Could this be Fate?

The oppressive weight of the man’s Alpha aura pressed down on Eloise like a physical force. It made her chest tighten, her heart beat a little faster, and she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling crawling up her spine. It wasn’t just the man’s presence, but the sheer power that radiated from him, unmistakable and all-encompassing. He was a werewolf! An Alpha, and his energy felt like a storm about to break.

Eloise did her best to avoid making eye contact, but she failed. Her gaze flickered toward him, drawn in despite her best intentions. She quickly regretted it. His eyes, golden and fierce, glimmered with amusement as he caught her glance. His lips curled into a smug smile, and without any shame, he kissed the woman in his arms even more passionately, as if he was daring her to watch.

The woman tall, poised, and glamorous was a familiar face. Eloise had seen her around Scarlet Heart. Amelia Javis, though that likely wasn’t her real name, was one of the escort girls. There was a certain coldness to Amelia’s beauty, a distance that Eloise couldn’t quite put her finger on. But it was easy to see why men like this Alpha were so drawn to her.

Eloise quickly looked away, her face burning, heart racing. She took a small step backward, willing herself to focus on the elevator doors, which had already begun to close.

But then the man’s voice sliced through the tension.

"Stop."

Eloise froze. She had no intention of disturbing the Alpha and his companion, but there was no ignoring him now. She exhaled softly, trying to keep her composure.

“I—” She swallowed hard, and in a voice that was almost a whisper, she said, “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m just a cleaner here. I was on my way to the private room. I...”

Her voice faltered, and she quickly finished, “I hope I didn’t cause any trouble.”

Her words sounded rough and hoarse in her own ears, and she cursed herself internally. She was never good at speaking to people in positions of power. It wasn’t just the man’s rank that intimidated her. It was the weight of his presence the aura of danger he exuded.

The Alpha didn’t respond immediately, and Eloise’s heart sank. She lowered her gaze and prepared for the reprimand that would surely come. But when the man spoke, his voice was smooth, laced with curiosity.

“A cleaner?” he asked, his tone almost amused. “ And so young, too?”

Eloise nodded without looking up. There was nothing more to say. She was worried that he could detect her wolf her true nature. She’d worked at Scarlet Heart for long enough that no one had ever suspected her. Not Racheal, not anyone else. Her life as a lowly cleaner was her shield, the mask she wore to keep herself hidden.

The man seemed to study her for a moment longer, and Eloise could feel his eyes on her, sharp and unrelenting. She was sure he saw something about her, something she had hoped to keep buried but whatever it was, he didn’t mention it. Instead, he gestured toward the elevator’s control panel.

“Which floor are you headed to?”

The question was simple enough, but Eloise hesitated. She hadn’t expected this. Part of her wanted to refuse, to stay out of his path, but she had already been caught in his gaze. She had no choice now.

“I… I’m going to the fifth floor,” she said quietly. Her voice was steady, despite the rush of nerves in her chest.

“Go ahead,” he said, stepping back to give her space. “I’ll ride with you.”

Confusion flickered in Eloise’s mind, but she nodded, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button. The doors slid shut with a soft “chime” as they began their ascent.

The woman in his arms, Amelia, turned to look at Eloise just before the elevator doors closed. The recognition in Amelia’s eyes was brief but unmistakable. Amelia’s beauty was not something Eloise could compete with. The woman was tall, graceful, and effortlessly seductive in a way Eloise could never hope to be. It was clear that Amelia didn’t view Eloise as a threat, she had no reason to. There was no rivalry between them, just a quiet acknowledgment that they both lived in different worlds.

But just before the elevator doors were about to close, Lucian/ Mr.Astra, as Eloise had now realized pressed the button to open them again.

Amelia glanced at him, her lips curling in a playful pout. “Mr.Astra, don’t leave so soon,” she said, her voice light, teasing. “I had such a good time with you. Why don’t we go together?”

But Lucian didn’t seem interested in indulging her. He smiled, but it was cool, dismissive. “You go ahead. I have business to attend to. You can shop. Spend as much as you like,” he said, pulling a black bank card from his pocket. “Just sign my name on the receipts.”

Amelia’s face lit up with surprise and delight. “Thank you, Mr.Astra,” she said, her voice sincere as she took the card. Without another word, she stepped out of the elevator, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor as the doors slid shut behind her.

For a moment, Eloise and Lucian stood in silence. Eloise tried not to look at him, tried to keep her gaze fixed on the floor, but she could feel his eyes on her. It was almost as if he was studying her, trying to figure out something she couldn’t understand.

Derrick smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s this?” he asked, a teasing glint in his golden eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re not after the money too.”

Eloise stiffened at the suggestion, but she shook her head quickly. “No, Mr.Astra. I… I’m not.” She lowered her voice, hoping it would hide the tremble in it. “I have no interest in anything you can offer.”

His smile widened, though it was hard to tell if it was in amusement or something else. He took a step closer, his presence making her feel even smaller. His muscular frame towered over her, and for a moment, Eloise thought he might touch her again. The heat of his Alpha aura was like a blanket, suffocating and relentless.

“You don’t have to act so modest,” he said, his voice low, almost a purr. “Everyone at Scarlet Heart wants something. Why not join the others? If you act like Amelia, you can have everything I can give you.”

Eloise’s frowned, her breath caught in her throat. She knew what he meant, but she didn’t know how to respond. His proximity was making her heart race. There was something in his eyes something dangerous and magnetic that made her feel both drawn to him and terrified at the same time.

She took a step back. “Please, let me go.”

The words were out before she could stop them, and she hated herself for showing fear. But it was impossible to remain calm when he was so close, when she could feel the heat of his body, the raw power that hummed just beneath his skin.

Lucian didn’t immediately release her, and instead, he leaned in closer. Eloise’s breath hitched as his lips brushed against her ear, his voice a warm whisper. “You don’t scream like the others. Why?”

She could feel her face flushing, and for the first time in a long time, she felt vulnerable—exposed. “I… I don’t scream.”

He pulled back slightly, studying her face with a mixture of intrigue and amusement. "I see." He seemed genuinely puzzled. "You’re different, aren’t you?"

For a moment, Eloise didn’t know what to say. She could feel the intensity of his gaze on her, as if he were trying to peel away the layers of her facade, to see her for what she really was.

Suddenly, his hand slid down to her waist, his fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of her clothes. His touch was casual at first, but then it lingered, and Eloise felt a jolt of discomfort. His fingers slipped under her shirt, touching the skin of her waist.

She gasped and quickly pushed him away, her heart racing in panic.

“What are you d....?” she started, but he stopped her with a sharp look.

His expression shifted from amusement to something more confused, almost stunned.

“Your waist,” he said softly, his voice edged with disbelief. “What is this? It feels... different.”

Eloise froze, the tension in the air thickening. She wanted to push him away, to flee the situation entirely, but something kept her rooted in place. She had never expected a man like him to notice, or care.

“You’re…” Lucian hesitated, his gaze still locked on her waist. “What are you hiding under all these clothes?”

Eloise could feel his eyes on her body, and it made her want to shrink into herself. The secret she had kept hidden for so long, the one she hadn’t even fully acknowledged herself was now exposed. And for the first time, she felt afraid.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “It’s nothing,” she said quietly, looking away.

The elevator chimed again, and the doors slid open. Lucian stood there for a moment, as if reluctant to leave, before he pushed through and stepped out.

Eloise watched him go, her heart still pounding in her chest. The man had seen something in her, something she hadn’t even fully understood.

She didn’t know what to make of it. She didn’t know what he wanted. But one thing was certain: her quiet life at Scarlet Heart had just been shaken, and there was no going back.