Alpha and the wallflower

Chapter 11 Encounter at Blackwood Tower

Monday morning greeted me with clear skies and golden sunlight streaming through my bedroom window. I stretched lazily, inhaling the crisp air, and felt a wave of excitement surge through me. Today was important—the first step toward a future I had worked so hard to reach.

With plenty of time before my 11 AM appointment, I slipped into my running shoes and headed out for a morning jog. The rhythmic pounding of my feet against the pavement helped clear my mind, allowing me to soak in the quiet of the early morning. By the time I returned, I felt refreshed and ready for whatever the day would bring.

A quick shower washed away the sweat, and after breakfast, I dressed in my carefully selected outfit—wide-legged black trousers and a white chiffon blouse. Simple, professional, but elegant. I styled my vibrant red hair in a loose half-updo and applied just enough makeup to enhance my emerald green eyes. I smiled at my reflection, feeling confident. Grabbing my bag, I headed out the door.

I decided to take public transport, enjoying the ride as the city whizzed by outside the window. By 10 AM, I arrived at Blackwood Tower. The towering structure of steel and glass stood tall and imposing, exuding authority and power. Inside, the lobby was grand—sleek marble floors and high ceilings that made everything feel both modern and timeless.

I settled into one of the plush chairs by the window, pulling out a book to pass the time. My heart raced with anticipation, but I focused on the pages, trying to calm my nerves. This was it—the moment I had been working toward for so long.

Silas’s POV

I sat in my office at Blackwood Tower, deep in conversation with Lucas, my Beta.

“Are you ready to leave?” Lucas asked, adjusting his cufflinks. “The site visit is in twenty minutes.”

I stood and rolled my shoulders, feeling the tension of the day slowly slip away. "Let’s go."

As we descended in the private elevator, our discussion shifted to business—specifically, tightening security at the construction sites. Our rivals had been making moves, and I wasn’t about to let them jeopardize what we’d built. My pack’s stability was everything.

But then, just as the elevator doors slid open to the ground floor, something changed.

A scent.

Delicate, yet intoxicating. It wrapped around me like a spell, and I immediately felt my wolf, Max, stir within me. He growled low, a recognition that I couldn’t deny.

My golden-amber eyes flared with intensity behind my tinted sunglasses. Without thinking, I stopped in my tracks, my pulse hammering.

Lucas turned to me, brow furrowed. “Silas?”

“You go ahead,” I said, my voice tight. “Something urgent just came up.”

Lucas shot me a questioning look but nodded, stepping off the elevator. I didn’t even notice him leaving.

I turned, following the scent, letting it pull me like a magnet. It led me to the ground-floor café. There, sitting by the window, was a woman with vivid red hair. She held a book in her hands, a steaming cup of coffee beside her, utterly oblivious to the storm she was about to ignite inside me.

My mate.

She was human. I could feel it in every fiber of my being. No wolf scent, nothing to indicate she was anything other than human. And yet—she was mine.

Without a second thought, I ordered a coffee and took a seat at the table next to hers, pretending to be distracted by my phone. The staff cast curious glances my way—after all, Silas Blackwood didn’t come down to the café or maybe they didn’t even know who I was. But I ignored them, my focus entirely on her.

When she lifted her head slightly, I nearly lost my breath. Emerald green eyes. Delicate features. A beauty so subtle, so understated, yet it struck me like a lightning bolt.

To anyone else, she might seem like just another woman.

To me, she was the most exquisite thing I’d ever seen.

For the first time in my life, business, power, responsibility—they all fell away. None of it mattered. I didn’t care that I was late for my meeting. I didn’t care about anything except the woman sitting a few feet away, blissfully unaware of the bond that had just tethered us together for eternity.

She finished her coffee and checked the time on her phone. Almost 11 AM. She quickly packed her book away, grabbed her bag, and headed toward reception.

I followed at a distance, my heart racing now that I had Max under control.

She stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the 80th floor—HR.

I moved quickly, entering just before the doors closed, not saying a word. She looked at me, but it wasn’t until we were inside the elevator that she spoke.

“Are you a new applicant too?” she asked, assuming I was just another recruit.

I hadn’t expected her to speak to me. For a brief second, I hesitated before answering, “No. I’ve been here for a while.”

She smiled politely. “Do you like it here?”

“It’s... nice,” I said, trying to sound casual while every nerve in my body was on fire just from being near her.

“I’m joining the finance team,” she added, her voice light and warm.

The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped out, looking at me as if waiting for me to offer more.

“Do you know where Ms. Usher’s office is?” she asked.

I wasn’t sure. I’d never needed to visit HR before. “Not sure,” I admitted. “But I can ask for you.”

She shook her head. “That’s okay, I’ll find it. Thanks anyway.”

And just like that, she walked away, leaving me standing there, watching her go.

I lingered by the elevators, unwilling to leave but knowing I had no real reason to stay. I made my way back down to the lobby, planning to wait until she returned.

Half an hour later, I sensed her presence before I saw her. It was like a magnetic pull, and I couldn’t ignore it. I stood and timed my steps, making sure I reached the building’s entrance at the same time as she did.

Feigning surprise, I said, “Oh, hi there. It’s you again.”

She looked up and smiled politely. “Yep, I just finished my appointment. Heading home now.”

“I’m going across the street for lunch,” I said smoothly. “Care to join me?”

She hesitated, caught off guard. “Oh, um... I have somewhere to be. Maybe another time?”

An unexpected pang of disappointment flashed through me, but I kept my expression neutral. “Of course. Best of luck with your new job.”

She turned to leave, then paused. “Oh! I didn’t introduce myself. That was rude of me. Since we’ll be colleagues... I’m Hayden Carter. I’ll be joining the finance team as an assistant accountant.”

Her name. I whispered it under my breath, savoring the sound of it.

“Sal,” I said, clearing my throat. “I work with the Management in C-suite.”

Her eyebrows lifted slightly, impressed, though she didn’t seem to connect the weight of what she had just said to me.

“Wow, nice to meet you, Sal. See you around.”

And just like that, she walked away, completely unaware that she had just left her fated mate standing there, watching her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

As her figure disappeared into the crowd, Max and I whispered her name one more time, a promise, a vow.

Hayden.