ARIA 'STRIP' The word echoed in my head like a broken record. I should have known it wouldn’t be easy to forget the event from this morning. I sat at my desk, as my mind wandered to this morning. The words from earlier still echoed in my mind—the demand, the intensity of his gaze, the weight of his presence. No matter how much I tried to force myself to focus on the report in front of me, I just couldn't. Why couldn't I just forget it? Forget him? But I couldn't. I should forget. I should just move on, pretend nothing happened, but Mr. Grey... he had a way of intruding my thoughts and staying there. The way he’d looked at me this morning. How could I just move on from that? My hands fumbled with the papers on my desk, but they were just a blur. All I could hear were his words, his voice, dark and steady,
KNOXThe office was too quiet.I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming against the desk, my patience wearing thin. Fenris hadn't spoken to me since last night, and his silence was more irritating than usual. I had arrived at the company earlier than usual, not because of my wolf's sulking, but because I had business to handle. Someone had signed an unauthorized document for personal gain, and I intended to fire them the moment they stepped into my office.But right now, I had a bigger problem.I unbuttoned the top three buttons of my shirt, loosening the suffocating fabric around my throat. The morning air was crisp, but my body burned with pent-up tension.“Are you going to keep ignoring me?” I muttered.Silence.A muscle in my jaw twitched. He was being dramatic, as usual.“This is about the mate thing, isn’t it?” I exhaled sharply, already knowing the answer.Finally, Fenris growled, his voice a low rumble in my mind. “You don’t get to act like this isn’t important.”“I don’t w
KNOXThe scent of blood still clung to the air, faint but unmistakable. It was hers.I rose from my seat, moving toward her with slow, deliberate steps.Aria’s shoulders stiffened, her fingers tightening around the file she was holding. She stepped back—instinctively, unconsciously—but I didn’t stop.She was trying to act unaffected, but she didn’t know what I could hear.The steady rhythm of her heart had changed. And right now, it was stuttering, betraying the calm front she was trying so hard to maintain.Her fingers tightened around the file.She stepped back.I didn’t stop.Another step back.I tilted my head. “Why are you backing away?”“I—” She hesitated, then lifted her chin. “I’m not.”Liar.She was doing everything she could to put space between us, but there was nowhere left to go.Her back hit the wall.A sharp inhale.I caged her in, placing a hand on the wall beside her head. My other hand lifted, my fingers hovering just above her shoulder.That wound.It wasn’t deep, b
ARIAI burst into the ladies’ washroom, my heels clicking against the tile as I rushed inside. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my hands trembling as I pressed them against the cool porcelain sink.What just happened?I squeezed my eyes shut, replaying the scene in my head.Mr Grey—so close. His body towering over mine, his warmth pressing in from all sides. The way his deep, unreadable gaze had locked onto me, like he was trying to pull me apart piece by piece. My back against the wall, his hands caging me in, the heat of his breath fanning against my lips, his exposed chest, gawd those abs I wasn't seeing but his chiseled chest.And the worst part?I had closed my eyes.Like I was waiting for him to kiss me.I let out a sharp breath, my fingers curling into fists at my sides.“What the hell was that?” I whispered to myself, my voice shaking.This was wrong. So wrong.Knox Grey was my boss. My boss. There was no reason for my heart to be racing like this. No reason for my legs to feel
ARIAI took a deep breath, forcing the tension from my shoulders.I needed to focus.Everything that happened earlier—the office, the close proximity, the way Knox had trapped me against the wall—none of it mattered.It was work.Nothing else.Knox Grey was my boss.And I needed to remember that.I sat down at my desk, exhaling slowly as I pushed everything aside. Then my phone rang.I hesitated before glancing at the screen.Mr. Grey.Of course.Bracing myself, I picked up.“My schedule.”That was all he said. Deep. Smooth. Cold.The call ended before I could respond.I stared at my phone, my fingers tightening around it.Seriously? That was it? No greeting, no explanation?I shook my head, quickly pulling up his schedule.Lunch with Mr. DeLuca – Contract signing.Right. That was today.I straightened, pushing everything aside.The drive to the meeting was suffocating.Mason, Knox’s usual driver, was already waiting outside.Knox arrived moments later, barely acknowledging me as he s
"They say obsession is dangerous, but for you, I’ll embrace madness if it means keeping you." Knox...---ARIA'S POVMy fists slammed into the thug’s stomach, and he groaned, stumbling backward.“Leave her alone,” I snapped, stepping between him and the girl huddled against the wall. She was shaking, her face wet with tears and her dress torn at the sleeve.The thug sneered, wiping blood from his mouth. “You’ve got guts, girl. Too bad they won’t save you.” I clenched my fists tighter, ignoring the sting in my knuckles. “Try me.”He lunged, but I was faster. I dodged to the side, kicking his leg out from under him. He crashed to the ground with a curse, clutching his knee. “Run!” I yelled at the girl. She hesitated for a moment before scrambling to her feet and bolting out of the alley. I didn’t look back to watch her go. The thug pushed himself up, glaring at me. “You’re dead.” “Not today,” I said sharplyThe thug chuckled at my audacity. Well, I might be small in size compa
