THE ALPHA' HUMAN

THE JOB OFFER

NICOLE POV

I know I said I was not scared before, but now I am.

Maybe it's the anger vibrating beneath Ian's voice.

Or maybe it's the dangerous certainty in his tone, the kind that makes it clear he isn't making empty threats.

Whatever it is, it scares me. Mr. Knight seems to feel it too.

His hand slips off my shoulder so quickly it's almost as if he's been burned. He takes two cautious steps backward, lifting both palms in surrender.

"Calm down, Al—Ian," he says. His easygoing expression is gone, replaced with one I've not seen before.

Caution.

The kind people wear when they're standing too close to something capable of destroying them.

My pulse begins hammering against my ribs. Everything happening inside this office feels... wrong.

Then I look back at Ian.

My breath catches.

His eyes…

They're glowing. Not reflecting the light. Actually glowing.

A brilliant shade of molten gold replaces the warm brown I'd seen moments ago.

That isn't possible.

Is it?

The hard lines of his face seem sharper now, almost predatory. His jaw clenches so tightly I can see the muscles flex beneath his skin.

He's beautiful. Terrifyingly so.

I twist in his grip. "Let me go!"

Instead of loosening his hold, his arms tighten around my waist until I'm pressed firmly against his chest.

A startled gasp escapes me.

His heartbeat is impossibly loud. Or maybe that's mine.

"Why?" he asks, his rough voice scrapes against every nerve in my body. "Do you want to reject me?"

The words make absolutely no sense. Reject him? I've never spoken to him before today.

What is he talking about? "I don't know what you're saying!"

I shove against his chest.

Nothing. It's like trying to move a concrete wall.

"Please don't panic, Nicole." Mr. Knight's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts.

"If you're frightened, he'll only become more agitated. Just stay calm."

I stare at him in disbelief.

Stay calm? Is he serious?

The man holding me hostage is talking nonsense, his eyes are glowing like something out of a horror movie, and I'm supposed to stay calm?

"What the heck are you talking about?" I snap, unable to keep the panic from bleeding into my voice.

"Tell him to let me go!"

"Don't talk to him." Ian's deep growl vibrates against my body before the words even register.

His large hand slides beneath my chin. It's surprisingly gentle.

Firm enough that I can't look away, yet careful enough that it doesn't hurt.

He sharply turns my face until all I can see is him.

Golden eyes. Sharp cheekbones. Dark hair brushing his shoulders.

His expression is conflicted. Like he's fighting himself.

"Nicole," Mr. Knight says carefully. "Please. Just think of something that calms people down."

"I said stop talking to my mate." He snarls at Mr. Knight.

Mate?

The unfamiliar word echoes inside my head.

Before I can ask what he means, Ian's entire body begins shaking.

Not little tremors.

Violent ones.

His breathing becomes ragged. His chest rises and falls rapidly beneath my palm. Panic flares inside me again.

What if he's having a seizure? What if something is medically wrong with him?

I look helplessly toward Mr. Knight.

He gives me a tiny nod.

Almost pleading.

Against every instinct telling me to pull away, I slowly lift my trembling hand until it rests flat against Ian's chest.

The steady thud beneath my palm races like a runaway heartbeat.

"Mr. Ian..." Even I can hear how frightened I sound. "Please calm down."

His breathing hitches. For one endless second, nothing happens. Then...

"Don't be scared." His voice is still deep. Still rough. But softer now. "I won't let anything hurt you."

His golden eyes lock onto mine. There isn't an ounce of doubt in them. Only fierce determination.

My throat suddenly feels dry. I don't understand any of this. Yet somehow...

I find myself nodding.

The movement is stiff. Awkward. But it's enough.

Without warning, he wraps both arms around me. His face buries itself against my neck.

I freeze.

Every muscle in my body locks. His hair brushes softly against my cheek.

He doesn't move. He simply... stays there. Breathing. Holding me.

Almost as though my presence alone is enough to steady him.

I hesitate before slowly raising one hand. My fingers disappear into his silky dark hair.

Without thinking, I begin gently stroking it.

The same thing I used to do whenever Eric cried after scraping his knees as a little boy. I can’t do it anymore now. He's twenty years old and insists he's too grown to be babied.

A tiny smile almost reaches my lips at the memory. Because reality crashes back just as quickly.

Ian's trembling gradually stops. His breathing evens out.

The rigid muscles beneath my hands slowly relax. He lets out a long breath before finally lifting his head.

I blink.

His eyes...

They're brown again. Like nothing unusual ever happened.

No. There's no way.

I definitely need to search whether some rare medical condition causes temporary changes in eye color.

He clears his throat. "I'm sorry about that." His voice is calm now. Controlled.

"I just..." He exhales quietly. "I was worried when I saw you crying."

His gaze searches mine. "What happened?"

