“The NDAs remain in effect,” Darius answers. “Indefinitely. Whether we merge or not, neither pack shares what they learned about the other’s internal operations.”
All around the table, heads nod in agreement with this plan.
“Any other questions?” Darius asks.
Silence.
“Excellent. Then we’ll break for today. Lucas and I will finalize some scheduling details. Sienna, I’ll need you to join us in my office.”
Panic sets in.
I stand quickly, grabbing my laptop and immediately starting to move toward the door. If I can get to Darius’s office first, establish some physical distance before she arrives…
It’s a coward’s strategy, but I’m fresh out of better options.
The way to the door is blocked, though, as the division heads mill about, gathering their materials and exchanging quiet words with each other. Finally, I’m in the hallway and heading for the elevator.
Darius catches up to me, and I can hear her behind him. Heels clicking against the polished floor, keeping pace easily.
I don’t turn around.
The three of us ride up to Darius’s office in silence. I position myself in a corner as far from her as the small space allows. But her scent fills the elevator, wrapping around me like a warm blanket.
I dig my nails into my palms hard enough to draw blood. The pain helps, but only barely.
The elevator doors open, and I’m out first, putting distance between us before my control snaps entirely.
Darius’s office is massive, with dark wood and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. I take a seat across from his desk, deliberately choosing the chair farthest from the door.
Sienna enters a moment later. For a fraction of a second, she hesitates, and I think maybe she’s feeling it, too: this pull, this overwhelming need to be closer.
Then, she walks straight to the other chair and sits down.
She’s close. Too close. I can smell her scent, can hear her breathing, can feel the bond like a rope around my chest, trying to drag me toward her.
I grip the arms of my chair and don’t move.
Darius settles behind his desk and starts pulling up files on his computer. “I wanted to formally introduce you to Alpha Steele, Sienna, since you will be the one representing us at Silvercrest.”
“No.” The word comes out sounding harsh, and both of them turn their heads to stare at me.
Darius’s eyebrows rise. “No?”
I need to recover. Need to sound rational instead of desperate. “I think we should reconsider the personnel assignment.”
“What’s wrong with the personnel assignment?” Darius asks carefully.
Everything. She’s my fated mate, and I can barely breathe when I’m in the same room as her.
“Isn’t she too young?” I say instead, grasping for any excuse that might be reasonable. “I think she’s a bit inexperienced for a project of this magnitude.”
The temperature in the room drops about ten degrees.
Sienna’s tone is ice cold. “I’m twenty-six, and I was just promoted to chief strategic advisor with a solid recommendation from my predecessor. My age and experience are clearly sufficient for Alpha Darius, or he wouldn’t have given me the position.”
She sounds absolutely furious beneath the corporate jargon. I can hear the hurt underneath it, buried deep but not deep enough. I put it there. And I’m putting more there now.
Good. If she’s angry, she’ll keep her distance. Anger is safer than the alternative.
