4. I Don't Like Her

{Warren's Pov}

The pounding in my head was relentless, making it hard to stay upright as I made my way into the office. I had no idea why I’d drunk so much the night before. All I’d wanted was to honor my cousin’s invitation for once after turning her down so many times. But instead, I’d found myself bored, lonely, and aching for a connection that wasn’t there, a painful reminder that I still hadn’t found my mate.

The throbbing in my skull intensified as I moved further into the room. I sank into my chair, my body heavy with exhaustion. Resting my hands on the desk, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos in my mind. The news about my company, about it falling apart because of some conspiracy, had forced me out of bed despite the pain. 

I sank into my chair, letting my hand rest on the cool surface of the desk as I attempted to steady my thoughts. My headache pulsed faintly, but I pushed the discomfort aside. Glancing up, I waited for the day’s report to begin. That’s when my eyes landed on her, the woman from earlier.

She stood off to the side, partially hidden behind another staff member, her name tag clipped neatly to her shirt. I didn’t recognize her, which meant she had to be new.

“The alpha will take over from here as your boss,” Jane, my Beta, announced to the group.

My focus remained on the girl. Sweat dotted her brow despite the cool temperature of the room, and she avoided eye contact as if that would make her invisible. It was almost amusing. Almost. The girl had been rude earlier, she had no idea who I was. 

Leaning back in my chair, I let my eyes linger on her for a moment longer. When she finally glanced up, our eyes met briefly before she snapped her gaze back to the floor. The tension rolling off her was obvious.

“Who’s she?” I asked, not bothering to hide my curiosity.

“Miss Diana Nightclaw, sir,” Sarah, the Managing director of the company replied, her tone brisk.

Diana didn’t look up, her hands trembling slightly as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. I noticed the faint lines of sweat staining her white blouse, making her appear even more disheveled. She was a mess.

“Alright,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. I had half a mind to fire her on the spot. If she’d behaved like that in front of a client, it could’ve been disastrous for the company’s reputation. But I had other plans.

“You can all return to your posts,” I said, waving the group away. Diana turned to leave with the others, but I stopped her. “Except you, Miss Nightclaw.”

She froze mid-step, her head snapping toward me. Slowly, she retraced her steps, standing stiffly in her previous spot. Her hands clenched tighter, the faint tremor in her fingers betraying her nerves.

“How long have you been working here?” I asked, letting my gaze sweep over her.

“This is my first day,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just started at Warren’s Company.”

Her eyes flicked to mine, and something about them tugged at the edges of my memory. There was a familiarity there, a connection I couldn’t quite place. 

“Just today, and you’ve already left a bad impression on me?” I said, my voice sharp. “I could fire you right now. But…” I leaned forward slightly, studying her reaction, “since you’re the only lone wolf I’ve seen in a while, you’ll have a dual role, not just here but at my house as well.”

Her head snapped up, eyes wide with shock. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

“I’ll double your salary,” I continued, “but you’ll work for it.”

Alpha,” Jane interjected, her tone cautious. “She insulted you earlier and didn’t even apologize. I’d suggest letting her go.”

I raised a hand to silence her. This wasn’t pack business, where her advice carried weight. This was about discipline, and maybe something more. 

“If you can’t handle the job,” I said, turning back to Diana, “you can quit.“

She straightened slightly, her voice soft but steady. “I’ll take the job.”

"Good.” I gestured for Jane to leave along with her. The room fell silent once they were gone, and I sighed, leaning back in my chair. My mind drifted to the hazy memory of the previous night, the girl, the connection, the satisfaction. Her face was a blur, but the feelings lingered.

If only I’d gotten her number. But I left too soon due Jane urgent call about some important incident in the pack.

—

The rest of the day passed in a haze of reports and investigations. The headache refused to ease, each pulse of pain a constant reminder of my fatigue. By late afternoon, I signaled for Jane to call Diana. I needed to go home, and she’d already signed up for the role.

“She’s here, Alpha,” Jane announced, stepping into the office with Diana behind her.

Diana avoided my gaze, her head bowed as if the weight of her guilt was physically pulling her down. I didn’t have the patience for it.

I reached into my pocket and tossed her the keys to my car.

Her reflexes kicked in, and she caught them mid-air. A flicker of surprise crossed my face, her wolf instincts were sharp.

“I need to get home,” I said, my tone clipped, before turning to Jane. “Take over for me. If anything requires urgent attention, let me know in the morning.”

She nodded, and I stood, sparing a brief glance in Diana’s direction before walking out of the office. I could hear her footsteps trailing behind me, maintaining just enough distance to avoid proximity. I smirked inwardly at the tension radiating off her.

When we reached the car, I moved toward the back passenger seat, ready to slide in and let her handle the drive. But her hesitant voice stopped me.

“Alpha,” she murmured.

The sound of her voice sent a strange warmth through me. I turned, raising an eyebrow at her. “Is there something you need, Diana?”

She fidgeted with her fingers, her reluctance testing my patience, yet it stirred something deeper, an instinct I couldn’t ignore.

“I... I don’t know how to drive,” she finally admitted, her words almost a whisper.

“You should’ve mentioned that earlier when I handed you the keys,” I snapped, annoyance flashing through me as I snatched the keys from her hand.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I started the car, gesturing for her to take the passenger seat beside me. She obeyed quietly, her nervousness obvious in the confined space.