The Alpha's Rejected Heir

Chapter 3Five Years Later

Five years.

That was how long it had been since I ran away from the Shadow Moon Pack. Five years since I was rejected. Five years since I “died” in the eyes of my former pack.

"Mommy, are you listening to me?"

A small, impatient voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I looked down from my desk. Standing there, with his hands on his hips, was a four-year-old boy. He had messy black hair and eyes as blue as the deep ocean.

He looked exactly like him.

"I'm sorry, Leo," I smiled, picking him up. He was heavy for his age, strong like his father. "What were you saying?"

"I said, Auntie Sarah is waiting for you outside," Leo said, puffing out his cheeks. "She says the Big Boss from the global headquarters is coming today. You have to look pretty."

I laughed and kissed his cheek. "I always look pretty."

"True," Leo giggled.

I put him down. "Go play with your Legos in the break room. Mommy has work to do."

As he ran off, my smile faded.

I walked to the floor-to-ceiling window of my office. Below me, the busy streets of New York City were alive with traffic.

I wasn't Clara the weak Omega anymore. Here, in the human world, I was Clara Vance, the founder of Velvet Scent, one of the most successful perfume companies in the city.

I used my heightened werewolf sense of smell to create perfumes that drove humans crazy. They called me a genius. I called it survival.

I had built this life from nothing. Just me and Leo. I was safe here. No one knew who I was. No one knew I was a wolf.

The door burst open.

"Clara! Why aren't you ready?" Sarah, my human assistant and best friend, rushed in. She looked panicked.

"Relax, Sarah. It's just a meeting," I said, adjusting my silk blazer. "Who is this mystery investor anyway? You said he wants to buy 20% of my company?"

"Not just buy," Sarah gasped, handing me a file. "He wants to partner with us exclusively. He's the CEO of the Blackwood Corporation. They own half the hotels in Europe."

My blood ran cold.

Blackwood.

No. It couldn't be. That was a common name.

"What... what is the CEO's name?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Sarah flipped the page. "Mr. Damien Blackwood. He just landed his private jet an hour ago. He's on his way here right now."

The file slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a thud.

Panic. Pure, unadulterated panic exploded in my chest.

He was here.

Damien. The man who rejected me. The father of my child.

He was coming to my office.

"Clara? Are you okay? You look pale," Sarah asked, concerned.

"I... I have to go," I stammered. "I can't see him. Sarah, cancel the meeting. Tell him I'm sick. Tell him I'm dead. Anything!"

"What? You can't!" Sarah grabbed my arm. "Clara, this deal is worth fifty million dollars! If you bail now, he'll sue us. He's already in the elevator!"

Ding.

The sound of the elevator arriving down the hall echoed like a gunshot.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I could smell it. Even through the heavy perfume of my office, I could smell him.

Dark chocolate. Rain. Pine forests.

He was here.

I looked at the door to the break room where Leo was playing. If Damien saw Leo... if he saw those blue eyes... he would know instantly.

"Sarah," I hissed, grabbing her shoulders. "Take Leo. Take him out the back exit. Now."

"What? Why?"

"Just do it!" I commanded, my Alpha blood flaring for the first time in years.

Sarah nodded, frightened by my tone, and ran to grab Leo.

Just as the back door clicked shut, the main office door opened.

A tall figure stepped in. The room instantly felt smaller. The air grew heavy with power.

I turned around slowly, my legs trembling but my chin held high.

Damien stood there, looking even more handsome and dangerous than I remembered. He was wearing a custom Italian suit that cost more than my first car. His icy blue eyes swept over the room, cold and calculating.

And then, his gaze landed on me.

He froze.

His eyes widened slightly. He sniffed the air, confusion flashing across his face.

"Clara?" he whispered, as if he was seeing a ghost.

I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms. I wasn't the weak girl crying on the floor anymore.

I forced a polite, business smile onto my face.

"Hello, Mr. Blackwood," I said coldly. "You must have me confused with someone else. My name is Ms. Vance. Shall we sit?"