Knox The hum of the car engine grated against my nerves as I leaned back in the leather seat, my fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against it. The car war dark colored but not nearly as dark as the storm brewing inside me. I couldn’t shake the images—the memories of that cursed full moon, when my control had slipped, leaving destruction in its wake. “You can’t ignore this forever, Knox.” Fenris, my wolf, growled in the back of my mind, his voice a low vibration that sent a dull ache through my skull. “We’re bound to face the consequences eventually.” I clenched my jaw. “Shut up, Fenris,” I bit out, though the words felt hollow. He was relentless, as he had been for weeks now. Ever since that night, he’d been riding me harder than ever. His frustration echoed my own, but unlike me, Fenris wanted to confront what happened head-on. He wanted resolution. I wanted nothing more than to bury it deep. “You think you’re in control, but you’re not,” Fenris snarled. “We both know what’s a
KNOXThe soft knock on my office door was enough to make my wolf stir in irritation. I didn't bother looking up from the mountain of paperwork on my desk. I already knew who it was from her scent-Tasha, my secretary, the woman who thought her curves could distract me from her lack of professionalism."Come in" said, my tone clipped.The door opened, and there she was, strutting in as though the office was her runway. Her blouse was unbuttoned one too many, and her smile was far too suggestive.The clicking of Tasha’s heels on the tiled floor grated on my nerves as she strolled into my office. The deliberate sway of her hips and the faint trace of perfume she’d undoubtedly sprayed to leave a trail was all too familiar. "Mr. Grey," she said in that overly seductive tone, leaning just a bit too far over my desk to get my attention. Her blouse strained exposing her cleavage, and I couldn’t miss the smug satisfaction in her eyes when she noticed I’d glanced. I had fucked her before, o
ARIAI took a deep breath, forcing the tension from my shoulders.I needed to focus.Everything that happened earlier—the office, the close proximity, the way Knox had trapped me against the wall—none of it mattered.It was work.Nothing else.Knox Grey was my boss.And I needed to remember that.I sat down at my desk, exhaling slowly as I pushed everything aside. Then my phone rang.I hesitated before glancing at the screen.Mr. Grey.Of course.Bracing myself, I picked up.“My schedule.”That was all he said. Deep. Smooth. Cold.The call ended before I could respond.I stared at my phone, my fingers tightening around it.Seriously? That was it? No greeting, no explanation?I shook my head, quickly pulling up his schedule.Lunch with Mr. DeLuca – Contract signing.Right. That was today.I straightened, pushing everything aside.The drive to the meeting was suffocating.Mason, Knox’s usual driver, was already waiting outside.Knox arrived moments later, barely acknowledging me as he s
ARIAI burst into the ladies’ washroom, my heels clicking against the tile as I rushed inside. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my hands trembling as I pressed them against the cool porcelain sink.What just happened?I squeezed my eyes shut, replaying the scene in my head.Mr Grey—so close. His body towering over mine, his warmth pressing in from all sides. The way his deep, unreadable gaze had locked onto me, like he was trying to pull me apart piece by piece. My back against the wall, his hands caging me in, the heat of his breath fanning against my lips, his exposed chest, gawd those abs I wasn't seeing but his chiseled chest.And the worst part?I had closed my eyes.Like I was waiting for him to kiss me.I let out a sharp breath, my fingers curling into fists at my sides.“What the hell was that?” I whispered to myself, my voice shaking.This was wrong. So wrong.Knox Grey was my boss. My boss. There was no reason for my heart to be racing like this. No reason for my legs to feel
KNOXThe scent of blood still clung to the air, faint but unmistakable. It was hers.I rose from my seat, moving toward her with slow, deliberate steps.Aria’s shoulders stiffened, her fingers tightening around the file she was holding. She stepped back—instinctively, unconsciously—but I didn’t stop.She was trying to act unaffected, but she didn’t know what I could hear.The steady rhythm of her heart had changed. And right now, it was stuttering, betraying the calm front she was trying so hard to maintain.Her fingers tightened around the file.She stepped back.I didn’t stop.Another step back.I tilted my head. “Why are you backing away?”“I—” She hesitated, then lifted her chin. “I’m not.”Liar.She was doing everything she could to put space between us, but there was nowhere left to go.Her back hit the wall.A sharp inhale.I caged her in, placing a hand on the wall beside her head. My other hand lifted, my fingers hovering just above her shoulder.That wound.It wasn’t deep, b
