Page 16 of The Alpha's Broken Oath

I get to the office after what feels like ages, and the first thing I do is stand by the transparent glass walls admiring the view of Bracken City on a hot Tuesday noon. Skyscrapers taller than the building I’m standing in reflect the orange glow of the sun back to my office. The smell from below, where cars honk at each other, clogs my nostrils, and in all that white noise, the only thing I can focus on is Winter’s scent, the look that was on Winter’s face, and the column of Winter’s throat. The pulse on her neck throbbed when she saw me.

“We are grateful for everything, boss. Sir Wilfred never showed up at the office or checked in on things, but we are hoping things will be different with you.”

Wilfred had a gambling problem, and I used that little information to my advantage. Getting Wilfred to sell his company for twelve million dollars was like stealing candy from a baby. It didn’t take the old man more than two minutes to sign the papers and hand me his company. I couldn’t be any more grateful since, due to Wilfred’s gambling, I’m back in Winter’s life. I’m more than tired of the hide-and-seek game we’ve been revolving around for seven years.

It’s time I finally got to see my mate.

“Cyrus?” I can hardly remember his name. It’s ironic since he’s been speaking to me for close to an hour.

“Simon, boss. My name is Simon,” he corrects nervously.

I am still gazing outside, and my wolf is badgering me to see Winter again. I give Simon a command. “Get me Winter Cavanaugh.”

“Sir?”

“The woman with emerald green eyes, mocha brown hair, blue blouse, dark skirt, dark heels, I want her inside my office in the next five minutes.”

I’d add the woman who looked at me like she wanted my neck in a noose, but that’s sufficient information to get Winter inside my office.

“Of course, Sir. Right away, Sir.”

I settle in my chair and wait.

My mate takes close to twenty minutes to show up to my office. The action would be amusing if I wasn’t dying to see her up close and in my arms.

The click of her heels against the linoleum floor is the first thing I hear as she saunters inside my office.

The next thing I feel is her scent. It’s like a cocoon hugging and hogging my senses. The scent itself is enough to raise me to my feet and round my desk.

My throat constricts, and my heart pummels against my chest. That pull, that bond between us, tugs at my heartstrings.

Winter looks at me once and then avoids my eyes altogether as her hand extends some sort of document in my direction.

“This is my resignation letter, Mr. Cross. Please accept it.”

Her words hit me like a cold bucket of ice water to the face. The sound of her calling me Mr. Cross, like we are strangers, makes a static ring in my ears.

I’m not accepting her fucking resignation letter.

Neither am I letting this be the first conversation we have in seven years.

“Winter.”

I haven’t called her name out loud in years, and she must feel it because she gives me her eyes. Eyes that are filled with so much disdain it’s enough to maim me where I stand.

“I’m resigning, so accept my resignation letter or don’t accept it, but I’ll no longer be working for Bracken Holdings as of—”

I could blame my actions on the mate bond that rages like a spitfire inside my blood.

I could blame them on my wolf, who’s been growling the word “mate” since we saw her again.

But grabbing her waist and pulling her body to my chest is all on me. I’m not ashamed, either. I lock my lips with hers, having a taste of what I’ve desired and not had for seven years.

Our lips clash like blades from opposing teams. The taste of her trims all the years of torment to sweet bliss. Her body melts in my arms, and I’m taken back to when I had her before I broke her so bad she had to run to another city to escape me.

Kiss. My hands dig into her waist.

“I’m here, baby.”

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