Chapter6
651 Words
Brad’s POV
She stayed.
I wasn’t expecting her to.
When I told her to help with documents, I had expected hesitation, excuses, confusion
Instead she simply nodded and sat across from me.
Her back stayed straight.
Her eyes lowered.
Like she was trying to make herself invisible.
Good.
That made this easier.
This wasn’t about wanting her company.
It was practical.
She could read.
That was all.
I pushed a pile of papers toward her.
“Arrange them by date.”
She took them carefully.
For a while, the room stayed silent except for pages turning.
“This one is wrong.”
I looked up.
She froze instantly.
Like she regretted speaking.
I leaned back.
“What?”
She swallowed.
“This document.”
She held one paper carefully.
“The numbers don’t match.”
I stared.
She looked nervous now.
As if she expected punishment.
I took the paper.
Read it.
Read it again.
She was right.
One of the supply reports had duplicated inventory.
I looked at her.
“You noticed that?”
She lowered her head.
“Yes.”
I stared a little longer than necessary.
Interesting.
Most people didn’t notice details.
She noticed immediately.
I looked away first.
“Continue.”
She obeyed.
Another half hour passed.
Then
“This one too.”
I looked up.
Again?
I checked.
Again
Right.
My wolf stirred.
She notices things.
I ignored him.
Hours passed quietly.
I signed papers.
She organized.
Then my eyes drifted toward her.
Not intentionally.
She looked focused.
She bit her lip slightly when thinking.
Her eyebrows pulled together when concentrating.
She looked…
peaceful.
Different from the frightened girl moving around the kitchens.
I looked away.
“Who taught you?”
Her eyes lifted.
“To read?”
I nodded.
Silence.
Then
“My father.”
Her voice softened.
Something changed in her face.
Small.
But enough.
I looked at the papers.
“He sounds capable.”
Another silence.
“He was.”
Was.
Not is.
I remembered the nightmare.
The sweat.
The fear.
I didn’t ask.
She clearly didn’t want to talk.
But now something made more sense.
She stood to return a stack of books.
Her hands were full.
Too full.
One slipped.
She reached
Lost balance.
Before I thought
I moved.
My hand caught her arm.
Her body stumbled forward.
Straight into me.
Silence.
Too close.
I could feel her freeze.
Her eyes slowly lifted.
Her breath stopped.
My wolf woke instantly.
Mate.
My chest tightened.
Her scent surrounded me.
My fingers tightened unconsciously.
For one second
One dangerous second
I imagined not letting go.
Then I released her immediately.
Stepped back.
Cold.
Controlled.
Her eyes widened.
“I’m sorry Alpha.”
Sorry?
I looked away.
“You should pay attention.”
Her shoulders stiffened.
She nodded.
“…yes.”
Why did disappointment suddenly appear on her face?
Ridiculous.
Night had already settled outside.
She gathered the documents.
Finished cleaning.
Then walked toward the door.
She stopped.
Turned.
“Alpha… may I leave?”
I looked at her.
She looked smaller somehow.
Like she expected permission to breathe.
I should say yes.
Instead
“Come tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
She blinked.
“…to clean?”
There was a pause.
Too long.
Then
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Good night, Alpha.”
Then she left.
The door clicked shut.
The room became quiet again.
Too quiet.
I looked at the chair she had been sitting in.
My wolf spoke.
You invited her back.
“No.”
You created work.
“No.”
You miss her already.
I stared at the closed door.
Then reached for another document.
My eyes scanned the same line five times.
I threw the paper down.
Damn wolf.
Damn girl.
Tomorrow she would come back.
And next time
I needed to remember the rules.
She was the maid.
I was the Alpha.
That was all.
…wasn’t it?
- Writer
