an's

even entered the restauraunt

la an

a Mo

ht trying to forget the sound of her laugh, the way her eyes softened whe

tched thin, and one wrong mo

h my thoughts. He stepped into my office,

the window. "Something'

ng h

id quietly. "She's

a brow. "Th

before I could stop it.

. "Then what sh

"Tessa." Her name came out like a confessio

"You mean that Tessa? The o

now she's here again. Working for me

carefully, "Maybe it's not a coincid

he air, harsh and final. "Sh

s steady. "Because the way your

stared back; cold eyes, clenched jaw, the ghost

ated, quieter this ti

ay to control yourself, Alpha. Because if she really is your

ngered long

n't sure which would destroy me more.

a's

somethin

t it was just my c

en it

y quiet. No crickets. No

porch. The air was cool, laced with the faint scent of rain and pine. I g

e was

ickle at the back of my nec

woods. The bushes moved

wind, or maybe a deer. But the moment I turned to go

htened in

en I s

n the trees - eyes. No

the dark, like predators lurkin

n screa

ock the doors

ween disbelief and fear, until, one b

ng in, heartbeat loud in my ears. All this time, I

orrow, I was going to

he door twice -

my second fir

ing, my mind replaying last night - those eyes, that silence, the feeling of bein

dark slacks. My hair stayed in a loose bun. No excessive make-up,

t the cold boss today. Whispers followed me as I walked i

when his eyes lifted to mine, something in his gaze s

, as if he was checking me out.

an," he fi

to meet his eyes. Silence stretc

r chimed, he said, "You'l

vin

s stride was confident - the kind that dared you to keep

ere ex

er to

ed a ste

hint of amusement in his tone.

xactly? Easier to see him? Easier to call my name or look into

office beside his and gestured towa

o close to his. I could practic

cause nothing says professiona

d just slightly. "Don't worry

." I replied

brushed mine as he adjusted something on the d

r hair," he

ked. "

before I could look away. "It

d in his eyes - wa

u know?" I as

ompany records," he said too quickly, straight

ough something about the

tart with the shipment reports.

t, the warmth in

iberate or not, I couldn't tell and my breath caught. This ma

e lower this time. "Welcome to

n he wa

oductive day at work. It was past my closing hour, but I di

, I was a mess of nerves, so I did what

up on the

"Please tell me it's because of

pered. "And no, I didn't r

Mr. Tall, hand

d. "Don'

man. If I worked under him, I'd litera

..he moved me to a new o

that always want proximity t

w eyes in the woods again. Dozens. I thought I was imaginin

his tone instantly. "Te

silver. I co

en, carefully, "You need to be careful. And

are you saying

laugh. "Just my instincts. T

li

l if anything weird ha

e," I sai

rifted through the glass wall -

oking at me, expr

felt like the w

side me whispered - h