Roman’s pov. Scarlet hasn’t shown up for work yet.I don’t know what to make of that but I know it leaves me restless.Fen is a lazy form in my office, his blazer has been thrown off to one corner and his legs are currently on my table.I growl at the sight of it and he rolls his eyes.“Relax Alpha. I’m sure the moment she sees the ten thousand dollar ensembles you ordered for her, she’ll be running here as fast as she can.”“Does she even know how to find her way here?”The worry in my voice is appalling but Fen doesn’t call me out on it. I haven’t seen my father since the Myrtle incident. I only just remembered a few hours ago that he asked to go on temporary leave, and I'm assuming he’s currently on that leave.Guilt twists in my heart because I should feel worried about him.No member of the pack has been the same ever since the rogue attack, but not many will feel the loss accrued that day like Alpha Kai.He was supposed to retire as Alpha the year that happened. I was ready
My feet are wobbly as I run in the heels I selected to go work in, and even though the pain that lashes through my legs is intense, I still run as fast as I can and hope with all my might that I'm not too late.Roman has been waiting for me.I don’t know why I didn't imagine that would be possible. He did tell me that he had issues handling some small problems he faced and that was why he was hiring me. Because I could handle it for him.I didn’t think that would include helping him in a meeting.“Hey, be careful lady!”I dash past the older man and scream a response.“Sorry. I’m in a rush!”Ironclaw Corp should be right around the corner if the directions Beta Fen sent to me are to be trusted. Danis offered to drive me here but I refused.I know it’s cruel of me, knowing he’s lonely and he’s going to be lonely after I leave him, but if Romna sees us together and gets to learn that I blew off work just so I could spend time shopping and having tea with his guest….I don’t watch whe
The investors are pissed but I could care less.Scarlett is here with me now so this meeting can begin.I offer no apologies, I barely act like I notice them, I expect them to fly into an outrage so I can call off this meeting and take Scarlett into my office.She flinched when I touched her. I noticed it with all my being and her body had become rigid.Something made her that way. I want to find out what it is.Scarlett’s voice is what brings me out of my reverie and I blink to find her on her feet and addressing my table of annoyed people. “I apologize for keeping everyone waiting. Thank you for not giving up on this meeting and again, forgive my lack of punctuality.”She stands beside me and drops the first document on the glass table. When I look up at her she smiles softly and winks before looking straight ahead.Her actions make my annoyance drain away.I don’t care if this deal is struck or not. I have investors lined up and it would only take a phone call to get the next set
Chapter 40: Roman’s pov.Scarlett refuses to meet my eyes.I can’t seem to find the energy to get angry at her for that. The salty scent of her tears still wafts into my nose if I move. It’s soaked into my now dry shirt and has been imbued into the fabric. I thought today was a good day. She received uproarious applause when the meeting ended and she smiled for the rest of her very short day at the office.What’s making her sad then?“Is it the mate bond?”Scarlett chuckles and shakes her head, bringing her teacup to her mouth and sipping gently. She drops it once she’s done and sighs heavily.“I’m crying for a very stupid reason.”Anger rises in me at this but I let it simmer down. She needs support now, not someone to scream at her and tell her she isn’t stupid. I don;”t think she can ever be stupid.She adapted to the office environment very fast and it’s remarkable seeing as she’s never stepped foot in one in the past eight years.“Can I hear the reason why you cried first? Mayb
Scarlett’s pov.I wake up to see angry purple eyes glaring at me.Maya is staring at me with such open ferocity that for a moment I believe I messed up her homework or something, that is, until I realize I am not in my bed, or my room, and I didn't sleep with Maya laying beside me.I turn and not far from me is the sleeping face of the Alpha.“I thought you would be sharing a room with me, mummy?”I bring my hand to my lips so suddenly that Maya almost jumps at the spontaneity of it, but she closes her mouth. The glare remains though and I try to move out of the bed. The first thing that stops me is the arm around my waist.I clench my teeth so hard brief dots of pain rush to my brain.How did this happen?How dare he hold me like this!“Mummy?”Worry seeps off Maya’s tone but I look at her and give her a hard stare. She glares right back but keeps silent.I move gently and separate myself from the Alpha of the Ironclaw pack.How did we even get here?Memories come rushing back and a
I take Maya back to our room and find the dresses that have been put out for me. I don’t know what to feel.I run my hands over the straight fabrics and I see some of them have been in different stages of wear already. I turn to find Maya looking at me guiltily.“I might have tried some of them on.”The scent I had caught on her this morning wafts heavily from the dress in my hands and my heart warms up as Maya blushes.“I fell asleep in that one. I didn’t know you wouldn’t be coming back and it was sparkly, the light from the ceiling made the sparkles look like stars.”I look at the dress and I will admit that while it is sparkly, it looks really expensive.Who could have done this?A frown lines my face as I pick up each dress. My hands are heavy by the time I’m done and I set them back on the bed firmly.“Did you see who dropped these here, Maya?”She shakes her head and points to the other side of the bed.“There are more in some bags there. I met them in the room last night after
Maya turns to cock an eyebrow up.“Why are you following me?”“I want to see what morning training is like.”“But it’s for children, mummy. You aren’t a child.”I put my hands on my waist and stand Akimbo.“I could manage against four of you if I wanted to.”“There won’t be any need for that.”I’m sure Maya stills at the same time I do but instead of her face retaining its frown, a glare settles in her eyes.Roman approaches us from the hallway Maya is backing and she turns when he gets five paces to her. There is a formidable fierceness in Roman’s gaze and it makes me feel a chill spread in my bones.Fear seeps into them again and this time, I don’t know why, but I feel he’s annoyed at something.He stops in front of us and with a nod of his head, gives me the coldest greeting I've received since I got here.“Scarlett.” I don’t know if my confusion shows on my face, but some flickers ever so subtly behind his cold blue eyes.I nod and clear the bitter taste at the back of my throat.
I feel like backing out.(Wipes fake tears from corner of eyes.)If anyone told me jogging would cause such a strain on my calves and waist, I would have told them I wasn't that rusty and I could still handle myself.That would have been a lie. That would have been such a huge lie.“How about we go for one more lap?”The humor in Roman’s tone makes me feel like killing him.“We’ve been running laps for an hour and a half, Alpha Roman. That’s ninety minutes!”“And you’ve stopped about twenty-eight times in the span of ninety minutes. Even Maya wouldn’t have stopped that much and she’s eight.”I frown.“Are you mocking me right now Alpha?”Roman moves ahead of me and again my eyes are glued to his form. His sweatpants don’t help in making me any more focused than I already am, which is very little and it’s appalling.My eyes track up from well-built calves to powerfully formed thighs and then to a compact waist. Roman is in a gray sweatshirt and with every move he makes, the fabric str