Kian sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen without truly seeing it. Adrian's words from their meeting replayed in his mind on an endless loop, a constant reminder of the man's ability to both infuriate and challenge him.
You're capable of more than you realize. Don't let your pride hold you back.
It was meant to be motivational—maybe even helpful—but Kian couldn't shake the feeling that it was a calculated move. Adrian was the kind of Alpha who always seemed to know exactly where to push, how to crack someone open just enough to expose the raw truth underneath.
And Kian hated it.
"Still alive over there?"
The familiar voice startled him out of his thoughts. He glanced up to see Elliot Cross leaning against the edge of his cubicle, a teasing grin on his face. The Beta's relaxed demeanor was a stark contrast to Kian's tension.
"Barely," Kian muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Elliot raised an eyebrow. "Rough meeting with the boss?"
Kian scowled. "Something like that."
Elliot chuckled, shaking his head. "You know, for someone who's as talented as you are, you sure let Blackwell get under your skin."
"I don't let him get under my skin," Kian snapped, a little too quickly.
Elliot smirked. "Sure. Whatever you say, buddy."
Kian glared at him but didn't respond. He wasn't in the mood for Elliot's teasing, even if the Beta meant well.
"So," Elliot continued, leaning in conspiratorially, "are we still on for drinks tonight? Lila's in, and I hear there's a new Alpha in accounting who's already turning heads. Could be fun."
Kian hesitated. Normally, he would've jumped at the chance to unwind with his coworkers. But after everything that had happened with Adrian—and the lingering fatigue from his heat—the idea of socializing felt exhausting.
"I don't know," Kian said finally. "I've got a lot of work to do."
Elliot groaned dramatically. "Come on, Kian. You're always working. Take a break for once. It's not like Blackwell's going to fire you if you don't spend every waking moment perfecting that campaign."
Kian sighed, his resolve wavering. He did need a break, and maybe some time away from the office would help clear his head. "Fine," he said reluctantly. "But just for a little while."
Elliot grinned. "That's the spirit! I'll text you the details."
As Elliot walked away, Kian leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. Maybe a night out was exactly what he needed to shake off the weight of the past few days.
---
Later that evening, Kian found himself at a trendy downtown bar, the warm glow of string lights casting a cozy ambiance over the space. Lila and Elliot were already there, laughing over their drinks as Kian joined them at a corner table.
"You made it!" Lila exclaimed, sliding a glass toward him. "I was starting to think you'd bail."
"I almost did," Kian admitted, taking a sip of the amber liquid. The burn of whiskey was comforting, grounding him in the moment.
"Well, we're glad you didn't," Elliot said, raising his glass in a mock toast. "To surviving another week under Blackwell's reign of terror."
Lila giggled, and Kian managed a small smile. Despite his reservations, it felt good to be around them, to let himself relax for a little while.
"So," Lila said, leaning in eagerly, "have you guys seen the new Alpha in accounting? What's his name again? Mason? Miles?"
"Marcus," Elliot supplied with a smirk. "And yes, I've seen him. The man looks like he stepped out of a magazine ad. It's almost unfair."
Lila sighed dramatically. "I'm going to need another drink just to recover from looking at him."
Kian rolled his eyes, though he couldn't suppress a faint smile. Their banter was lighthearted, a welcome distraction from the storm raging in his mind.
"Speaking of Alphas," Lila said, turning her attention to Kian. "How's it going with Blackwell? You two seemed... tense the other day."
Kian's stomach twisted. "It's fine," he said curtly, taking another sip of his drink.
"Fine?" Elliot repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You practically radiate murder vibes every time you're in the same room as him."
Kian scowled. "He's my boss. I don't have to like him."
"True," Lila said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "But he seems to like you. Or at least respect you. That's more than most people can say."
Kian's jaw tightened. He didn't want to think about Adrian right now, didn't want to dissect the man's motives or their complicated dynamic. "Can we not talk about him?"
Lila held up her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. No more Blackwell talk."
Elliot smirked, clearly amused by Kian's discomfort, but thankfully changed the subject.
For the next hour, they fell into easy conversation, laughing and teasing one another as the bar buzzed around them. Kian felt some of the tension in his chest ease, the heavy weight of the past week lifting ever so slightly.
But just as he was starting to feel like himself again, a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"Well, this is a surprise."
Kian froze, his blood running cold. He turned slowly, his heart sinking when he saw Adrian Blackwell standing a few feet away, a glass of scotch in hand and that ever-present smirk on his lips.
"What are you doing here?" Kian asked, his voice sharper than he intended.
Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the hostility. "It's a public bar, Kian. Am I not allowed to have a drink?"
Kian's fists clenched under the table. Of all the places Adrian could've been, why did it have to be here?
"Relax," Adrian said, his tone calm but laced with amusement. "I'm not here to ruin your night. Just passing through."
Lila and Elliot exchanged curious glances, clearly intrigued by the interaction. Lila opened her mouth to say something, but Kian shot her a warning look, silencing her.
Adrian's gaze flicked to Lila and Elliot, then back to Kian. "Enjoy your evening," he said, his smirk softening into something almost genuine.
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Kian's mind reeling.
"Well, that was... something," Lila said, breaking the silence.
Elliot grinned. "I told you he likes you."
"Shut up," Kian muttered, downing the rest of his drink in one gulp.
But no amount of whiskey could drown out the lingering tension Adrian had left in his wake.