The Last Silver Wolf

Chapter 7: The Chase

Jordan



My heart raced as I sprinted through the dense forest, my legs aching from the exertion. Adrenaline surged through me, pushing me onward. I zigzagged between trees, hoping my erratic path would throw him off my trail. Leaping over undergrowth and squeezing between a small shrub and a boulder, I managed to find a narrow hiding spot, just enough space for me to squeeze into without being scratched by twigs.

Crouching low, I strained my ears to the sound of approaching footsteps. I knew it was him, but how had he caught up to me so quickly? He moved slowly, inspecting the bushes to my right, closing in on my hiding place. Holding my breath, I watched as he stood a mere few feet away, fearing that he might hear me. It felt like an eternity until he continued walking away and disappeared behind the boulder to my left. A relieved exhale escaped my lips; it seemed my hiding spot was more effective than I'd thought, or perhaps he simply lacked skill in hide-and-seek.

My relief was short-lived as I screamed when strong hands seized me from behind, pulling me into a solid chest. I kicked my arms and legs, but he skillfully trapped me in his arms, rendering me immobile. "Ah! Fine! You win," I conceded.

I had expected him to release me, but he continued to hold me, his laughter resonating through my body. "I need to teach you how to fight, love. You're like a sitting duck!"

Did he just call me "love"? No, it must have been a misunderstanding on my part. I laughed along with him as he finally let me down, turning to face him. Looking up into his towering figure, I remarked, "I can fight, just not against a beast like you!"

Alexander still held me close, and surprisingly, it felt natural. Our impromptu chase had been so exhilarating; I hadn't run that fast since high school track, and it made me feel truly alive.

"At least you can run fast," he quipped, winking at me. "If you're ever in trouble, you can use that speed to your advantage. I could barely keep up."

"You act like I'm going to get into trouble," I joked, trying to lighten the mood. "No one's targeting little ol' me."

He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Pulling me into a tight hug, he kissed the top of my head. "No one will mess with you because they'd have to go through me first."

I hugged him back, burying my head in his shirt. He was drenched in sweat, something that would usually repel me, but at that moment, he smelled incredible. His fingers traced patterns on my back, sending shivers throughout my body. Every time he touched me, it felt electrifying, and I was growing increasingly comfortable with his touch, even craving it. It was astonishing how quickly I had become attached to this man I'd met just a day ago.

As we ran back to our apartment building, conversation flowed effortlessly between us. I had always cherished my solo runs, but running with Alexander was an entirely different experience, filled with laughter and exhilaration. When we reached the elevator, I was surprised to find Scott exiting. His face brightened upon seeing me. "Jordan! I missed you this morning. I was worried something happened to you."

I smiled, touched by his concern. "Thank you, Scott. I just slept in this morning."

A low growl escaped from Alexander, his arm wrapping possessively around my waist, drawing me closer to him. "That's my fault. We had a late night," he chimed in suggestively.

My eyes widened in shock, but Alexander seemed oblivious, locked in a silent standoff with Scott. Alexander must have won, as Scott cast his gaze downward, clearing his throat. "Well, it was good seeing you, Jordan. Have a great day," he said politely, not looking at me as he walked away.

As the elevator doors opened once more, I stormed inside, with Alexander following closely behind. "What the hell was that?" I exclaimed, my voice rising with anger. I was furious with him. Who did he think he was?

Alexander crossed his arms, muscles bulging, and I rolled my eyes, annoyed that even when I was angry at him, I couldn't help but notice how attractive he looked.

"I'm sorry, Jordan, but I had to make sure he understood you were off-limits."

I scoffed, mouth hanging open. "Off-limits? What's next, are you going to pee on me to mark your territory?" I paced within the confines of the small elevator, trying to wrap my head around the absurdity of the past twenty-four hours. "Alexander, I've only known you for a couple of days. We're not even dating. You can't stake a claim like you own me!"

My anger escalated, and I began to consider how confused I was by it all. I had enjoyed his company so much that I'd overlooked the obvious questions. "What is this? What's happening between us? Is this just a game to you? Do you take over companies and target vulnerable girls for sport? You're the CEO, and I'm just a—"

Before I could continue my tirade, Alexander grabbed me, lifted me into his arms, and kissed me. Initially, I tried to push him away, but my body took over, his lips consuming me. It was as if a fire had started in my heart and his lips were the only way to quench it. I wrapped my legs around his waist, trying to get as close to him as possible. I didn't even notice when we made it to my floor, but suddenly I was laying on the couch in my living room and the sexiest man alive was on top of me, his lips never leaving mine.

Our lips met, and time seemed to stand still. In that kiss, I felt every part of me awakening as if for the first time. I gazed into his caramel eyes, and for a brief moment, it felt like I was peering deep into his soul. An unfamiliar sensation washed over me, and at first, I allowed the tranquility of his embrace to envelop me. I cherished the feeling of his arms around me, grounding me in the present. But then, as reality seeped in, so did fear.

