Lyra sat at the sleek black desk in her new office, staring at the thick folder Ethan had left for her the night before. The weight of it felt heavier than mere paper—this was a challenge, a direct test from the Alpha himself. She knew Ethan well enough to understand he wasn't interested in simple tasks. No, he wanted to see if she would crumble under pressure.
Her fingers traced the embossed Midnight Crest Pack logo on the folder's cover. A part of her wanted to rip it open and dive in, to prove to him that she was more than capable of handling whatever he threw her way. But another part, the one that still felt the sting of the past, hesitated.
Taking a deep breath, she flipped it open.
Inside were pages upon pages of complex financial reports, security logs, and business contracts. Midnight Crest Tower wasn't just Ethan's home—it was an empire.
"Impressive, isn't it?"
Lyra glanced up to see Logan leaning against the doorframe, his usual smirk in place.
"Depends on your definition of impressive," she said, flipping through another page. "Looks more like a control freak's dream."
Logan chuckled. "Ethan likes order. Chaos doesn't suit him."
Lyra hummed in response, her eyes scanning the document in front of her. "So, what exactly am I looking for?"
Logan strolled into the room, resting his hands on the back of the chair across from her. "Anything out of place."
"That's vague."
"It's meant to be." He leaned in slightly. "Ethan's watching."
Lyra's grip on the papers tightened. Of course he was.
"Great," she muttered, turning back to the reports. "Nothing like being under constant surveillance."
Logan straightened, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Better get used to it."
As he walked out, Lyra sighed, rolling her shoulders before diving into the files with renewed focus. If Ethan wanted to test her, then fine. She'd show him exactly what she was capable of.
Hours passed, and Lyra's eyes burned from staring at the screen. Numbers, names, schedules—it was all starting to blur together. But then, something caught her attention.
A pattern.
Hidden among the routine transactions were small, irregular transfers—amounts just subtle enough to avoid suspicion but consistent enough to suggest something wasn't right. Lyra narrowed her eyes, cross-referencing the data with the security logs.
Someone was siphoning money.
A slow smile tugged at her lips. Gotcha.
Before she could analyze further, a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Find something?"
Lyra's head snapped up, her pulse spiking at the sight of Ethan standing in the doorway. He was dressed in his usual dark suit, his presence commanding as ever.
She straightened in her seat. "Maybe."
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "Show me."
Lyra turned the screen toward him, pointing to the flagged transactions. "Whoever's behind this is careful, but not careful enough. They've been skimming small amounts over the last six months, but the pattern was too subtle to notice without digging deeper."
Ethan's expression remained unreadable as he studied the data. After a moment, he glanced at her. "Good work."
Lyra blinked. Praise? From him? That was unexpected.
"I'll have my team look into it," he added, straightening. "You've proven you're not completely useless."
Lyra smirked. "High praise."
Ethan's lips twitched, but he didn't reply. Instead, he turned to leave, pausing at the door. "Keep looking. I want a full report by tomorrow."
As the door shut behind him, Lyra exhaled a long breath. That encounter had gone better than expected.
But something told her this was only the beginning.
Later that evening, Lyra sat on the couch in her suite, staring out at the city skyline. The events of the day played over in her mind—the test, the unexpected praise, the way Ethan's gaze lingered on her just a little too long.
He didn't know who she really was. But she could feel the flickers of recognition beneath the surface, the way his instincts reacted to her presence.
Her hand unconsciously reached up to her neck, to where his mark had once been. The bond between them had been unbreakable—until it wasn't.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She opened it to find Logan standing there, a bottle of whiskey in hand.
"Celebratory drink?" he asked with a grin.
Lyra raised a brow. "Celebrating what, exactly?"
Logan shrugged, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Surviving your first real test."
She closed the door and followed him to the couch, watching as he poured them each a glass.
"I get the feeling Ethan doesn't do many second chances," Lyra said, accepting the drink.
Logan's gaze darkened slightly. "No, he doesn't."
They sat in silence for a moment, the tension in the air thick with unspoken words. Lyra knew Logan was trying to figure her out, just like Ethan.
L
"You're different," Logan finally said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
Lyra smirked. "So I've been told."
"Not like the others."
She glanced at him, their eyes meeting. "And what makes you think that?"
Logan studied her for a long moment before shrugging. "Instinct."
Lyra took a slow sip of her drink, letting the burn settle in her chest. If only he knew just how right he was.
As the night stretched on, Lyra found herself standing by the window once more, Logan long gone and the weight of her secrets pressing heavily on her shoulders.
Tomorrow would bring another test, another challenge.
And she had no choice but to face it head-on.