Mira stood at the door, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.
She looked through the peephole again, as if her discomfort would somehow make her unwanted guest vanish.
It didn’t.
“Luna Mira.” The knock came again.
Sighing loudly, Mira swung the door open, putting on her poker face.
“Mason.” She greeted coolly.
His icy blue eyes immediately found hers, sharp as usual.
“I have some questions about the house purchase you’ve been making.” He pulled out a file.
“Alpha Adrian—”
“I really don’t have time for this.” Mira interrupted, stepping out and shutting her door.
“I have a meeting to attend.”
“This won’t take much of your time.”
Mira locked the door, the loud click echoing in the quiet hallway.
“I really have to go.”
His hold on the file tightened, his frustration evident.
“Wait—”
She was already in the elevator, pressing the button for the parking lot.
“I just need—”
The elevator doors shut, cutting off whatever he was about to say.
She shut her eyes, sighing deeply.
She was finally making progress.
Not only had she been successful in transferring back most of her company’s assets, she’d also successfully left the manor.
She was so close, so damn close to being free.
And a stumbling block in the form of Mason was trying to get in the way.
She wasn’t going to let him.
With that determination, she got into her car and drove straight to the company.
Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, her body almost trembling.
“You can do this.” She reassured herself.
She’d done presentations, given speeches in front of thousands of pack members yet here she was, shaking at the thought of announcing her intentions to strike out.
The office building came into view.
She didn’t speak to anyone, didn’t stop to greet.
She headed straight for the meeting room.
“Good morning, Luna Mira,” her secretary Jason greeted, taking her bag from her.
“Everyone’s ready.”
Mira nodded, taking in a deep, steadying breath.
This was just another phase she needed to get through, to be completely rid of Adrian.
She could do this.
The chatter died the moment she stepped into the boardroom, everyone immediately turning their attention to her.
Her small team of five inclined their heads slightly, a show of respect.
“Good morning everyone,” she started, her voice trembling slightly.
She cleared her throat, raised her chin and continued, “I’m leaving the company.” She announced, her voice steady this time.
There was a ripple of gasps, and confused looks shared.
Only Jason seemed unsurprised.
He’d expected it, since her trip to the royal capital two weeks ago.
“Every move we’ve made, every project we’ve succeeded in, every client we’ve retained, it has been as a result of our hard work…” She glanced around, making sure to lock eyes with every one of them.
While I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with an amazing team, I have decided to leave the company.
To continue on my own.”
The room went into a stiff, thick silence.
Mira ignored the stunned faces of everyone present, drumming her fingers against the desk to anchor herself.
“When…?” One of them—a quiet girl named Nicole—started.
“When is this effective?”
“Immediately.”
They all sank back in their seats.
Then, one of them stood.
“You’re not continuing on your own.” He announced, sharing a determined look with the others.
“We’re coming with you.”
Mira’s breath hitched at the announcement.
“You’ve been our anchor, Luna,” Nicole spoke, standing too.
“This company would’ve been nothing without you.
We don’t want to be in a company that can’t hold itself.”
Another man stood, a warm smile on his face.
“We want to be in a company with a worthy leader.”
The rest of them chorused an approval, smiling and nodding.
Mira stared at them with parted lips.
She’d been worried about their reactions, worried they’d get mad or object.
Instead, they’d all chosen to follow her.
She felt something slowly grow in her chest, something warm.
She should’ve had more faith in her team.
“We should go out to celebrate!” Nicole announced, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Yeah!” Jason chuckled.
“We should.”
They didn’t wait for her approval before planning.
Mira chuckled to herself, relief finally settling in.
***
“Byee!” She waved as she left the restaurant.
Nicole had picked an upscale one in the city, where the ground floor housed a small bar and an open kitchen.
They’d dined in the top floor, which had a more modern, intimate setting.
Mira sighed in satisfaction, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.
She stood in front of the elevator, staring at her reflection.
She looked…
happy.
Genuinely happy.
She pressed the button for the ground floor but it wouldn’t budge.
She frowned, moving to the next one but it wouldn’t budge either.
With a wary glance around the empty lobby, she hesitated—then climbed the dimly lit stairwell, every step echoing like a warning.
The light above glitched, drawing her attention.
She frowned, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up.
Something was wrong.
Before she could react, she felt a presence behind her and then…
A push.
She shut her eyes, her hands desperately grabbing at air, desperate for anchoring.
Gravity pulled her down, and just when she was about to hit the floor, a hand grabbed her by the waist, holding her in place.
A strong, masculine scent filled her senses, making her breathing hitch.
She pulled away slowly, locking eyes with a familiar pair of greys.
“We meet again,” he whispered, his voice low, sending a shiver down her spine.
Mira swallowed.
“Ki—King Evren.”
The king didn’t smile.
His grey eyes pierced into her, dark and sharp, swirling with an emotion that made her lungs stop working.
She tried to pull away from his hold completely, but he didn’t budge.
His hold around her waist tightened possessively, his touch burning through her clothes.
Mira felt her wolf stir, her instinct alert.
Her body reacted before her mind did, leaning into him slightly.
“You have a thing for dangerous situations I see.” His hot breath fanned her neck.
Mira didn’t respond, she couldn’t.
She could only stare, lost in his eyes, his presence.
Above them, a camera clicked.
***
Adrian pressed a hand to his temple, early signs of a growing migraine.
“The baby is alright.” The doctor explained, almost sounding exasperated.
This was the third time they had visited in two days.
“Is it certain—”
The buzz of his phone drew his attention.
He glanced at it, intending to ignore it but Mason’s name accompanied by a photo attachment piqued his interest.
He opened the message, and his blood ran cold.
A loud, terrifying growl escaped his lips.
The doctor flinched, terrified by the anger radiating off the Alpha.
A screenshot of Mira cradled in another man’s arms filled his screen.
“Adrian?” Ivy peeped at the screen, gasping dramatically.
Adrian’s eyes zeroed on Evren’s arm around Mira’s waist.
His mate’s waist.
“Could the…” Ivy stuttered.
“Could the rumors be true?”
Adrian’s vision blurred, his wolf clawing at his insides to take control, to reclaim his mate.
“She’s with another man.
Surely, she can’t be in her right mind?” Ivy speculated, hiding a sly smile.
“Could he be the one the rumors claim she’s cheating with?”
The words hit Adrian, fueling his rage.
“Or,” Ivy continued, playing with the hem of her dress.
“Maybe the Luna is simply doing it for your attention.”
Adrian stood abruptly, unable to hear any more of her speculations.
His chair scraping against the floor loudly.
He stormed out of the room, placing a call to his beta.
“Find her!” He ordered, already getting into his car.
He would reclaim his mate, and he would make sure she never looked at another man.