Page 13 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Chef

The woods were calling, and I answered.

I ran, my paws pounding against the ground, the wind whipping through my fur. It didn't take long before the pavement beneath my feet transitioned to dirt and dried twigs. The forest was alive around me, the scent of crushed pine needles and damp earth filling my nostrils. I could hear the rustle of leaves, the distant call of an owl, the heartbeat of a rabbit hiding in the underbrush. But even here, I couldn't escape her. Ivy's scent seemed to follow me, haunting me like a ghost I couldn't shake.

I snarled, raking my claws through the dirt.Pathetic.Even miles away, she owned me.

The sound of another wolf approaching snapped me out of my thoughts. Denver's wolf was larger than mine, his fur a deep, dark gray that blended into the shadows. He howled in greeting, a low, rumbling sound that echoed through the trees. I responded in kind, the sound carrying my frustration, my restlessness, my confusion.

We met in the clearing at the edge of the woods, circling each other, playing at dominance, testing each other's strength. Denver's wolf cocked its head, nostrils flaring.He knew. Then, with a snarl, Denver lunged, and we crashed together in a tangle of fur and teeth. We wrestled and sparred, the physical release a welcome distraction. For a while, there was nothing but the thrill of the fight, the burn of muscles, the snap of jaws, the gleam of sharp dagger-like teeth, the rush of adrenaline.

Eventually, we both shifted back, panting and laughing as we leaned against a tree. The night was quiet around us, the only sound was the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"So," Denver said, breaking the silence. "What's got you so wound up? And don't tell me it's just the full moon. I know you better than that."

I hesitated, running a hand through my hair. "It's nothing."

Denver raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Bull. I've never seen you this antsy. Spill. Is it that new chef you hired, Violet, or whatever?"

I sighed, leaning my head back against the tree. "Her name's Ivy."

Denver's grin widened. "Ah, so that's her name. I was close with Violet."

I shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "She's different. There's something about her."

"Different how?" he pressed, clearly enjoying himself.

I hesitated again, struggling to put it into words. "She doesn't back down. She's not afraid of me. And she's distracting with her brilliant ideas. I can't stop thinking about her. Her scent, her voice. It's like she's always here surrounding me, even when she's not."

Denver chuckled, shaking his head. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. "Care to elaborate?"

"Your wolf knows what it wants, Cam," he said, his tone more serious now. "And it's pretty clear what that is. Ivy. Question is, are you wolf enough to claim her? You're fighting it, but all you're doing is hurting yourself and her."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Denver cut me off.

"Deny it all you want, but we both know the truth. Your wolf has chosen her. You can keep pushing her away, but it's only going to make things harder for both of you. You're not just resisting her, Cam. You're resisting yourself. And trust me, that's a battle you're not going to win."

I clenched my jaw, his words hitting harder than I wanted to admit. Denver had always been the one to call me out on my bullshit, and this time was no different. Plus, as he had recently become mated himself, he would know better than anybody elsethe struggle I was going through. Still, I wasn't ready to face the truth. Not yet.

"It's not that simple," I said finally, my voice low. "The company's in trouble, Denver. I can't afford distractions right now. And Ivy, she's a risk I'm not sure I'm ready to take."

Denver sighed, leaning back against the tree. "Yeah, I get it. The whole recall mess has everyone on edge. But you're not going to fix anything by shutting people out, especially not someone who could actually help. Ivy's not just a distraction, Cam. She's talented, and she's got fresh ideas that could salvage the company's reputation. You said it yourself. Maybe she's exactly what you need, both for the company and for you."

I stared at him, his words sinking in. He was right, as much as I hated to admit it. Ivy wasn't just a complication. She was an opportunity. But that didn't make the knot in my chest loosen any. The thought of letting someone in, of risking that kind of vulnerability, was terrifying.

Denver must have seen the conflict on my face because he clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grin returning. "Look, I'm not saying you have to marry the woman tomorrow. Just give her a chance. Let her in a little. See where it goes. Your wolf already knows what it wants. Maybe it's time you start listening to it."

I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "Since when did you become such a sage?"

He laughed, throwing his head back. "Hey, someone's got to knock some sense into you. Might as well be me."

I chuckled despite myself, the tension in my shoulders easing just a little. Denver always had a way of cutting through thenoise and getting to the heart of things. Still, the idea of letting Ivy in, of giving her even an inch of space in my carefully controlled world, felt like stepping off a cliff without a safety net.

"I'll think about it," I said finally, my tone grudging.

Denver grinned, clearly taking that as a win. "Good. Now, come on. Let's run some more before the sun comes up. You're not getting out of this that easy."

We shifted again, the familiar transformation grounding me in a way nothing else could. For a while, we just ran, the rhythm of our paws against the earth a welcome distraction. But even as we raced through the trees, Ivy's face lingered in my mind, her scent still teasing my senses.

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