Page 1 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf

Chapter 1

Julia

"Thisabsolutelywon'tdo."

Seraphina Draak's voice slices through the elegant stillness of the morning like a diamond with fangs. Her pearl-colored scales are polished and smooth, her dazzling amethyst eyes blaze with barely controlled anger and her wings flick at the tips in a clear sign of annoyance. Her jet-black hair is perfectly styled in an elaborate braid that trails down her back and her tail taps on the stone floor in a slow,steady pace.

I’m used to dealing with Others of many species, but dragons are especially intimidating. This bride is no exception.

Around us, high windows filter in muted sunlight through sheer golden-thread curtains, casting glittering patterns over onyx and slate floors. Deep cherrywood shelves line the walls, stacked impeccably with leather-bound volumes and framed dragon family portraits.

This is the private office of Silverine Draak, the matriarch of the Draak dragon clan and the most powerful dragon on the East Coast. As the next in line to inherit the powerful title of matriarch, Seraphina Draak is not only the most important client of my entire career, but she’s also the most difficult.

But I have things under control. Well, kind of. Mostly. I mostly have things under control.

Seraphina points at the centerpiece sample with a perfectly manicured index finger, disdain etched clearly on her elegant face.

"Where are myVanda coerulea?"

My stomach tightens. Here we go.

The problem isn’t the fine porcelain vase that glimmers with an antique copper finish or the delicate baby’s breath blooms falling to the side like miniature cotton clouds. It isn’t even the sprigs of lavender poking through the arrangements like fragrant fingers.

It’s the orchids.

The incredibly rare, incredibly delicate blue orchids that Seraphina Draak insists must be present in the centerpiece of every table during the reception as well as in her bouquet.

My gaze goes to the centerpiece and the replacement that my assistant, Courtney, managed to source for me. The beautiful pale-purple orchids fall in graceful cascades on each side of the crystal vase.

They're beautiful. Elegant. Completely wrong.

Come on, Julia. You got this.

I brace internally, my fingers tightening on my color-coded binder. Blue for food vendors. Green for invoices. Pink for entertainment. Purple for the A-list celebrity guests with special requirements.

Everything has its place, its system. Control the chaos. Control the outcome. This is what I’ve built my career on, my life on.

"There's been an unexpected complication," I begin, my voice measured and gentle. I paste a professional smile on my lips and push on. “I’m afraid the shipment ofVanda coeruleawe were expecting has been… well, to put it in simple terms… destroyed.”

Seraphina freezes. The temperature in the room drops by at least ten degrees.

"Excuse me?" Her voice is dangerously soft, but her blazing purple gaze is not. The distinct smell of ashes that follow every dragon increases.

My stomach makes a funky little loop and I have to force the saliva down my suddenly clenched throat.

“The shipping container’s refrigeration unit failed during transport. The entire shipment was completely ruined.” I keep my tone low and the smile on my face, but inside, my guts are melting in a toxic stew. “It won’t be possible to find another supplier ofVanda coeruleaorchids, not with such a short notice. But as you can see—"

"So you're telling me," Seraphina cuts in, voice as cold as an arctic morning, "that you have no flowers for my wedding?"

“Oh, no, you have many options.” I feel my professional smile stretch on my face and I hope I don’t look like a demented clown. “The vendor assured me that they have a number of other blooms foryou to choose from, all lovely and all fitting perfectly well with your color scheme. They will reimburse you the difference, of course, plus ten percent as a way to apologize for the inconvenience.”

Seraphina folds her arms across her voluptuous chest, her beautiful evening dress shimmering in jewel tones of purple and magenta, accentuating her already sculptural beauty.

"So your vendor destroyed my rare blooms and all you have to offer me is some pathetic alternative?" Seraphina asks, not even bothering to comment on the rest of the arrangement. “Don’t tell me you didn’t secure a backup vendor for this. I specifically told you about the importance of orchids.”

Shits and giggles. This isn’t going to go well.

“You can still have orchids,” I say, my gaze falling to the elaborate centerpiece, my mind racing too fast for my brain to catch up. “It’s the specific subspecies of orchids that is proving incredibly difficult to source on such short notice. If you would consider a slightly purple Vanda variety instead, I’m sure you will find—"