"No," I gasped, pushing him away and taking a few hasty steps back. "No, no, no. This can't happen."

Alexander appeared taken aback by my abrupt shift in mood. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Don't call me sweetheart!" I snapped, a surge of panic welling up within me. "This is wrong. I can't do this."

He reached out to touch my hand, but I pulled away, avoiding his gaze. He regarded me with a mixture of confusion and concern. "Jordan, I'm sorry if I crossed a boundary. I couldn't resist."

"I promised myself I'd never let another man use me again," I managed to say, my voice trembling with fear and anger.

He made an attempt to reach for me, but I took a few more steps backward. My body seemed to be pulled by an invisible force toward him, yet I fought against it with all my strength.

Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed, his voice filled with sincerity. "Jordan, I'm not using you. I promise on the moon—on my life—that this is real for me."

I allowed his words to sink in, gradually calming down. I didn't want to trust him, but his sincerity touched something within me. Still, the memories of Troy and the betrayal I had endured in college haunted my thoughts.

"Did someone hurt you?" Alexander asked softly. "You don't have to tell me, but I'd like to know why you're so afraid of me... of this."

Swallowing hard, I turned back to face him. Thankfully, he maintained a respectful distance. "It's not you, Alexander, I promise. I just-" My hands shook as I recalled my past. I had never confided in anyone about what had happened, yet here I was, on the brink of revealing my deepest vulnerability to this man I was beginning to develop feelings for. It felt like a strange mix of self-sabotage and blind trust that compelled me to share this part of my life with him.

"It happened back in college, while I was at NYU. I didn't date in high school; I was always busy, and honestly, guys weren't interested in me. My mom said it was because I was intimidating due to all my extracurriculars and achievements, but that's just something moms say to make their kids feel better. When I got to college, I was much younger than my classmates since I graduated early, so again, I didn't quite fit in. Then I met Troy," I managed to say his name out loud.

Alexander noticed my hesitation and gently rubbed circles on my back, offering silent encouragement. I took a deep breath to steady myself. "He was 21, and I had just turned 18. He rode a motorcycle, and I thought he was so cool. Plus, he was the first guy who ever noticed me. For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful and desired. I couldn't believe that a guy as cool as him would be interested in a nerd like me. We started dating, and it became serious. He was my first real boyfriend but he kept pressuring me to do things I knew I wasn’t ready for.” I took a deep breath, trying to hide my embarrassment at the confession. “Eventually, I gave in because I was afraid to lose him.”

"The following week was his birthday, and I decided to surprise him by decorating his dorm room. I sneaked into his room during one of his classes, but..." I paused, taking another deep breath, my eyes moistening. “I walked in as he was sleeping with another girl. He used me, Alexander. He told everyone about it, and his friends mocked me in my classes. They started spreading rumors that I was a slut and easy to get, so soon all the guys were hitting on me and more rumors were spread. It was the worst semester of my life. I failed three of my classes and had to retake them, which set me back in terms of graduating. I vowed never to let that happen again, and I decided that I wouldn't let boys interfere with my future."

Alexander remained silent until I looked up at his face. His eyes were filled with sorrow, and there was no judgment or disgust at my confession. "And you haven't been in a relationship since then?" he asked tentatively.

I shook my head, afraid of what he would think of me once he knew the truth. He probably thought I was a prude, but maybe this found be the final thing to scare him off.

I was taken aback when he walked towards me, enveloping me in a warm, comforting hug. The urge to pull away battled with the need for comfort, and I ultimately allowed his embrace. "I'm so sorry, Jordan. If I had known, I wouldn't have rushed into things so quickly. I should have taken it slow, and I'm so—so sorry."

"Thank you, but it's not your fault. You couldn't have known. But..." I paused, searching for the right words to express what I was so afraid to say.

"But, this... we..." I gestured back and forth between him and myself. "We can't happen. This can never happen again. You're my boss."

Alexander's eyes filled with a mixture of determination and understanding. "But, Jordan, that doesn't matter. Our relationship won't affect our working one," he reassured me.

I shook my head, a heavy weight pressing down on my chest. "No," I interrupted him. "It goes against my ethical code, and there's no way it wouldn't affect my job. I'm on the verge of a big promotion at work. If anyone found out about us, they'd assume it was because I'm dating the boss. It would invalidate the reputation I've worked so hard to build."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I continued, "Plus, we're from two different worlds. This has been so much fun, but like everything, it won't last. I'm sorry, but I can't."

Alexander sighed and gently cupped my jaw, bringing my face a few inches closer to his. "I understand," he said softly. "I won't make you compromise your morals for me. They're one of the things I highly admire about you. I won't pursue you while I'm your boss. I promise."

He pulled me close for one last, tender kiss, and more tears streamed down my cheeks as he reluctantly pulled away and walked out the door.