KNOXThe office was too quiet.I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming against the desk, my patience wearing thin. Fenris hadn't spoken to me since last night, and his silence was more irritating than usual. I had arrived at the company earlier than usual, not because of my wolf's sulking, but because I had business to handle. Someone had signed an unauthorized document for personal gain, and I intended to fire them the moment they stepped into my office.But right now, I had a bigger problem.I unbuttoned the top three buttons of my shirt, loosening the suffocating fabric around my throat. The morning air was crisp, but my body burned with pent-up tension.“Are you going to keep ignoring me?” I muttered.Silence.A muscle in my jaw twitched. He was being dramatic, as usual.“This is about the mate thing, isn’t it?” I exhaled sharply, already knowing the answer.Finally, Fenris growled, his voice a low rumble in my mind. “You don’t get to act like this isn’t important.”“I don’t w
ARIA 'STRIP' The word echoed in my head like a broken record. I should have known it wouldn’t be easy to forget the event from this morning. I sat at my desk, as my mind wandered to this morning. The words from earlier still echoed in my mind—the demand, the intensity of his gaze, the weight of his presence. No matter how much I tried to force myself to focus on the report in front of me, I just couldn't. Why couldn't I just forget it? Forget him? But I couldn't. I should forget. I should just move on, pretend nothing happened, but Mr. Grey... he had a way of intruding my thoughts and staying there. The way he’d looked at me this morning. How could I just move on from that? My hands fumbled with the papers on my desk, but they were just a blur. All I could hear were his words, his voice, dark and steady,
ARIAI woke to sunlight warming my face. Blinking groggily, I realized this wasn’t my safe haven. Instead, I was covered in soft linens on a huge bed. The events of last night came rushing back—the rogue werewolf, the alley... and Mr. Grey.Sitting up abruptly, I scanned the room. It was luxurious. Knox Grey, the infamous CEO, didn’t strike me as a man who left anything to chance. The faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air, grounding me in the unfamiliarity of his world.A shadow moved near the window. I turned to see him, standing there in a crisp black shirt rolled up at the sleeves, his presence as commanding as ever. His gaze, cold and analytical, pinned me in place.“Good. You’re awake,” he said, his deep voice carrying no trace of warmth. I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of my disheveled state. “I... where—” “There’s a dress on the chair.” He didn’t wait for me to finish. His tone was efficient, as if I were just another item on his schedule. “Clean up. Let's ta
I drove silently as I recalled Ravena's word. “You should have met your mate by now. The full moon will prove it.” My mate? Was she referring to the spark I felt with the applicant days ago? But why? There were lots of werewolves olin the pack who needed one but not me. I didn't need a mate. Why can't the moon Goddess understand that. 'I need one' Fenris chipped into my thoughts. 'Why one when you can have anyone when you're in heat?' I asked annoyed already. Fenris was about to speak when I suddenly stopped the car. I knew he felt it too. He could perceive it even more intoxicatingly than I did. I step out of the car as I traced the scent. Rose. It was so intoxicating. Why was my senses sharp to pick this sc— “Help” The scream broke through my thoughts as I followed the sound only to find a rogue attacking a lady whom seemed familiar. It lunged, his claws grazing her shoulder and tearing through her blouse. The fabric shredded, exposing the mark on her skin. My
ARIA I pushed the stack of papers closer to the edge of my desk, my hands trembling from exhaustion. It had been three days since I started working here, but it already felt like three years. Knox Grey, my so-called boss, was nowhere to be found. In his absence, Tasha, his secretary, had taken full advantage of me "Aria, why is this report still here?" Tasha’s sharp voice sliced through the quiet office, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she approached my desk. I looked up, startled, holding back a sigh. "It’s not my job to—" She cut me off before I could even finish. "Not your job? You’re Knox’s PA, aren’t you? That means you assist. And right now, I need assistance." I clenched my fists under the desk. This wasn’t part of my role. I was Knox's PA not Trisha's PA, but how could I argue? Tasha carried herself with the air of someone untouchable. Swallowing my frustration, I forced a polite tone. "I’ll take care of it." Hours later, the office was silent, th
KNOX The moment her hand gripped my arm, the world around me seemed to freeze. The sensation was electric and sharp. I hadn't expected it, didn't want to feel it. The last thing I needed right now was a distraction, and yet, her touch had brought something to life within me. Something raw. Something dangerous. I could feel my pulse quicken as her fingers curled around my sleeve, and I had to force myself to look away. Her eyes were wide, and there was a tremble in her voice. "Sir," she said, and for a brief moment, I thought she might actually beg. "Please, you can't just call off the interview like that." Her words came in a rush, and I could see the desperation written across her face. I didn't know why, but I felt an unsettling tug in my chest. Something about this woman was… familiar. Her scent. Her presence. It was like a memory I couldn't quite place. I blinked, narrowing my gaze at her, the cold indifference I wore as a second skin falling back into place. "Let go" I said,