything but peaceful.

Sasha ran her foot against my thigh. Her touch brought me out of the dark thoughts swirling in my head, but it wasn't enough to chase away the guilt gnawing at my chest like a relentless beast, its teeth sinking deeper with each flashback of that fateful encounter. I had killed a man. To make matters worse, Sasha had witnessed the transformation, and had seen me revel in the raw bloodthirsty violence that both scared and thrilled me.

I caught her foot in my hands, kneading the arch softly, searching for solace in her warm flesh. She sighed and sank deeper into the water.

"I can hear you thinking," she said softly, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. Her heavily lidded eyes opened a sliver and glanced at me. Despite my fears, her eyes were soft and full of understanding. There wasn't any of the fear or disgust I had expected and braced myself for.

She loved me. She really fucking loved me unconditionally, even though I didn't deserve it.

"How can you look at me like that?" I asked. "After what you saw?"

She sat up and shifted across the tub until she was sitting on my thighs. The water rippled around us, some of it sloshing over the edge onto the tile floor. Her fingers traced a pattern on my chest over my heart, their soft touch igniting a flicker of hope in the coldness that had settled there.

"Because I see through you, Denver. Not just the wolf, but the man you are underneath. The man who protected me. That's who you are. That's who I trust."

Her words were a soothing balm, yet they stung, forcing me to confront my inner turmoil. I shook my head, denial mixing with helplessness. "I'm dangerous, Sasha. You saw what I was capable of. What if I lose control the next time? What if I hurt you?"

"You wouldn't," she said firmly, her hand reaching up to cup my cheek. Her palm was a warm balm against my skin. "You're not a monster, Denver. You're my mate. And I trust you with my life."

Her words though soft, hit me like a punch to the gut. I leaned into her touch and kissed her palm.

I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to steady my racing heart. I had spent far too long constructing walls around my heart, convinced that isolation was a necessary shield against the chaos I'd become. Now, here she was, both a ray of light and an unsettling force, dismantling the very defenses I built to keep her out. My breath hitched, and I fought against the tears that threatened to spill.

Despite my efforts, Sasha had slipped past all the defenses I had put up around my heart. Now she was here, all around me, inside of me. Even when I was falling apart, she was here holding me together.

"I've spent my whole life trying to control the wolf," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. Memories of my father's stern face loomed large, echoing in my mind. I could almost hear his voice admonishing me in that deep, unforgiving tone.

"An alpha wolf is strong, but strength without control is nothing."

"My father always told me that being an alpha meant being responsible. I thought that meant keeping everyone at a distance. But you make me want to be more."

She smiled, her thumb brushing against my cheek. "You already are, Denver. You've always been."

We stayed like that for a while, the silence between us comfortable and full of silent understanding. But eventually, the water grew cold and the weight of the day caught up with us. We climbed out of the tub, wrapping ourselves in plush robes, and retreated to the living room.

Sasha nestled on the couch, her delicate form curling into a comfortable position as she flicked on the television while I went to the office to grab my laptop. I came back out and stood stock still at a giant image of Sasha and myself on the screen. Not only had the news channel gotten wind of Ethan's death, but they also discovered my relationship with Sasha. It was all they could talk about. Over and over, our images flashed on the screen as the news show hosts dissected the details of our personal lives. All of the work we did for the press conference was for nothing. The gossip overshadowed everything.

A photograph of Ethan at the company charity auction popped up. My mind flashed back to the attack. The red rage that filled my vision as he threatened Sasha, the metallic tang of his blood in my nose, the warm sticky blood that coated my claws. I wished that I could go back and uncross that line.

I sat down next to Sasha who curled up against me, resting her head on my shoulder. She turned the television off, but the peaceful moment was short-lived. My phone rang and I grimaced at the name that popped up on the screen. It was Victoria.

"We need to talk, now," Victoria said, skipping any social niceties. "You are expected at a video conference with the board in five minutes." The call ended as abruptly as it started.

I gave Sasha an apologetic look.

She squeezed my hand. "I'll be right here."

With my mate by my side, I braced myself for the inquisition I was about to face as I opened the laptop and logged into the video conference call. Every member of the board was there, their faces staring sternly back at me from the split windows on my screen.

I clenched my jaw, my nerves on edge as I prepared for confrontation.

Victoria lead the attack. "Denver, you were warned before about the damage your personal scandals have caused the company. "The fact that you're involved in a relationship with a subordinate was already a scandal, but now, with the death of our photographer, the board is questioning your ability to lead."

I took a deep breath, squeezing my hands into fists. The urge to shift and snap my fangs at her was overwhelming. But Sasha's warm hands on top of mine grounded me. I held back the rage that simmered inside of me, forcing myself to remain calm. For her.

"I understand the board's concerns, but I assure you, the attack was not caused by anything of my doing. Ethan attacked first. I only acted in self-defense."

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