Chapter 6

Jayden's POV 

The crowd of employees stared back at me, their faces blending into a blur as I stood frozen on the raised platform. 

My usual authority broke down, and my well rehearsed phrases turned to mist on a summer day. I blinked, once, then again, hoping to ground myself. But my gaze refused to stray from her. 

There she stood at the back, half-hidden behind the line of staff, clutching a cleaning rag with trembling hands. Her head was slightly slumped, dark hair falling from the slightly up bun at the nape of the neck. Even from this distance, I could see the faint glint of determination in her eyes. 

Zephr, my wolf, muttered softly in my mind, a boom that resonated like a storm in my heart. 

“Mate. She’s here”, he said, his tone dripping with raw, possessive need. I felt my grip on control slipping. Months. It had been months since that night. 

The night we lost her, before we could say goodbye, before I could even get her name. And now, here she was, in front of me like fate had at last decided to quit the trick. My heart pounded hard enough to drown out the murmurs of the employees and the steady hum of the air conditioning. Memories of that fleeting moment rushed back—the feel of her presence, the faint trace of her scent that had lingered long after she was gone. Zephr’s voice was sharper this time. 

“Go to her. Don’t let her slip away again.” I clenched my jaw, fighting to maintain composure. Clearing my throat, I forced myself to continue the address, my voice coming out strained. 

“As I was saying... uh.... Let’s keep up the good work and. um, ensure the reports for the quarterly reviews are submitted on time”. It was a dismal show of professionalism, but I didn't give a shit. 

My focus was solely on her. “Jayden, move! Now!” Zephr snapped, his growl echoing like a whip crack. 

I just walked off, adjusting my tie as I finished the hurried talk. “You’re all dismissed. Let’s make it a productive day.” The crowd fled after a moment, talking amongst themselves, their curiosity aroused by my peculiar behaviour. But I didn’t care about their thoughts. My eyes remained locked on her retreating form as she turned toward the cleaning supplies tucked in a corner. 

I descended the platform with deliberate steps, my usual confident stride returning. Zephr's growls got bigger and bigger with every step I made, his anger almost too much to bear. 

“Hurry up! She’s getting away!” 

“She’s not going anywhere”, I muttered under my breath, my voice low enough that no one would hear. As I came up to her, she was lost in a task of organizing out bottles of disinfectant and rolls of paper towels. Her movements were quick but efficient, as if she wanted to finish and disappear. 

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” I asked, keeping my tone casual. She made a barely perceptible flinching, her fingers momentarily breaking the work, then getting back to it. Turning to face me, she made a polite, but guarded smile. Her eyes darted to mine briefly before flickering away, as though meeting my gaze for too long might give something away. 

“Yes, sir,” she replied softly. “I started last week.” Her voice was a song, light but powerful enough to make something stir its way deep inside me. Zephr practically purred at the sound, though his words carried his usual possessiveness. 

“She’s perfect. Ours. Claim her now.” I ignored him again, my sharp eyes taking in every detail—the nervous way she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, the subtle tightening of her grip on the cleaning rag, the faint blush creeping up her neck. Did she recognize me? Could she sense the bond between us? Her scent answered the question. It was unmistakable. Even masked by the sterile odor of cleaning supplies, it was there—soft, sweet, and uniquely hers. My chest tightened as Zephr surged forward, his growls rising. 

“Jayden, she’s ours. Don’t waste time. She ran before. She’ll do it again.” 

“She won’t,” I replied inwardly, forcing calm into my voice. Her eyes darted to mine again, her expression guarded. 

“Is there something you need, sir?” It was a simple question, but I felt the weight of her words. She was desperately trying to remain strictly professional, to set up a fence between us and each other. I shook my head lightly. 

“No, nothing urgent. I just wanted to welcome you to the team. It’s not every day I get to meet new staff personally”. Her lips closed into a firm line, as if she did not know what to answer. 

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.” Sir. The word felt wrong coming from her lips. I wanted to hear her call me something else—something closer, more intimate. But I pushed the thought aside. Now wasn’t the time. 

“Have you settled in well? Just tell me if you need anything," I told her, trying my best not to raise the slightest suspicion. She nodded quickly. 

“Yes, everything’s fine. Thank you.” I could sense her unease, the way she avoided holding my gaze for too long. It wasn’t fear—it was something else, something I couldn’t quite place. Zephr snarled once more and his anxiety infected my own feelings. “You’re wasting time. Stop playing games and claim her!” 

“Patience,” I told him firmly. After much struggle, I stepped back and gave her some room. She seemed to relax slightly, though her wariness didn’t completely fade. Go on," I said, nodding, and moved to walk away. But as I walked away, I couldn’t resist glancing back over my shoulder. She had resumed her task, her focus seemingly on the supplies in front of her. But I caught it—the briefest flicker of her gaze following me before she quickly looked away. Zephr’s voice echoed in my mind, low and certain. “She’s ours. She won’t escape again.” I smiled inwardly as the weight of his statements settled into my chest like a ste

el fact. This time, I wouldn’t let her slip away.