Wolvenmark - The Forbidden Mate

Chapter 8 : Dominance and Defiance

Chapter 8 : Dominance and Defiance

Al’s POV

It had been a week since Ruby started working here, and I had to admit—he was doing exceptionally well.

At first, I wasn’t sure about hiring someone with zero experience, but now? Now, I couldn’t imagine the office without him. He carried himself with a sharpness and confidence that didn’t belong to a rookie. The way he dissected problems, proposed solutions, and offered just the right balance of critique and encouragement—it was almost unbelievable. If I hadn’t seen his resume with my own eyes, I would have sworn he’d been in the field for years.

Or maybe… he was just naturally brilliant.

It wasn’t just his intellect that stood out. Ruby had an uncanny ability to handle people, whether they were difficult or easygoing. He read the room like an open book, adjusting his approach with effortless finesse. I’d trusted my instincts when I hired him, thinking it was nothing more than a gut feeling. Now, I knew better. It had been the right call.

With Ruby around, the workload didn’t feel as heavy. There was something about his presence—something calming. Work no longer felt like a burden; it was smoother, almost enjoyable. And the results spoke for themselves. The company’s performance was already climbing, slowly but surely making its way up the charts.

Yet, despite all these positive changes, I found myself distracted.

I was at my desk, supposedly focused on finalizing details for our upcoming project, but my attention kept slipping. My gaze drifted—again—to the extra desk in my office where Ruby sat, completely engrossed in his own work. His brows were slightly furrowed, his lips pressed together in concentration as he sorted through stacks of papers. Every movement, every subtle shift in his expression, held me captive.

I wasn’t sure if it was his scent—subtle yet distinct, something that lingered in the air like a pull—or just his sheer presence, but I felt drawn to him. It was a strange, inexplicable pull, and I couldn’t shake it.

I refused to label it as something weird, though. If anything, it was helping me. My mind felt sharper, my decisions clearer. Hell, even the company was benefiting. Who was I to question something that worked in my favor?

Still… there was something unsettling about how easily he occupied my thoughts.

I sighed, shaking my head.

I had bigger things to worry about. Like the fact that the next full moon was in two weeks. And after that, I had only three more left.

I needed to find my mate. Soon.

But for now, at least work was smooth sailing. The Silver Moon Empire was thriving, and—

“Uhmm… excuse me?”

My thoughts shattered like glass at the sound of his voice. My head snapped up, and my breath caught in my throat when I realized he was looking straight at me, one brow arched in suspicion.

“Were you just staring at me?” Ruby asked, his tone laced with amusement.

I immediately straightened, my lips parting and closing as I scrambled for a response.

“T-That’s creepy,” he added, his smirk deepening. “Staring at someone with a weird smile like that.”

My face heated. “I was not staring at you!” I shot back, perhaps a little too quickly. “I was just… thinking!”

“Oh?” He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. “Thinking about what, exactly?”

I scoffed, trying to regain my composure. “About how well the company’s been doing, obviously. It’s exciting. My eyes just happened to be looking in your direction—coincidence.”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t look convinced, but he also didn’t push it further. Instead, he shrugged. “Whatever you say, boss.”

I almost rolled my eyes at the teasing lilt in his voice. Before I could snap back, he stood up, gathering the stack of neatly organized papers he had been working on and placing them inside a folder. Then, with smooth efficiency, he walked over and set it on my desk.

“All done?” I asked, my voice a little steadier now.

He simply nodded, then gestured toward the door. “I’m heading out.”

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “Get some rest, okay?”

Ruby blinked, surprised by my sudden concern. A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips. “You too.”

And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving me alone with my chaotic thoughts.

Damn it.

I ran a hand down my face.

I needed to get a grip. Fast.

Ruby’s POV

I'm actually having a great time. Work has been getting easier each day, or maybe I'm just adapting quickly. It's been a week since I started, and I like to think I've been helpful. My understanding of my role is expanding, and I know there’s still so much to learn. But I like that—I like being challenged.

The only thing throwing me off is my boss. And it’s not because of anything bad—quite the opposite, actually. He’s... distracting. There’s something about him, something beyond his authority, beyond his sharp intelligence. Maybe it’s the way his silver eyes gleam under the office lights or the way he carries himself, exuding effortless confidence. I don't know.

