Chapter 2
1024 Words
LINCOLN
I had been so engrossed in the pile of documents spread before me, each waiting for my signature. My laptop emitted a gentle hum, accompanied by the rustling of papers and the occasional tap of my fingers on the keyboard. The world outside was like a blur as I focused on the stacks of papers in front of me,
Just then, I heard a knock and the door opened. I looked up briefly…it was Helen my secretary that distracted. She approached with measured steps, her soft voice a whisper in the realm of my thoughts. Yet, I paid her no mind. What could she possibly offer that would merit my attention? I was Lincoln Brown, the most sought after bachelor in California.
"G-good morning, Mr. Brown," she stammered, her voice laced with anxiety. "I apologize for interrupting, but there's something important I believe you should see."
I spared her a cursory glance, my eyebrows narrowed with indifference. "What is it?" I replied curtly, my tone laced with an unfazed skepticism. "Make it quick. I don't have all day and you know this,"
She hesitated, her eyes darting nervously to the ground. "It's a file, sir," she explained, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "From... from an anonymous source."
Her last words caught my attention, "Anonymous? Hand it over," I replied, holding myself back from dragging the sealed envelope from her hands, she flinched backwards, slightly taken aback by my actions.
She shrugged, "Sir, if it's not comfortable for you we could turn the package in to–"
I looked at her intently, "Helen I think it's best you understand your place in this company,"
"I-I-I I'm sorry Sir," she stuttered her eyes avoiding mine. How'd I get someone so timid as my secretary in the first place?
"Get out," I commanded, my gaze still fixed on the envelope, she nodded and turned to leave the office.
I inhaled deeply as I stared at the sealed envelope on the table. I didn't want to go through the torture of reading through the scribbled content of the envelope from my kin– (insert name of pack)
"Helen," I called out just as she was about to step out.
She quickly turned and started walking back to my desk, "What can I do for you Sir?" She questioned, her soft voice echoed in the room.
"I need a cup of coffee… in ten," I replied casually, running my fingers through the rims of the envelope, I was buying time… as much as I was running out of it.
"Alright… coffee coming through in ten minutes," she replied and left the office, the silence that followed reminded me of the reality I was about to face– it was the same old story from the pack, since I left for the human world, they figured other means to reach out and send messages, most of them coming in codes.
I recalled the day I spoke to the beta, the night before I left the pack, to go through this path, with no bounds nor shackles to hold me back.
"It would be bad for the pack, you're their Alpha you should be present here in the pack. Going to the human world isn't the right thing to do if you ask me Alpha," he had said, scratching the back of his head profusely.
I had looked at him and in that moment the urge to leave was even stronger. There was more, more than this pack had to offer me and I intended to get it. "The pack would have a leader, someone who would stand in not just me beta…not just me,"
The Beta had shrugged, "There is no better person than you… you're the Alpha of this pack you should stay back and–"
I had hit my clenched fist on the table angrily, "Enough! You do not question my words," I said in a firm tone.
He bowed in respect, "As you wish Alpha…"
"I thought as much, my brother would oversee the affairs of the pack while I'm away," I had said.
I inhaled deeply. It's been months now and Ziona company has successfully thrived, without giving it much thought I tore open the envelope and brought out the paper that had scribbled codes on it– I couldn't risk being caught in the human world.
The inked words danced before my eyes, as if whispering truths only the night could comprehend. "Lincoln, our pack is in turmoil. We need you."
A flicker of guilt pierced my heart, I knew my absence had left them vulnerable, a pack without their leader. But I left them with one equally good or even better. Going back to the pack was out of question, I was so used to the comfort and opulence of the human world… I was almost one of their kind, except that my blood smelt wolf and not human… "goddess help me" I muttered under my breath.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice Helen walk into the office, she gently placed the cup of steaming coffee on the table, "Sir, here's the coffee you requested for,". Her words was met with silence.
"Is everything okay… Sir?" She asked, concern etched in her voice.
I arched my brows, "How dare you meddle in affairs that are not your business?"
She sighed, "I didn't mean it that way Sir, I just noticed that you were so engrossed in your thoughts you didn't notice when I walked in,"
I scoffed, "Helen what are you paid for?"
Her eyes widened in confusion,"I-I-I-"
My anger flared even more, and without thinking, I fired her on the spot. "You're fired! Get out of here!" I barked, rising from my seat with a surge of pent-up frustration.
As I stood, a sharp pang shot through my head, causing everything to blur. The room swayed, and my vision faded… I tried to grip on the edge of the table for support but my hands seemed too feeble to grip anything, my leg couldn't carry my body and just then, there was total blackout.
- Writer
