Page 5 of Billionaire Wolf Needs an Assistant (My Grumpy Werewolf Boss #2)

REEVE

It did not take long for a rescue team to find us. Once the snowfall let up, a passing police cruiser stumbled across the scene of our car crash. The plume of black smoke rising from the cabin's wood stove had guided them to our location.

When they arrived, I felt a strange mix of relief and regret. Relief, because Katie was safe, and the ordeal was over. Regret, because our time alone in that little cabin had felt like a stolen moment, a fragile bubble where the outside world didn’t exist. In that little cabin, it was just the two of us. There were no wolf pack politics or worries about business, nor were there any overwhelming family expectations. With the crackling of the fire, the soft sound of her breathing as she slept, a part of my heart was healed as I saw a vision of a life I never dreamed was possible.

The meeting with Alpine Tech had to be rescheduled, but I couldn't bring myself to care. Business deals and alliances all felt trivial compared to her. The only thing that was on my mind was the look of pure acceptance on Katie's face as I told her about my family and the blessing and curse of being a wolf shifter.

She had listened with an openness that left me breathless, her questions curious but never judgmental. My wolf melted into a panting puddle at the way she had run her soft fingers down my cheek. When she stroked my hair and scratched behind my ears, my wolf had reacted to her in ways I couldn’t control. Her touch was electric, sending sparks flying down my spine and filling me with longing for more. I wanted to lay my head in her lap and beg her for more. Beg her to never stop. It took all of my strength to avoid voicing my desires, afraid of overwhelming her with the intensity of my need.

After our rescue, Katie was whisked away immediately to the hospital for a thorough examination. The doctors assured me she was fine, only suffering a few scratches and bruises. Still, I insisted that she take the week off to recover at home, though every day without her in the office was torture.

Even after so many days without her presence in the office, her scent still lingered. Both the man and wolf in me yearned for her. Something about this human called to my most primitive instincts to protect and possess her. There was no doubt of it in my mind. She was my mate. The way she embraced my wolf without fear or disgust only reinforced my belief.

But the human side of me was filled with guilt. Katie deserved a safe and normal life. A life free of pack politics and the constant threat from other wolves who dared to challenge me. She deserved an accepting family who welcomed her with open arms instead of the judgmental expectations of my backstabbing family.

"Mr. Song?" Katie's voice pulled me from my brooding. I nearly fell out of my chair as I twisted around to face her. She stood in the doorway with the light behind her giving her an angelic glow. Her chestnut hair was tied in a loose bun. A few tendrils escaped at her temples and framed her face. My fingers clutched the edge of my desk. How I itched to run my fingers through those silky locks and tuck those stray strands behind her ears.

It was her first day back to work. The office, which had felt so drab and lifeless without her, now pulsed with energy. Her presence was like a beam of warm sunlight breaking through a thick cover of gray clouds.

"Yes, Kat--Ms. Clark?" My voice cracked, revealing the storm of emotions brewing inside of me. I cleared my throat and tugged at the collar of my shirt as I struggled to maintain my professionalism.

"Alpine Tech just called. They want to reschedule the meeting for next Monday, here." Her tone was polite and formal, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes, as if she was uncertain what my response would be after all that we had shared.

I forced myself to focus on her words, not the way her scent wrapped around me like an intoxicating caress. "Good. Confirm the meeting."

Before she could respond, my mother's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Reeve, darling!" She ignored Katie as she brushed past her and swept into my office like she owned the place. Sophia trailed behind her like a loyal lapdog.

"I brought lunch from that divine new French place," she announced. With a flourish, she placed the takeaway bag on my desk. "And Sophia has some fascinating ideas about expanding our reach into the European luxury market."

"We were in the middle of a meeting, Mother," I said through gritted teeth. It was impossible to hold back the warning growl in my voice.

"Nonsense. Your little assistant can handle things by herself." She waved a dismissive hand in Katie's direction, as if she was nothing more than an annoying fly. "Sophia's brother, Denver, just joined the board of XMGH Brands. We simply must discuss collaboration opportunities."

I clenched my jaw so hard I thought my teeth would crack. The wood of the desk groaned under my grip A sharp crack echoed through the room as a chunk broke off. My gaze flew to Katie, who had gone very still. The usual warmth in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a hollow emptiness that made my chest ache. Her smile, once so bright and genuine, was nowhere to be seen.

The message was clear. Sophia represented everything my family wanted for me. The perfect alliance of pack and business interests. She was the kind of woman a male wolf in my position was expected to mate with. Sophia would strengthen the position of the Song pack in wolf society and bring lucrative connections to Alpha Fang Technologies. There was only one problem. She wasn't Katie.