Okay, that's a lie. I do know. I find him adorable.

God, I’ve liked guys before, so I know what this is. But this is my boss. My boss. And yet, I get to see him every day, and I can’t help but notice how stupidly attractive he is. Cute. Hot. Whatever. Not my fault.

The real problem? Would he ever like me back?

Or, better question—would he even like a guy back?

I groan under my breath as I step out of the elevator, shaking off the thought like an annoying mosquito buzzing in my ear. Not me crushing on my boss after just one week. Get it together, Ruby.

It’s already three in the afternoon. Just one more hour, then I’m free for the day. Might as well make it productive. I enter my office, drop into my chair, and immediately dive into my work. My fingers fly across the keyboard, the rhythmic tapping of the keys filling the silence. It’s weirdly satisfying. See? Hardworking employee right here.

I’m in the zone, drafting reports, organizing presentation slides, and double-checking data for the upcoming conference. It’s a lot, but it’s a good experience. No pain, no gain, right? Plus, I’ve been involved in some research and special projects assigned by the execs, so I want to make sure my work is polished.

The sharp click of my office door startles me. Before I can react, it swings open—without a knock, as usual.

And there he is. Mr. Silvermoon.

I nearly jump out of my skin; my chest twitches as if someone shoved a hand into it. My pulse ricochets against my ribs like a trapped bird.

"Will you stop that?!" I exclaim, clutching my chest. "Can you enter a room like a normal person?"

He smirks, stepping inside as if he owns the place—well, technically, he does. The suit he wears hangs perfectly, the kind of tailored that speaks more quietly than any boast. He heads straight for the couch, folding himself onto it as though he’s lived in the cushions for years, sprawling with a kind of casual authority that’s infuriating and, annoyingly, almost comfortable to look at.

"Well, I’m not a normal person," he says cryptically.

I narrow my eyes at him, fingers still curled around the edge of my desk. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

He shrugs, one shoulder rising in a neat, lazy motion. "One day, you’ll know."

What the hell? Is he messing with me, or does he actually mean something by that? My mind reaches for answer after answer, but none of them land right. I can’t tell if he’s teasing or serious, and that half-truth claws at my patience.

"I don’t care if you’re normal or not," I grumble, trying to steer my focus back to the screen. "Just—stop doing that. You scared me."

"Okay, okay," he chuckles, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "My bad."

I roll my eyes and force myself to return to the spreadsheet that’s been staring back at me for the last hour. The numbers blur into neat columns, a language I’m supposed to speak fluently, but the slight dip in the couch as he shifts makes the air between us electric. His presence is a physical thing in the room: a little warmer, a little denser. It tugs at the corner of my concentration no matter how flat the cells in my spreadsheet.

A few moments later, his voice cuts the quiet again, deliberately casual. "My hardworking secretary," he drawls, "it’s almost quitting time. You can start packing up."

I glance at the clock—five minutes to the hour. "I still have—"

Before I can finish, he strides over, moves past me like a breeze with teeth, and yanks the plug of my computer.

The screen goes black.

I freeze. For half a second the world narrows to the dim outline of the monitor, then my brain surges back to life.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I yell, feeling hot and exposed as I stare at the lifeless screen. My heart thunders loud enough that I’m sure he can hear it. The adrenaline tastes metallic at the back of my tongue.

He just shrugs, impossibly calm. "Relax, it auto-saves."

"That’s not the point!" I seethe, shoving my chair back as I stand. "It’s not about losing progress—it’s about how incredibly rude you are!"

His amusement is a small, steady thing at the edge of his voice. "Oh, my bad," he says again, but it’s clear he’s enjoying the chaos he’s created.

I snatch my bag, fingers clenching the strap until the leather creaks. "You’re impossible."

He lifts a brow, corner of his mouth lifting like he’s delighted by the accusation. "And yet," he smirks, "you still put up with me."

The words land like a dare. I want to throw something—an insult, a stapler, my dignity—but the corners of my mouth betray me and twitch into a shape that might almost be a smile. He watches me, satisfied, as if that softened trace of amusement is the point of the whole thing.

Oh my god.

He's getting annoying. Really, really annoying. And I can’t even be mad for long because, for some absurd reason, I find it a little bit... cute.

I am so doomed.