Page 12

Lina

By midweek, I was well enough to return to the office. Magnus had deemed it best to keep me safely tucked away at Blackthorn with Stephen after the attack. He flew to California for the pitch instead. Back in our shared office, Stephen and I worked along as if Monday’s events had never happened—almost.

Except although I hadn’t believed it possible, I was even more aware of him now. Each time I caught his earthy, spicy scent, it evoked the memory of how he’d shielded me, while the sound of his voice set off a warmth as I remembered the moment he’d rushed me to the hospital, his tone making me believe I was the only thing that mattered to him: “We’re almost there, Lina.”

But as Wednesday drew to a close, and Stephen remained absorbed in his work, my thoughts shifted from the past to the palpable tension radiating from him. I knew, even though he hadn’t said anything, he was fixated on the Omega Concord Program, fingers striking the keyboard with renewed urgency.

“Is there anything else I can help with?” I asked, pushing back my chair from my desk so I could see him properly without the wall of plants, hoping he might confide in me about Magnus’s plans.

He blinked, momentarily surprised, then shook his head. “No, thanks. You should go home and rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He returned to his relentless typing.

A pang of frustration shot through me. I knew I shouldn’t confess that I’d eavesdropped on his and Magnus’s conversation at the hospital, but the thought of the Omega Concord Program and the harm it could do filled me with determination. “You’re working on the Omega Concord Program, aren’t you?”

Stephen’s fingers halted. He looked up, his green gaze piercing me. My heart thumped as I wondered whether I’d made a massive mistake in admitting I’d overheard. But I couldn’t keep silent. What if my helping made the difference in protecting Blackthorn omega wolves from being reduced to nothing but breeders?

“I am,” Stephen finally said. He added, “I can’t allow such an unethical practice to happen in this company and pack.” He gritted his strong jaw, sweeping his hands through his ebony hair, making it distractingly tousled. “The fact that it violates shifter rights should be enough to stop it from happening but…” He trailed off, his bright eyes burning with sparks of anger; I’d seen rage in his stare before, like when he’d stood off against the gunmen, but this light in his eyes was a different kind. It burned with righteous fury, and God help me, he’d never looked so hot.

“But only facts and figures will speak to Magnus,” I finished for him, forcing myself to focus on the serious matter we were discussing. I felt the weight of our conversation deepen as I implied I knew exactly what kind of man Magnus was. Trepidation swirled through me. What if he began questioning why I’d ever consider marrying someone like Magnus?

Stephen’s gaze bore into me, and I could see him battling with his own thoughts. “I need enough evidence by Friday morning to persuade Magnus the Omega Concord Program will hurt our company.”

I knew Magnus was back in on Friday, and despite having other things I’d planned to do while the alpha was gone, determination seared through me. “Send me what you’ve got.”

As the week wore on, our days turned into nights, and we combed through data and prepped arguments against the program.

I still couldn’t pass up the opportunity that Magnus’s absence presented to search the Blackthorn offices for possible places where my mother was being held. Two floors were closed for renovation, and late on Wednesday and Thursday night, after Stephen had left, I doubled back, checking for any hidden rooms or signs of comings and goings. But other than evidence of workmen, I came up empty.

Friday morning and our meeting with Magnus came too swiftly. The alpha’s surprise at my presence was overshadowed by the hardness in his eyes as they flicked to Stephen. From that one look, I garnered Stephen hadn’t told his father I was in the loop about the program.

Magnus schooled his features as he said, “I didn’t realize I’d have the pleasure of your company, too, Lina?”

I waited a beat, wondering if Stephen was going to say that I’d overheard their conversation in the hospital.

“As future luna of our pack, I thought it only right for Lina to be brought in on this,” Stephen said.

Magnus nodded, but I knew that even as luna, he believed I had as little right to be involved in this decision as he believed the omegas had in general.

As we presented to Magnus, Stephen and I both took different topics, exhibiting how the Omega Concord would prove inefficient and detrimental to Blackthorn Corp.

“I thought we’d start with employee morale and company culture,” I said as I opened the various case studies, presenting shifter companies treating their employees fairly and with respect. “You can see Ashford, Glen Cove, and Woodhaven’s productivity and retention rates for their employees are parallel to our own. These three New York packs offer good comparatives with which to measure our own percentages.”

Stephen’s firm voice took over as he cautioned Magnus about the potential backlash from the shifter community by bringing in the Concord Program. “The Hamilton Pack in Ontario suffered from a ten percent drop in their shares once they’d implemented a similar program ten years ago. The Gladwin Pack in Michigan, too, tarnished their company’s public image with their breeding program.” Stephen pulled up a report on the company being boycotted and a report on their business going into administration, making Magnus’s bushy brows gather together.

