Page 12 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Chef

"Nice work, Ivy," he said, grinning. "You knocked it out of the park."

"Thanks," I said, still a little dazed. "But I didn't expect Cameron to want me at the conference. I thought he'd want to take the lead himself."

Brody chuckled, shaking his head. "Cameron's a control freak, but he's not stupid. He knows you're the face of these kits now. You've got the passion and the expertise to sell them better than anyone else."

I smiled, feeling a swell of gratitude. "I just hope I don't let everybody down."

"You won't," Brody said confidently. "You've got this, Ivy. And hey, maybe you'll even be the one to make him crack."

I laughed, though the thought sent a flutter of nervous anticipation through me. "I'm not sure anyone's capable of that."

Brody winked. "You'd be surprised."

As I headed back to the kitchen, my mind was already racing with preparations for the conference. FoodieCon was a huge opportunity for Cam's Comfy Cuisine, and I was determined to make the most of it.

Bridget was waiting for me, a knowing smile on her face. "So, I hear you're going to FoodieCon with the boss."

"Looks like it," I said, still trying to wrap my head around it.

"You nervous?" she asked, handing me a cup of coffee.

I took a sip, letting the warmth calm me. "A little. But mostly excited. It's a chance to really showcase what we've been working on."

Bridget nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Just remember, Ivy. You've earned this. Don't let him intimidate you."

I smiled, feeling a flicker of confidence. "I won't. Besides, I think I'm starting to figure him out."

That night, as I locked up the kitchen, a shadow moved in the hallway. Cameron stood there, his tie loosened, sleeves rolled up to reveal thosedamnedforearms.

"You're here late," he said.

"So are you."

He stepped closer. The scent of his cologne, spice and rain, wrapped around me. "The Thai curry," he said abruptly. "It needs more heat."

I tilted my head. "Are you giving me an order or a challenge, Mr. Fitzgerald?"

His smile was all teeth. "Figure it out."

Chapter 5

CAMERON

The restlessness had been building all day, creeping under my skin like a fever I couldn't shake. My wolf stirred, restless and agitated, clawing at the edges of my control. It wasn't just the full moon, though that didn't help. It was her. Ivy.

Her scent haunted me, the faint traces of cherries and bergamot and something uniquely her that I couldn't place. My wolf clawed at my ribs, demanding that I track her down, then bury my nose in the curve of her neck and mark her until that scent was covered with mine. Her voice, her laughter, the way she'd defended her choices against my judgment in the kitchen. It all played on repeat in my head, driving me to the brink of distraction.

I paced the length of my penthouse, the city lights below blurring in the distance as I fought the tightness in my muscles. My senses were heightened, every sound amplified, every scent sharper. I could hear the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen, the distant echo of a car horn on the street below. I could smell the lingering traces of the coffee I'd abandoned hours ago, thefaint musk of my own frustration, the trace of Ivy's scent mixed with the delicious meals she'd cooked. It was too much. I needed to run, to let my wolf take over and burn off this relentless energy.

Grabbing my phone, I shot off a quick text to Denver, my college roommate and best friend.

Me: "Full moon. Woods. You in?"

His reply came almost instantly.

Denver: "Always. Meet you there."

I didn't bother with a response. Shedding my suit, I stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air a relief against my overheated skin. Closing my eyes, I let the shift take me. The change was always unpleasant, bones cracking, muscles reshaping, fur sprouting where skin had been. It was painful and exhilarating all at once, a reminder of the primal force I carried within me. When I opened my eyes, the world was sharper, clearer. My wolf took over, and I leaped from the balcony, landing silently on the pavement below.

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