YELENA
“Hi, baby.”
His voice hit me again. It was soft, calm, and familiar.
Then his scent rushed in like it had been waiting for me all day... pine, night air, something wild under it. My body reacted before my mind did. I froze with my bag halfway to my shoulder, my heart tripping over itself.
I didn’t turn.
I didn’t want to.
I wasn’t expecting him. I didn’t even hear the door. One moment I was alone in my office, the city humming outside the windows, wolves passing by, elevators growling, sirens singing far away. Next, he was behind me like he had always belonged there.
I stood like that for a second too long.
Then I turned slowly, because I couldn’t stay frozen forever.
“H-Hi,” I said, trying to sound angry. Trying to sound steady.
I failed at both.
He was standing there lik