I chipped quickly in to build on the negative repercussions the omega-breeder program had caused in these two packs and companies. “Although the program might bring short-term gains, it undermines the company’s long-term sustainability. You can see here that by exploiting this segment of the workforce, a high proportion of the talented individuals within these companies left.” I drew up the graph showing Hamilton and Gladwin’s high employee turnover.

I glanced at Magnus, whose frown had deepened considerably over the course of the presentation. “Alpha, we understand the pressure to increase profits, but we need to consider the long-term impacts of the Omega Concord Program.”

Stephen nodded in agreement. “Utilizing our employees in this way may yield short-term gains, but it’ll cost us significantly in the long run. Public backlash, low morale, high turnover of staff—these factors could be devastating to our reputation and our bottom line.”

Magnus stopped and narrowed his eyes. “You really think shifter high society cares about omegas?”

“Yes,” I said before Stephen could. “The facts speak for themselves. Their suffering will resonate beyond our pack. We could lose valuable partnerships and face protests. This won’t just impact us within Blackthorn Corporation and our pack but will be felt throughout shifter society at large.”

Stephen interjected, “Whereas a company known for its ethical stance will attract innovative talent, boost employee satisfaction, and allow us to continue to lead the market.”

“Very well, let’s call it there,” Magnus said, his voice dipping low, sending an icy chill creeping down my spine as I wondered whether all our research had been in vain. “I want projections on retention and profits by the end of the day with and without Concord before I finalize my decision.” Magnus added, “And let’s not put both of you on this today. I think enough resources have been swallowed up by the Concord Program, don’t you? You’d be much better getting on with some work on Lenidex, Lina,” he commanded.

I nodded. “Of course, Alpha.” I fought the flurry of apprehension churning through my gut. Was Magnus just annoyed that I’d been working on the Concord Program because he wanted to instigate it in the pack, or was he suspicious of Stephen and I working so closely together?

Nervousness fluttered through me as I returned to our office, but I reminded myself that Magnus hadn’t been here for the last two days.

The rest of the day, Stephen put together the projections Magnus had requested while I worked on Lenidex.

That evening, Magnus’s sharp rap sounded on the door. He stepped in, a slight crease forming on his brow.

Stephen stood up quickly, gesturing to the sofas by the window. “Alpha, please have a seat.”

“No, I won’t be staying long,” Magnus said.

Anxiety twisted through me. His reaction gave nothing away as to whether Stephen’s final projections had cinched the outcome we wanted.

Finally, he put us out of our misery. “I’ve decided to put a pin in the Concord Program,” he announced, his voice tinged with begrudging reluctance. “Your figures were very convincing, Lina.”

I felt a small flicker of triumph, and yet, I was disappointed as Magnus’s presence meant I couldn’t share the feeling with Stephen. But the important thing was that the immediate threat of the program had thankfully been staved off, if only temporarily.

Magnus’s dark stare went to me for a moment, and he added, “You should come home and rest, my dear. You look tired.”

I smiled, trying to give my expression a warmth I didn’t feel. “I was just going to head home. Would you walk me out?”

Magnus helped me with my coat, and I was reminded once again that time was slipping away from me. Since the attack, Magnus had mentioned a couple of times that we should discuss dates for our upcoming nuptials. I felt queasy at the thought and reminded myself to refocus on what I was really here to do: find my mother. We both said goodnight to Stephen, even as my heart ached to stay here and celebrate our success.

The following week was filled with late nights and the heavy weight of the backlog caused by giving so much of our time to working on the Omega Concord Program. Once again, though, luck seemed to be on my side, as more client meetings took Magnus out to the West Coast again, and I continued to use my late evenings when Stephen had gone to hunt on the less used floors for any signs of places my mother might be.

But when Friday finally came back around again, exhaustion and a sense of hopelessness at finding nothing on my mother clung to me. At least we’d successfully caught up on our workload and wouldn’t see Magnus until tomorrow back at Blackthorn Villa when he’d be back from the West Coast.

“Let’s order takeout,” Stephen suggested, his voice breaking the heavy air in the office late that evening.

“Make it Nonna’s, and I’m in,” I replied, fingers still dancing across the keyboard.

“Oh, you’re a Nonna’s girl, are you? But Giuseppe’s on 4th’s so much better.”

Warmth blossomed through my chest. “All right, Emily!” I exclaimed before I’d even thought about it. Just for a moment, I felt as if I were home, swept up in a world of passionate pizza debate.

Stephen’s brow arched with curiosity, and I explained, “My friend Em swears by Giuseppe’s,” I added, wishing I was with her and Matt. Then a flurry of confusion whipped through me as I admitted to myself that wasn’t entirely true; I liked the unguarded spark of warmth simmering in Stephen’s eyes as he watched me. “Let’s order both, then,” he declared.