"I have some emails to send out, Mr. Song. I will leave you to your meeting," Katie said, her voice was quiet, but I detected the slight tremor as she spoke. She refused to meet my eyes as she turned and walked out of the office, her shoulders stiff and her head held high.

I wanted to call out to her, to beg her to stay, but the words caught in my throat. My wolf howled in protest, a sound of pure anguish that only I could hear. The door clicked shut behind her, and it felt like a part of me had been severed.

"At least the little urchin knows when she's not wanted," my mother muttered, oblivious to the pain twisting my insides. "Now, Reeve, Sophia and I think you should arrange a lunch meeting with Denver. How about next Saturday?"

As my mother blathered on, Sophia began unpacking the takeaway containers on my desk. The rich aromas of overpriced French food filled the room. Despite the appetizing smells, the food might as well have been chalk for all I cared. My stomach churned, a heavy weight settling in my gut. The only thing I wanted was on the other side of my office door, and I could sense her slipping further and further out of my grasp.

Lunch was an exercise in restraint. Mother dominated conversation, her words a carefully crafted blend of praise for Sophia and not-so-subtle hints about the benefits of aligning with the Roberts family. Sophia played her part perfectly. She was all calculated smiles and flattery. Each time she deliberately touched my arm, I wanted to swipe at her with my claws. My wolf snarled, disgusted by her brazenness.

I barely tasted any of the food, each bite going down my throat like a chunk of cardboard. All of my senses strained to track Katie. I monitored her scent, the faint sound of her heartbeat, the noises she made as she worked at her desk. The distance between us grew with each passing minute. I hated myself for lacking the courage to bridge it.

My uninvited guests stayed until the end of the workday. My mother invited Sophia over to our family estate for dinner, but I had had enough. My patience was already hanging by a thread. I used the excuse of catching up on the Alpine Tech deal to brush them off.

When I finally emerged from my office, Katie was still sitting at her desk. I had survived the surprise attack sprung by my mother, but it looked like Katie had become collateral damage. She looked so sad and vulnerable. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she stared steadily at the screen and avoided meeting my eyes. The sight of her like that, so withdrawn and distant, made my chest ache.

"Don't mind my mother," I said gruffly. "She has an annoying habit of meddling in my life and setting me up with women I have no interest in."

The steady click-clack of her typing did not stop, but I saw the way her eyes flinched and the way her shoulders tensed. "Your personal life is none of my concern, Mr. Song. I am just finishing a report before I leave."

Mr. Song. The formality in her voice was like a dagger to my heart. Not even a battle with another alpha wolf could hurt me as much the words out of this human woman's mouth. All of the connections we had made over the past weeks crumbled to dust in just one afternoon.

My wolf roared in protest. The memory of her acceptance and her wonder when we were in that cabin flooded my mind. I would give anything to get that back.

"I wanted to talk about what happened on the Paradise Peaks trip," I said, my voice low and cautious.

She stopped typing. Her fingers hovering over the keys. For a moment, she didn't move, didn't breathe. Then, she turned to face me, her eyes cold and sharp. "There's nothing to discuss. What happened between us was--"

"Amazing," I finished. The words rushed out from my mouth before I could stop myself. "Katie Clark, you are everything I have ever wanted in a partner. The way you showed no hesitation and accepted my wolf is a memory I will cherish forever."

Our eyes met, and for a moment, it was as if we were back in that tiny cabin. Her eyes were fearless and glistened with unshed tears. "I will remember that moment too, Reeve. Thank you for trusting me with your secret."

She was so close, so achingly close. My wolf raged. Take her. Taste her. Mark her. But I held back, afraid of pushing her too far, too fast. "I know I have not proven myself worthy of your trust," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of my emotions. "But now that I have found you, I will show you that we are meant to be together."

Her lips fell open in surprise, her breath coming out in a hitch. Over the hum of the computer, I could hear her heartbeat quicken. Her sweet scent deepened, and the aroma of desire and nervousness filled the air.

The cleaning staff's cart rattled in the hallway, breaking the spell. The enormity of what I had just admitted hit me all at once. She was still frozen in place, her eyes wide as she processed my words.

"It's late, Ms. Clark. My driver will be waiting downstairs to take you back to your apartment. Goodnight," I said stiffly before I retreated to my office with my tail between my legs.

Closing the door behind me like a shield, I pressed my overheated forehead against its cool surface. I didn't want to wait for her reaction. No, I couldn't handle the possibility of her rejection. There was no use denying it any longer. Katie was my mate. The one woman I was fated to give my life and heart to.

Only one question remained. Did she even want what I had to offer her?