CHAPTER 2
1316 Words
The morning after the gala, Piper Reyes woke up to chaos.
Her name was splashed across every major news outlet, gossip blog, and social media platform.
"Business Queen Piper Callista Sincalire—Mate to the Infamous Alpha?"
"Little Heiress of the Blackwood Empire Calls CEO ‘Mama’—What Does This Mean?"
"Power Meets Power: Is Piper Callista Sincalire the Future Luna of the Imperial Eclipse Pack?"
Piper stared at her phone, her grip tightening as she scrolled through the headlines.
Paparazzi photos of her frozen expression, Sebastian’s intense stare, and Brianna clutching her leg were plastered everywhere.
Some articles speculated romance. Others called it fate. Some even claimed she had secretly been dating the Alpha all along.
Complete. Utter. Nonsense.
Her jaw ticked.
The internet had lost its damn mind.
She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to remain calm.
This is not real.
This is not happening.
She was not anyone’s mate.
She was not about to be some werewolf’s Luna.
And she sure as hell was not letting a six-year-old dictate her future.
She threw herself into work.
And if she was going to face the world today, she was going to do it in style.
The moment Piper stepped into the lobby of her empire, her employees knew.
Not because she was late.
Not because she walked in with a storm in her eyes.
But because of her how she dressed.
When Piper was furious, she dressed like she was about to burn the world down.
Today was no different.
The sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor was the first warning.
Each step echoed through the halls of her empire, demanding attention. She had meticulously chosen her outfit, a statement of power wrapped in silk and luxury.
A custom-tailored, black Alexander McQueen blazer hugged her frame, emphasized her dominance. The fabric was smooth, hugging her curves in all the right places, paired with tailored high-waisted pants that flared just enough to create an air of effortless sophistication.
Beneath the blazer, a deep crimson silk blouse peeked through bold, commanding, yet sensual, the colour of power and danger.
Around her neck sat a delicate yet striking diamond choker, the gems reflecting the sharp edge of her mood. Her hands, adorned with gold cuffs, gripped the sleek black clutch that matched her stilettos, four inches of unapologetic authority.
Her makeup was flawless, her lips painted a sultry shade of red, eyes lined with the precision of a woman who did not tolerate nonsense.
Her hair, styled in a sleek low ponytail, made sure every inch of her face was exposed, letting her cold, piercing gaze do all the work.
The building’s temperature seemed to drop.
Employees straightened.
Conversations died.
No one dared to speak.
No one dared to breathe wrong in her presence.
Because they all knew Piper was pissed, and when she was pissed, she was unstoppable.
Her assistant, Mattias, was already waiting outside her office, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a tablet in the other.
“Good morning, madam” he greeted, unfazed by her silent fury. His sharp eyes flicked over her outfit. “Black McQueen and Louboutins? Oh, someone’s about to suffer.”
Piper slid off her sunglasses and shot him a look. “The media is a disease, Mattias.”
He hummed in agreement, handing her the coffee. “And you, my dear, are the cure. But let me guess—every article is about last night?”
She sipped her coffee, her fingers tightening around the porcelain cup. “They have officially lost their damn minds. Apparently, I’m fated to be the next Luna of the Crimson Moon Pack.”
Mattias gasped dramatically. “Oh my Goddess, congrats! Should I start calling you Luna Piper? Should I order matching family Christmas sweaters?”
She shot him a glare.
He grinned, completely unfazed. “Okay, okay, not the time.”
Piper exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I need to kill the rumors before they spiral any further.”
Mattias nodded, already scrolling through his tablet. “Damage control. I can set up an exclusive interview, make a statement denying all of it. Or…” He arched a brow, smirking. “We could use this to our advantage.”
Piper narrowed her eyes. “Explain.”
“You’re already trending, babe. If we play this right, we can turn all this attention into something you control. Business expansions, brand deals, strategic partnerships. People are eating this up. Why not make them pay for it?”
Piper tapped her manicured nails against her coffee cup, considering it.
She hated the idea of being dragged into supernatural drama. Hated the thought of being associated with an Alpha—especially *that* Alpha. But… Mattias had a point.
If the world was going to watch her, she might as well put on a show.
A slow, wicked smile curled her lips. “Fine. Let’s turn this circus into a damn empire.”
Mattias beamed. “That’s my queen.”
But even as she planned her next move, a small, annoying voice in the back of her mind whispered a truth she refused to acknowledge.
She could handle the media. She could handle business.
But Sebastian Blackwood?
He was a problem she wasn’t sure she knew how to solve.
The media hall was packed. Cameras lined the front, flashes firing like gunfire. Journalists murmured amongst themselves, a mix of curiosity and anticipation thick in the air.
Then she walked in.
Silence fell
The rhythmic click of her heels echoed against the marble floors as she approached the podium, commanding every gaze in the room.
Piper adjusted the microphone, letting the silence stretch for just a second longer enough to make them wait.
Then she spoke.
“Good morning.” Her voice was smooth, controlled, the slightest edge of amusement lacing her tone. “It seems you’ve all had quite the eventful night, spinning stories out of thin air.”
A few reporters shifted in their seats.
Some chuckled nervously.
Piper tilted her head slightly, letting her sharp gaze sweep across the crowd. “I see the headlines. The wild theories. The desperate attempts to uncover some scandal.”
She let out a quiet, amused hum.
“Let me be clear: I built my empire with my own hands. Every boardroom I step into, every deal I close, every move I make is based on strategy and dominance. I do not answer baseless gossip.”
She paused, then leaned in slightly, dropping her voice just a fraction lower. “But… I do find it fascinating that the world is so invested in what I do. What *I* might be to a certain Alpha.”
There it was. A deliberate slip, a hint.
She wasn’t confirming anything. But she wasn’t denying it either.
The room erupted in murmurs. Some journalists whispered excitedly to each other, scribbling notes furiously.
One brave reporter raised a hand. “Ms. Sinclaire, so you’re saying—”
She raised a perfectly arched brow, cutting him off without saying a word.
The man immediately shut his mouth.
Piper smiled. “I believe I’ve said enough. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have actual business to attend to.”
She turned on her heel and strode out, leaving them buzzing in her wake.
Back in her office, Matthias was practically vibrating with excitement. “You. Just. Broke. The internet.”
Piper exhaled, unbuttoning her blazer slightly, finally allowing herself to relax now that the damage control was complete.
“They’ll move on to something else in a few days,” she murmured, reaching for her coffee.
Matthias smirked. “Or… they’ll keep watching, waiting for your next move. Which is exactly what we want.”
Piper sipped her drink, letting the warmth settle in her chest.
Then she smiled.
“Good.”
- Writer