We fell back into our work, settling into an oddly comfortable silence. Thirty minutes later, reception called up. This late in the evening, the security guard couldn’t leave his post, so Stephen stood up, flashing me a grin. “I’ll be back with Nonna in a moment.”

That had to be the first time Nonna had ever sounded sexy.

When the aroma of pizza finally wafted through the office, I savored the scent of warm, cheesy goodness. We sank into the plush couch by the floor-to-ceiling windows, with the glittering skyline of skyscrapers to our left. The city was alive outside, a splendid backdrop as we indulged in our feast.

Stephen poured a couple of glasses of sparkling water, offering me one as he said, “Here’s to a belated toast. I couldn’t have shut down the Omega Concord Program without you. Thank you,” he said before clinking his glass with mine. My stomach somersaulted. He’d mentioned the Omega Concord Program a few times this week, thanking me for my help on it, and I’d experienced this same discomfort. I couldn’t put my finger on what was bothering me.

Turning my attention to the pizza, I flipped the lid and peeled a slice from the box. “Nonna’s has the best crust,” I declared, taking a huge bite.

“Giuseppe’s pizza sauce is superior,” he shot back, attacking his preferred pizza, an infectious grin on his lips. He took a bite, and said sauce smeared slightly at the corner of his mouth. My breath caught, and I imagined leaning in to taste it—my skin tingling.

“Agree to disagree,” I said, a part of me disappointed as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

As I finished my first slice, I snapped a picture of our feast, intending to send it to Emily and Matt later, imagining how wildly jealous they’d be.

I thought fondly of the last few video calls I’d had with them and Betty. My daughter had gotten really into playing house with her friends at nursery school. On the last few phone calls, she’d told me that Matt was the daddy and Emily the mommy when they played at home.

My heart squeezed as I felt the usual stab of guilt at being away from her for so long. Was that why she’d taken to this new game with such gusto? Did she miss me as much as I missed her? I hated the idea of her feeling abandoned by me.

Too late, I realized that my thoughts must be playing across my face as Stephen asked, “Are you all right?”

I flushed under his gaze. God, the last thing I should be thinking about around Stephen was Betty. Finally, I told a sliver of truth, “Yeah, I just really miss Em.”

Stephen replied, “Lina… I’m really glad you had someone looking out for you.” Something in the way he said my name and the way his eyes bore into mine stripped away my defenses.

“Thanks,” I replied softly. Words spilling out, unguarded. “I’ve stayed with Em for years. She’s kept me grounded. I owe her so much.” I wasn’t supposed to be opening my heart while I was here, yet intimacy flowed between us like a current I didn’t want to fight.

His eyes locked onto mine, the closeness of our bodies igniting a raw energy to the air. “You deserved that. To be cared for. You—deserve so much more.” Stephen’s voice had dropped to that low rasp that I seemed to feel across my skin.

My heartbeat thumped, quickening like a drum roll as if urging me to close the distance between us. My pulse raced, a heady mix of longing and tension coursing through my veins.

I could feel the soft warmth of his breath against my skin, and my senses sharpened, sending shivers down my spine. My breath quickened as his gaze, those vibrant green eyes, filled with hunger and something deeper—a yearning that mirrored my own.

“God, Lina,” he murmured, his voice low, wrapping around me, along with his spicy, earthy scent. “You don’t know what you do to me, do you?” he asked, his tone and expression the exact ones I’d grown to want more than any other, the one that told me the iron control he kept over himself was slipping and that with the right word or look, I could snap it.

The heady sense that I had caused that, that I had robbed him of his cool, made heat stir through me. Every thought seemed to melt into that heat. I leaned closer, aware of the moment we were teetering on—the point where temptation and reality collided.

How many times over the last weeks, in this room where we’d spent so many hours together, had I fantasized about this? About Stephen taking me in his arms as he had in the elevator?

My gaze, which had to be full of the forbidden thoughts I’d harbored for so long, brushed over him, willing him to cede control to me. “Show me,” I whispered, daring him to act.

The intake of breath he took was sharp. The delicious tension mounting between us ratcheted up.

His gaze fell to my lips, but his fingers came to my face first, his thumb grazing my cheek with a tenderness that had me aching.

The moment seemed to stretch and elongate. Would he succumb to temptation?

His lips dipped to mine, the sweetness of pizza sauce mingling with something deeper, with the connection that had been strengthening for weeks.

The office faded, the outside world slipping further away as we inched closer together, the warmth between us becoming an intoxicating force.

As he deepened the kiss, his calloused hand clasped the back of my neck, tugging me closer, and I surrendered, opening to him.

