Moonlit Secrets

I stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my corner office, watching city lights flicker to life as dusk settled over London. The view had once filled me with pride— Now it just felt hollow.

Three months since I'd caught James in bed with my best friend. Three months of rebuilding myself, channeling every ounce of pain and betrayal into clawing my way up the corporate ladder. I was Olivia Blackwood, the Ice Queen of London's financial district. Untouchable. Unbreakable.

At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

My eyes fell onto the invitation to tonight's charity gala. Another night of phony smiles and networking. But it was necessary. I had a deal to close, one that would seal my position as the youngest partner in the firm's history.

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:

*Looking forward to seeing you tonight, Ms. Blackwood. We have much to discuss. - C.W.*

Callum Wolfe. The enigmatic CEO of Wolfe Industries, a man whose name was whispered in boardrooms with equal parts awe and fear.

When I arrived, the ballroom of the Dorchester was a sea of designer gowns and tailored suits. I smoothed down my midnight blue dress and plunged into the fray.

"Olivia!" Marcus Ainsley, my firm's managing partner, clamped onto my elbow. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."

We came to a stop in front of a man who dominated the space around him. Tall, broad-shouldered, hair as dark as a raven's wing, eyes like smoldering embers. Callum Wolfe.

"Ms. Blackwood," he said, his voice low and rumbling.

I extended my hand. "Mr. Wolfe. The pleasure's mine."

The second our palms touched, an electric current zapped me. Callum's eyes widened fractionally, and I knew he felt it too.

"I'll leave you two to get acquainted," Marcus said, melting into the crowd.

Callum didn't break his stare as he lifted my hand to his lips. "Shall we find somewhere a bit quieter to talk?"

He ushered me onto a private balcony overlooking manicured gardens. "I've been following your career with interest, Ms. Blackwood," Callum said. "Your rise through the ranks has been... impressive."

I arched one eyebrow. "I wasn't aware I was on Wolfe Industries' radar."

A smile quivered at his lips. "Let's just say I have a nose for talent."

Before I could press him further, a disturbance from within the ballroom turned our heads.

"You bitch!" A man's voice slurred with drink. "You think you're too good for me?"

I knew that voice. Richard Hartley, handsy exec from a rival firm. I'd rebuffed his advances more than once.

"Excuse me," I said to Callum. "I should—"

His hand on my arm arrested me. "Permit me."

Callum strode into the ballroom, all amiability wiped from his face. Gone was the charming businessman. In his place stood a predator, eyes flashing with barely contained fury.

"Mr. Hartley," Callum's voice cut through the murmurs. "I believe it's time for you to leave."

Richard colored, swaying on his feet, stabbing a finger into Callum's chest. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

What transpired next was so fast, I almost missed it. One second Richard was in Callum's face, the next he lay on the ground, Callum's hand wrapped around his throat.

"I said," Callum's voice was deadly quiet, "it's time for you to leave."

Security guards entered and dragged Richard out. Callum turned back to me, his eyes glowing amber for a split second.

"Are you alright?" he asked, concern filtering into his voice.

I nodded, wordless. What I'd just seen couldn't be real. Nobody moved that fast. Nobody's eyes changed color like that.

"I think," I said slowly, "that I could use some air."

Callum nodded and guided me back toward the balcony. The heat of his touch filtered through the thin fabric of my dress, sending shivers up my spine.

"What are you?" slipped out before I could help it.

Callum's body went tight beside me. "What do you mean?"

I spun to him. "That wasn't normal, what you did in there. The speed, the strength... your eyes."

Long moments slid by before Callum spoke. "You're more perceptive than most, Ms. Blackwood."

"Olivia," I corrected automatically. "If you're going to tell me you're not human, I think we can drop the formalities."

A bark of laughter escaped him. "Fair enough, Olivia." He paused, his gaze intense. "What if I told you that the world was a great deal more complicated than most humans realize? That there are creatures living among you, hiding in plain sight?"

My heart was racing. "I'd say you sound insane. But after what I just saw..."

Callum leaned forward, his body close now. "What if I told you I was one of those creatures? What if the man you've been talking to all night was also a wolf?"

I should've run. I should have laughed in his face and walked away. But as I looked into Callum's eyes, as I watched them shift from deep brown to that peculiar amber, I knew he was telling the truth.

"Show me," I whispered.

No sooner were the words out of my mouth, a howl echoed through the air. Callum's head jerked up. His body tensed. "Not here," he growled. "Not now."

"I have to go." His voice was tight. "But this isn't over, Olivia. There's so much more you need to know."

Then he vanished in the sea of faces, walking like no human could. I stood reeling. Werewolves were real. Callum Wolfe, billionaire CEO, was a werewolf.

From the racing of my heart to the tingling of skin where he'd touched, I was so out of my league.

The only thing cogent in my head on my way home that evening was this: my nice little world of spreadsheets and boardrooms had just been turned upside down. Yet, with every instinct scr eaming to turn around and protect my battered heart, I knew I was beyond the point of return.