Lyra sat at her desk in the early morning silence, the faint hum of Midnight Crest Tower awakening around her. The city outside was already alive with the steady pulse of traffic and distant sirens, but inside the building, everything felt still. Too still.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but her mind wasn't focused on the financial discrepancies she'd uncovered. Instead, it drifted back to the night before—the way Ethan had looked at her, the sharp intensity in his gaze that made her feel like he was searching for something buried deep within her.
Did he sense it? Did he feel their connection even if he didn't recognize her?
A soft knock on the door made her snap out of her thoughts. She straightened in her chair and cleared her throat. "Come in."
The door opened, and Amelia, the sharp-tongued assistant with icy blue eyes, strode in with a tablet in hand. "The Alpha wants an update."
Lyra arched a brow. "It's not even 9 AM."
Amelia didn't blink. "He's not a patient man."
Lyra sighed, grabbing the report she had been compiling. "Tell him I'll have it done soon."
Amelia's lips curled in something that resembled a smirk. "I'll let him know, but I wouldn't keep him waiting too long. He's not exactly known for his forgiveness."
Lyra watched as Amelia turned on her heels and disappeared, leaving behind the faint scent of expensive perfume. She glanced at the stack of files on her desk, then at the towering glass windows that framed the city skyline.
Time was slipping through her fingers.
Hours Later – Midnight Crest's Conference Room
Lyra stepped into the sleek, high-tech conference room, clutching the printed report tightly in her hands. Ethan stood at the far end of the room, his back to her as he gazed out at the sprawling city below. The atmosphere crackled with his presence, as if the air itself bent under his will.
"You took your time," he said without turning.
Lyra swallowed and placed the report on the table, keeping her voice steady. "I wanted it to be thorough."
Ethan finally turned to face her, his dark eyes piercing through her like a blade. He leaned against the edge of the table, flipping through the pages of the report without saying a word.
She watched him closely, taking in every movement—the way his jaw tensed, the way his fingers curled slightly when he was deep in thought.
Finally, he spoke. "You found something."
Lyra nodded. "The financial irregularities are linked to offshore accounts. Someone inside the company is moving money under false contracts."
Ethan's eyes darkened. "Names?"
She hesitated. "Not yet. But I have leads."
He closed the folder with a sharp snap and fixed her with a stare that made her insides twist. "Find out who's behind it. I don't tolerate betrayal."
Lyra met his gaze, a silent battle of wills stretching between them. "Understood."
Ethan pushed off the table, stepping closer, his presence suffocating in its intensity. "I don't know who you are, but you're not just some offering they sent to appease me."
Lyra's breath hitched. "What makes you think that?"
He tilted his head, his eyes scanning her face with an unnerving precision. "You don't look at me the way the others did."
Lyra's heart pounded against her ribs, but she forced a smirk. "Maybe I just have better survival instincts."
Ethan studied her for a moment longer before stepping back. "Find the traitor. Quickly."
Without another word, he walked past her, leaving the scent of his cologne lingering in the air. Lyra exhaled a shaky breath, her fingers clutching the table for support.
Later That Night – Lyra's Suite
Lyra sat curled up on the couch, her laptop glowing softly in the dimly lit room. The list of transactions blinked on the screen, each line a puzzle piece leading her closer to the truth.
Her mind drifted, though, back to a time when things were simpler. A thousand years ago, Ethan's kingdom had been built on trust and strength. Now, all she saw was a fortress of suspicion and control.
She closed her eyes, letting a memory wash over her.
A Thousand Years Ago…
"Promise me," Ethan whispered, his hands cupping her face gently, his forehead pressed against hers. "No matter what happens, you'll find your way back to me."
Lyra smiled, tracing the lines of his face with her fingertips. "In this life and the next," she whispered back.
But promises made under the moonlight were always the easiest to break.
Lyra's eyes fluttered open, the ache in her chest growing heavier by the second.
Her phone buzzed beside her, pulling her from her thoughts. A message flashed across the screen.
Unknown Number: You're getting too close. Stop digging.
Her stomach flipped, and a chill ran down her spine.
She immediately typed a response. Who is this?
No reply.
Lyra stood up, pacing the room. This wasn't just about stolen money anymore—someone didn't want her uncovering the truth. And if there was one thing she had learned about Ethan, it was that secrets had a way of destroying everything in their path.
She needed to be careful.
Tomorrow, she'd have to play the game more carefully than ever. Because now, it wasn't just Ethan she had to watch—there were others in the shadows, and they were waiting for her to make a mistake.