Our kiss became urgent, filled with pent-up desire. I lost myself in the sensation as he consumed me, his lips moving with a want mirroring my own. My wolf stirred, whimpering with satisfaction, and I began to explore him with more wildness, nipping and sucking at his lower lip, teasing him. He hissed, the sound rippling through me and sending heat straight between my legs.

His hand slid up, tangling in my hair, pulling me back slightly so he could trail kisses down my neck. I arched into him, inhaling his familiar earthy scent, the hint of his spicy cologne mingling with the warmth radiating from his body. It engulfed me in a heady sense of comfort and the desire for more.

We melted into a blissful bubble of intimacy, suspended high above the city, and a thrill charged through me, my want climbing higher—desire spiraling, beckoning me to cross a line we’d come so close to in the elevator.

His fingers dug into my waist, grazing the hem of my shirt, igniting a fire that made me gasp. Without consciously meaning to, I leaned in, my heart pounding, and pulled him back against me, reveling in the delicious weight of him pinning me to the couch.

I pulled his shirt out of his waistband, my greedy hands already wanting to explore the strong muscles of his back, moaning into his mouth as the feel of his hardness pressed against my stomach. I remembered how I’d watched the footage of our kiss, touching myself as I’d imagined it was him. At the thought, my hips were already grinding against his, my core aching with need.

“Can I touch you?” Stephen growled into my ear, sucking my earlobe into his mouth and making me arch again.

That was exactly what I wanted. “Yes. Please,” I ground out huskily, already feeling out of my mind with need.

In a moment, he undid my trousers and pushed aside the fabric of my knickers, sliding his finger between my legs. I gasped as a delicious heat rushed through me. His appreciative groan mingled with my own, each caress making me tremble with pleasure that shot right to my core.

He explored slowly, teasingly, his finger gliding through the slickness he coaxed from me. Each stroke was measured and deliberate, an effort to sustain control as if he still couldn’t let go of the discipline he always wore.

I want to shatter it.

I nibbled at his ear, sucking it, nipping and nibbling my way down his neck as I arched my back, encouraging him to go deeper until he pushed two fingers inside me.

“God, Lina,” he murmured against my neck. “You’re so perfect.” The sincerity in his voice made my insides flutter, but his words stirred an old memory, tangling around my heart.

Yet, the thrill of desire was swiftly followed by a wave of fear. I was thrust back to that dark motel room when I’d been in his arms, just as I was now, feeling safe as if everything was going to be all right, but it hadn’t turned out that way.

As pleasurable sensations blurred my thoughts, memories of our past—of his silence, his rejection, those agonizing moments when he had refused to protect me—flooded my mind, constricting around me like a vise.

“Wait,” I gasped.

Worry filled his eyes. “Are you okay?” He drew his hand out of my knickers.

“Yes—No—” I said, shaking my head as I moved back on the couch, away from him. “I can’t do this again,” I explained, feeling my stomach clench.

Stephen’s expression fell, longing still bright in his gaze. He let out a breath. “Lina, I’m sorry for what happened years ago,” he began, urgency creeping into his tone. “I did everything wrong. I wish things had been different—”

“But they weren’t,” I choked out. My voice shook as reality struck. Stephen had walked away from me then. “You say I’m perfect, but you said that back then, too.” My heart thumped with urgency as the pain welled up. “Then you rejected me and refused to protect me.” My own words brought to mind how he’d spoken up against the Omega Breeding Program. It was why I’d been feeling so unsettled about it every time he mentioned it. He had spoken up for his packmates to save them from an unwanted mate bond, but he hadn’t done that for his own mate.

“You don’t understand—” Stephen began, his hands running through his hair in frustration.

“I do,” I exclaimed, backing away from the temptation he represented. “You care about the Blackthorn Pack above anything else. You care about it enough to stop omegas from unwanted mate bonds that would see them yoked against their will. But you didn’t care enough about me to do the same. And like you say, I deserve so much more,” I said. Everything in me was still crying out for his touch, and my wolf felt like she was angrily biting at my insides, but I delivered those last three words with iron resolve.

I fumbled to fasten my trousers, a healthy distance growing between us as I stalked to my desk. I couldn’t let my feelings for Stephen cloud my judgment.

Focus.

My mother depended on me. My own freedom depended on keeping my head in the game. I needed to focus on my plan to marry Magnus—that was going to lead me to attain true freedom for all of my family, not this mess between Stephen and me that only ever ended in heartache.

“Lina, please, wait. Can we talk about this?” Stephen called out from behind me.

Grabbing my bag and coat, I hurried out of the office, ignoring him and trying to keep the cracks Stephen had caused all those years ago from shattering my heart again.