Page 4 of Her Bossy Wolf Protector

I take deep, meditative breaths the entire train ride into the city. Then, finally, I find myself right outside the towering Night Corp Investment Firm building. The glass facade reflects the early morning sun, creating a dazzling display. The building seems to stretch up endlessly, with a sense of ambition and power that’s hard to miss.

This is it!

I take a deep breath and head inside.

The polished marble floors gleam under the gentle glow of modern chandeliers. The reception area is impressive, with a massive Night Corp Investment Firm logo etched onto the wall. The friendly receptionist greets me with a warm smile and tells me to head up to the 20th floor, to the Human Resources department.

The HR representative, Susan, is welcoming and explains the onboarding process, the company’s policies, paperwork, and the usual. She hands me a detailed job description, outlining my responsibilities as a marketing consultant, and I’m eager to get started.

After our discussion, Susan leads me to the elevator and we head up to the 25th floor, which is where my department is located. As the elevator doors open, I step into a bustling workspace filled with other professionals, each engrossed in their tasks. The environment is charged, and I feel excitement buzzing beneath my skin.

Susan introduces me to my immediate team members, and they greet me with warm smiles and handshakes. I am too excited to catch any of their names though, as they each share a few words about their roles and express their excitement at having me on board. It’s no problem, I will get to know them better as the days pass. It’s a relief to feel so welcome, and I can sense the potential for strong collaboration and friendships.

The tour continues as I’m shown my designated workspace, complete with a sleek desk and chair and a state-of-the-art computer. The office has an amazing view of the city skyline, and someone has left me a new plant on the windowsill. I immediately name the small succulentBillie.

As soon as Susan leaves me to settle in, I snap pictures of my new surroundings, sharing them with Alyssa. All the messages are still unread. I put away my phone and decide to explore my new office. My heart swells with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. I had been unemployed for so long that I had almost forgotten what it would feel like to be back in the corporate world.

According to the itinerary Susan left on my desk, I am scheduled to meet with the CEO this morning. Susan informed me that was the standard protocol for all their new hires. I have no idea what to expect in this meeting, so I take out my resume and read through it, wondering what type of questions he is likely to ask.

I was informed that he was in another meeting at the moment, but someone would come fetch me as soon as he was available.

While I wait, I familiarize myself with my surroundings, scrolling through the company’s internal communication system. Alyssa still hasn’t responded to any of my texts, and I’m starting to worry about her. She’s always been there for me, and I expected her to have called me first thing today. She was almost as excited about this job as I was, so her silence is rather unusual.

Finally, about thirty minutes later, someone shows up. She introduces herself as Lily, the CEO’s assistant. “He is ready to see you now. Please follow me.” Lily is a petite blonde, well-dressed woman who immediately makes me feel underdressed.

With a deep breath, I follow her through the labyrinth of hallways on the 25th floor until we reach a grand, mahogany door with a polished brass nameplate reading “Gabriel Night, CEO.”

She knocks gently and opens the door, ushering me into the spacious office.

As I walk into the office, I am greeted with a sea of black. This room looks sleek and right out of an architectural magazine. It is all straight lines. Just blacks and whites and grays. By the floor to ceiling windows, there is a man facing away from us. He is muttering in a low voice with a phone pressed to his ear. From the door, I can only see a thick curtain of dark hair. His broad shoulders stretch the fabric of his well-tailored black jacket, and embarrassingly, I’m a bit distracted by the way it molds to his frame.

“Mr. Night, your ten o’clock is here,” Lily informs him before she smiles at me. Then she turns to leave, her footsteps fading as she walks away. The man is still focused on his call, so I stand there quietly, hesitant to interrupt and trying not to stare at his fine form. I am not sure if I am allowed to sit, so I just stand awkwardly rooted to the spot.

A few moments later, he concludes the call and turns to face me.

My heart leaps into my throat as recognition floods over me.

This can’t be.

In front of me, I swear, is the same man I saw last night. The man I had convinced myself was a hallucination. He looks pretty real right now. I remember the crunching of bone as he transformed from a creature to a human being.

“You can’t be real! I was dreaming. That was a nightmare,” I whisper, my voice trembling with disbelief. This can’t be happening; it defies all logic and reason.

The man, who I assume is Gabriel, locks his gaze with mine with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.

“Ms. Easton?” he says, his voice as smooth as silk as he approaches me.

My pulse quickens, and I step back involuntarily, the fear gripping me like a vice.

“No!” I exclaim, my words are shaky and desperate.

Then he takes a step closer. I can’t contain the shock and fear racing through me. My voice quivers as I plead with him, “Please, stop!”

What is happening? Why can’t I wake up from this nightmare?

My heart races faster than ever, the pounding in my chest deafening. And then, as if my body can’t bear the strain of the moment, I black out.

Chapter 2

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