The contrast almost gives me whiplash.

Seconds ago he looked capable of tearing the room apart. Now he sounds like a concerned stranger asking if I'm okay.

"I..."

I hesitate. There is absolutely no way I'm telling him about Mom. Or the hospital bills. Or Eric. Or the debt swallowing us alive.

"I really need this job." I force a small smile. "That's all."

He studies me so intently I wonder if he can somehow tell I'm lying.

Then, without another question, he walks back toward his desk.

Every movement is graceful. Controlled. As though the terrifying man from moments ago never existed.

He sits. Adjusts the sleeve of his black shirt. Straightens the glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.

"Kai." His deep voice fills the office. "Help her get her appointment letter."

For a second, I simply stare.

Did...

Did I get it?

Relief crashes into me so suddenly my knees almost give out. "Oh my God."

The words tumble out before I can stop them. "Thank you." Emotion thickens my voice. "I truly... really appreciate this."

A slow smile curves one side of his lips. A single dimple appears. It transforms his entire face.

He somehow looks even more handsome. Which honestly feels unfair.

He simply inclines his head. "You're welcome."

"Let's go." Mr. Knight opens the office door, gesturing for me to step outside.

I don't waste another second.

As I walk out, I can still feel Ian's gaze following me. Burning into my back. For reasons I don't understand...

I fight the urge to look over my shoulder.

~~~

Appointment letter in hand, I walk toward the company's exit with Mr. Knight beside me.

The receptionist's stunned expression after discovering I actually got the job is ridiculously satisfying.

"You really didn't have to walk me all the way out," I tell him.

I'd tried convincing him several times to head back upstairs, but he'd insisted.

"No, no." He chuckles nervously. "I don't need more problems for myself."

That strange answer only reminds me of what happened upstairs.

"I don't mean to be rude," I begin cautiously, "but... does Mr. Ian have some kind of mental illness?"

"What?" His eyes widen.

"The way he acted back there..." I shake my head. "It wasn't normal. I think I deserve to know what that was all about."

Mr. Knight scratches the back of his neck. "You shouldn't dwell on it too much. Ian is... well... a nerd."

"He doesn't exactly know how to communicate his feelings like normal people do."

That explanation somehow makes even less sense.

"He's... special," Mr. Knight continues awkwardly. "That's just... his way of showing he cares."

I frown. "But why would he care? I don't even know him."

Mr. Knight shrugs. "Maybe because you're beautiful."

I stare at him.

"I don't know," he adds quickly. "The guy can be a complete weirdo sometimes. You'll have to ask him yourself."

Considering today's experience...

I think I'll happily live without ever knowing.

~~~

The familiar smell of disinfectant greets me the second I step into the hospital.

Along with it comes the crushing weight of guilt.

If I hadn't been so selfish...

Mom wouldn't be lying unconscious in a hospital bed. Eric wouldn't have dark circles permanently sitting beneath his eyes.

He curls forward on the plastic chair beside Mom's bed. His elbows rest on his knees while his face disappears into his hands.

"Hey," I say softly as I walk over. "You okay?"

He slowly lifts his head. His eyes are bloodshot. He stayed here all night while I was home...

Drinking with my friend.

Sure, I drank because I was overwhelmed. Because everything felt impossible.

But I'm the older sibling. I'm supposed to be the responsible one.

Instead, Eric is carrying burdens that should've been mine.

I sink into the empty chair beside him.

"Nothing," he mutters. "I probably just need sleep. But I don't feel right leaving her alone."

"I'm here now."

I pull out the burgers and bottled water I'd picked up on my way.

"Eat."

I place them in his hands. "I know you haven't eaten since morning."

He smiles faintly. "Thanks."

He unwraps the burger and immediately takes a hungry bite.

"Oh... the doctor wants to see you."

Of course he does. I inhale deeply before forcing myself to stand. I already know exactly what this conversation is about.

~~~

Turns out...

I was wrong.

The Lockwood name may carry influence. Just not enough to buy us more time.

Or maybe I simply don't have access to the people who hold that influence.

Either way, the result is the same.

I stand outside Mom's room, staring through the glass door.

Eric has finally fallen asleep.

His neck is bent at an awkward angle against the chair.

My chest aches.

I don't know how to tell him that if we can't pay before the week ends, the hospital will stop Mom's treatment.

I don't know how to tell him that I've failed us.

A painful lump forms in my throat.

I blink rapidly, trying to force back the tears burning behind my eyes. It's useless.

My phone suddenly rings. The sound makes me jump.

Quickly, I step farther away from the room before it wakes Eric.

He's always been such a light sleeper.

My heart skips when I look at the screen.

"Hey, Nicole." His smooth, elegant voice washes through the speaker.

"H-hey... Nathaniel."

I hate that I stutter. Especially now. Like the complete i***t I suddenly become whenever he calls.