Chapter 3 – The Assignment
896 Words
The newsroom buzzed with its usual frantic energy, a mix of excitement and tension hanging in the air like static before a storm. Alia sat at her desk, reviewing notes for an upcoming political piece when her phone buzzed sharply. She glanced down at the screen — a message from her producer, terse and unexpected: “Senior reporter canceled. You’re up for the interview for Mr. Luke Tyron. Ready?”
Her heart skipped.
Luke Tyron. The name alone carried weight in every corner of the city — and beyond. A billionaire tycoon, elusive as a ghost, controlling industries with a ruthless efficiency that both fascinated and terrified the public. His face rarely appeared in media, and when it did, it was on his terms. To get the chance to interview him was something most reporters only dreamed of. And now, the opportunity was thrust suddenly into her hands.
Alia exhaled slowly. “Alright,” she muttered, steadying herself. “Let’s do this.”
She gathered her equipment, her mind racing. This wasn’t just another assignment. Luke was a force — and the whole newsroom was watching, silently rooting for her to succeed. Or maybe to fail.
Her producer approached, glancing around nervously. “This is huge, Alia. Luke’s known for shutting down interviews. He’s got that icy reputation — doesn’t give much away. Be careful. And remember, this interview needs to the perfect and successful”
Alia nodded, already focused beyond caution. “Understood.”
As she prepared to leave, whispers floated around the newsroom — “Luke Tyron Stone is a mystery,” “His power is legendary,” “People say he’s untouchable.” The tension was palpable.
In the car on the way to Luke’s towering estate, Alia stared out the window, her mind spinning. She tried to shake the unsettling feeling growing in her chest. Her wolf stirred faintly — a restless flicker she hadn’t felt in years. It was like a thread pulling her toward something she couldn’t explain.
When the sleek black car arrived at the gates, a sense of awe mixed with apprehension settled over her. The estate was a fortress of glass and steel, towering over the sprawling landscape like a citadel built for a king.
Inside, the staff was polite but distant, guiding her through corridors lined with modern art and minimalist elegance. Every step echoed with power and wealth — a world far removed from her own.
Finally, she was led into a grand office where Luke Tyron Stone waited. He was exactly as the rumors described: tall, impeccably dressed, with a presence that filled the room like a storm ready to break.
His eyes, sharp and intense, locked onto hers the moment she entered. Something deep inside her stirred violently — a pulse, a whisper, a dormant force clawing to the surface. But she swallowed the sensation, forcing calm.
Luke’s voice was low and steady, a dangerous calm. “You’re the journalist from LMS. Alia, right?”
She nodded, meeting his gaze. “Yes, Mr. Tyron. Thank you for agreeing to this interview.”
He smirked slightly, but there was a hardness in his eyes. “Don’t thank me yet. I’m not known for giving easy answers.”
The interview began, questions flowing about his business empire, his rare public appearances, his vision for the future. Luke answered with precision and guarded honesty, never revealing too much, always in control.
But beneath the surface, Alia felt something else — a pull, a tension between them that was impossible to ignore. Her wolf stirred again, confused and restless. Why was it reacting now, after so many years of silence?
Luke caught the subtle shift, his expression tightening for a moment. “You feel it too, don’t you?” he asked quietly.
Alia blinked, caught off guard. “Feel what?”
“That... something inside you. The wolf.” His gaze was piercing, filled with unspoken truths.
She forced a smile, deflecting. “I’m just a reporter, Mr. Tyron. No wolves here.”
But Luke’s eyes held a knowing look — the kind of look that said he had seen too much to be fooled. “You’re wrong, Alia. You don’t have to hide it. I can feel it. I’m your mate.”
The words hit her like a thunderclap. Mates—werewolves destined to bond—were a truth she had never dared to imagine for herself. And here was Luke, standing across from her, claiming a connection she didn’t understand.
Her wolf screamed inside, but her heart fought to resist. The silence she’d lived with for years was shattered, replaced by a chaotic storm of desire, fear, and confusion.
Alia struggled to hold herself together. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she whispered.
Luke’s smile was almost tender, but his eyes burned with intensity. “You will. And when you do, there’s no turning back.”
As the interview ended, the air between them crackled with tension. The mysterious billionaire stood, offering a hand. “This is just the beginning, Alia.”
Her fingers brushed his — a spark ignited. The wolf inside her stirred wildly, awakening from its long silence.
As she left the estate, the city lights blurred around her, and the weight of the night pressed down with new meaning.
Alia knew her life was about to change forever.
- Writer
