Chapter 11

Kyra’s POV "Mr. Anderson, Miss Monroe, the meeting will start in 5 minutes." I nodded at my assistant and glanced at Nathan, who stood behind me. His forehead was still creased in frustration, his brown eyes burning into mine. He looked confused—but still furious. I didn’t understand why he despised Chris so much. Even back in college, he’d growled at the mere mention of his name. Chris was a good werewolf. He’d accepted my rejection gracefully, never holding a grudge. As a lone wolf without a pack, he had no reason to challenge Nathan’s authority, yet my ex-mate still saw him as a threat. Shaking my head, I turned my back on Nathan and started walking towards the conference room. I felt him following me but I didn’t look back. The meeting started right after we arrived.The other Alphas and Betas of Nightfall Pack’s business executive sat in tense silence, yet Nathan kept sending me mind-link messages, his mental voice grating against my skull. "You can’t seriously consider seeing Chris again." I clenched my jaw. Sylvia, my wolf, snarled in my head. "He has no right to dictate your life, chosen mate or not." Nathan didn’t have the right to rule my life. He was my best friend—and yes, my former mate—but that didn’t give him control over my choices. I needed to set boundaries. He still didn’t grasp that our bond had been severed the moment he chose Sophia over me. After the meeting, Nathan cornered me in the hallway, his grip firm on my arm. The other pack members glanced our way, but they knew better than to interfere. An Alpha’s business was an Alpha’s business. "Kyra, you need to listen to me." "Why are you so desperate to control who I see?" I hissed, my voice low. "I’m not controlling you." "Yes, you are!" He shook his head, his scent—mint and dominance—flooding my senses. "I don’t trust him. Don’t date him." "What if I said I don’t trust Sophia either? Would you still take her as your fated mate?" His lips parted, and he slowly released me. Finally, he was listening. I turned away, my head spinning. The proximity to his scent was overwhelming. Goddess, I guess our pup would have his eyes—his stubbornness. I entered the cubicle and sat on the water closet, trying to calm myself down. I squeezed my eyes closed and massage my temple when I heard someone open the door of the comfort room. Sylvia paced restlessly in my mind. "He still acts like he owns you." I entered the cubicle and sat on the water closet, trying to calm myself down. I squeezed my eyes closed and massage my temple when I heard someone open the door of the comfort room. I was planning to ignore it because I know it might be just a female employee but the sound of the shoes doesn’t sound like a female’s shoe. My forehead creased. Did Nathan follow me here? This is a female’s comfort room! “What are you doing, Nathan?” I asked, annoyed when I heard the footsteps coming towards the last cubicle where I entered. The footsteps stopped and strangely, I felt nervous. I don’t know why what happened seemed so creepy. I feel like I’m in some thriller movie and someone’s waiting for me outside to kill me. Silence. Then—slow, deliberate steps toward my door. My wolf’s instincts flared. "Something’s wrong." I swallowed hard and pushed the door open. A janitor stood near the entrance, his head bowed. "Sorry, Miss Monroe. Thought the room was empty." I washed my hands, watching him in the mirror. His eyes were blank—unnervingly so. "You’re new?" I asked, forcing calm into my voice. "Yes. I started just last week." I nodded as my eyes examined his whole body. “Didn’t your superior inform you that cleaners are scheduled to clean after office work? Not during office hours.” He dipped his head, but I caught the flicker of something dark in his gaze. I left, my spine rigid under his stare. Back in my office, my assistant knocked. "Miss Monroe, you left your phone in the comfort room." I accepted my phone and looked at her. “Did the cleaner bring this?” “Yes, Miss.” I examined my phone. Maybe I was paranoid. Still, Sylvia growled in warning. I shrugged the thought off my head and proceeded on paperwork. I kept myself busy all day. My assistant brought me lunch and snacks and if not for my pup’s sake, I won’t eat because I have so much paperwork to do. Plus, I’m reviewing the budget proposal for the upcoming anniversary of the company. The party will be next week and I’m worried that it will be chaotic since the employees and our family will be there. Of course, Sophia will be there and Nathan's family doesn’t like her. Hours later, I found a note tucked in a bouquet on my desk. Chris was inviting me to lunch. Guilt twisted in my chest. I pushed the card in my bag and went out of my office. The employees have already left an hour ago and even my assistant is not here anymore. I rode the elevator alone while still thinking about what would happen at the anniversary party. When I reached the parking lot, I froze—that unmistakable werewolf instinct prickling my spine, the kind that screams danger before you see it. I roamed my eyes around as I swallowed hard. I already saw the car but I’m still far from it and worse is I couldn’t see Luke around the car. Where is he?He is the warrior who should protect me now! The parking smelled of danger. My wolf bristled inside me, growling"There's another werewolf nearby." My every muscle tensed,scanning the shadows.Who the hell was stupid enough to attack me here? We're supposed to keep our identities secret in human society, and most packs settle disputes through business negotiations now, not pack fights. It's been ages since I've been in a real battle... and with me being pregnant, I'm not sure I could win against another werewolf.For goddess’ sick, I have to run. "Damn it, Luke!" I broke into a run—and collided with a solid chest. "AHH! GET OFF—" "Kyra!" Nathan. My heart almost stopped beating but when I heard that familiar voice, I felt tears rolling down my cheeks in relief. He caught me before I fell, his arms locking around me. His scent wrapped around me like a shield. "What happened, Kyra? You’re pale! Fck! What’s wrong?” He kept on glancing behind me. "S-Someone was following me." His grip tightened. "WHERE THE HELL IS LUKE?" Nathan suddenly shouted and that’s when I saw Luke coming. Luke glanced at me with a worried face while Nathan walked towards his car, still carrying me. “Check the area and the CCTV footage. Someone’s following Kyra. I’ll take her with me.” “Nathan, my bag.” He just ignored me and put me in the passenger seat of his car. He put my seatbelt on and closed the door beside me. I squeezed my eyes closed and rested my head on the headrest. I felt like I was close to passing out a while ago. Thankfully, Nathan came. I thought I was going to die.