Alpha and the wallflower

Chapter 7 - A near miss

I stood in the elevator, watching the numbers tick down as the sleek, steel doors slid closed. My amber eyes reflected the sharp silhouette of the towering skyscraper through the glass, cutting through the overcast sky. My office was up past the 97th floor, where power and control resided. I rarely descended below that , but today was different.

The finance director had requested my presence on the 84th floor—a place I didn’t visit often. There was something that couldn’t be resolved over email or phone, and though it was inconvenient, I knew better than to ignore potential financial discrepancies.

When the executive elevator doors slid open on the 84th floor right in front of FD’s office, I moved with purpose, the sound of my polished shoes echoing off the marble floors as I made my way toward the finance director’s office.

Then, it hit me.

A scent—faint, fleeting—like a spark in the air, a lightning strike to my senses. My wolf stirred inside me, growling low in my chest before I could suppress it. It was her. My mate.

The scent was barely there, a wisp, but it was enough to ignite every primal instinct I had. My amber eyes narrowed, scanning the hallway. I swept my gaze over the bustling employees, none of whom seemed to notice my sudden tension. But I knew better. I couldn’t let anyone see me react, not even for a second. If they realized what I had just picked up, it could put her in danger. In the world of wolves, power was everything, and a mate who wasn’t from a strong pack—or who was considered weaker—could be a target.

I followed the faint trail of her scent, careful to keep my movements casual, as if I were simply headed to my meeting. The trail grew stronger as I neared the finance director’s office. My heart was pounding now, a rush of anticipation and frustration mixing together. I was so close, but I couldn’t afford to let anyone know how close.

When I entered the office, the scent was thickest here, but she wasn’t in sight. My sharp eyes took in every corner of the room, every detail. The finance director—a balding, middle-aged man—looked up from his desk, startled by direct visit.

"Mr. Blackwood," he stammered, standing quickly. "I wasn’t expecting you so soon. Please, have a seat."

I waved the offer away, keeping my expression calm. Inside, my mind was racing. “Who was here just now?” I asked, my tone deceptively light, though my gaze was unyielding.

The director blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Oh, just a few shortlisted candidates for the assistant accountant role. We’re finalizing the hiring process. Nothing of concern.”

I nodded, though the hidden intensity behind my eyes was unmistakable. “I see. Carry on, then.”

I turned and walked out of the office, my thoughts swirling. She had been here—so close—and yet she was slipping through my fingers. I couldn’t let anyone know how close I was to finding her. If anyone—other Alphas, rival packs, even some within my own—learned I had found my mate, they would see her as a vulnerability. And if she wasn’t strong enough to stand by my side, she would become a target.

Until I could ensure her safety, I had to keep my distance.

Meanwhile, on the ground floor, completely unaware of the storm she’d left behind, Hayden stepped out of the elevator. She had come to the tower for her final interview with the finance director, a bundle of nerves and hope. The interview had gone well, and now, with her future uncertain, she was heading home, her mind filled with thoughts of what might come next.