Chapter 4

Serena’s POV

The foyer stretched before me like a vast sea of polished tiles and glass walls, its spaciousness doing little to calm my nerves. My breath hitched as I stepped out of the elevator, my heart racing. I had just lied—lied to an Alpha, no less. A big one too. Goddess help me. My skin prickled as if I could still feel the weight of his piercing gaze, the way his brows slightly furrowed when I told him I had no pack. He sniffed my lie; I was certain of it. My steps quickened as though moving faster would erase his memory of me.

The air in the building felt dense, or maybe it was the pressure I placed on myself. My fingers fumbled with the zipper of my bag as I approached the exit, the chill of panic clouding my thoughts. I needed to leave. Now. But just as I reached the heavy glass doors, I collided with something solid, staunch.

Not something—someone.

I stumbled back, gasping, my bag slipping from my shoulder and landing with a dull thud. A phone clattered onto the floor near my feet, but I barely noticed it. My eyes lifted, meeting his. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Ice-blue eyes bore into mine, sharp and intense, as if they could peel back every layer of my being. His lips curved in a slight sneer, though his disgust seemed calculated, like it was there to mask something else entirely.

Oh, Goddess. I was struck—struck like Cupid’s arrow had found me and made a mockery of my resolve. I couldn’t look away from his face, the sharp lines of his jaw, the faint shadow of stubble that only added to his dangerous appeal. He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man I’d seen today. Which was saying something, considering I’d just met two other annoyingly gorgeous men.

He groaned, the deep sound reverberating through the air, and I blinked, the trance breaking. My heart kicked into overdrive as I scrambled to squat down and grab his phone. My fingers brushed the cool, smooth surface, and I hastily stretched it out toward him.

“I’m sorry,” I stammered, my voice barely audible.

His gaze lingered on me, unblinking and unnerving, as if he was trying to figure out a puzzle he didn’t know he was solving. Before I could process his expression, movement behind him caught my attention. Someone had just stepped off the elevator.

Recognition slammed into me. It was the guy who’d called me into the office earlier—the Alpha’s man. My breath hitched as dread coursed through me. Had the Alpha sent him after me? Did they know I’d lied?

Panic overtook me. My trembling hand shoved the phone into the ice-blue-eyed man’s chest, but as I turned to dart away, his hand shot out and gripped my arm.

I gasped, the strength in his hold pulling me back effortlessly. My bag slipped from my shoulder again, but I barely noticed. His touch sent strange tingles rippling through my skin, like sparks dancing along my nerves.

“Let go!” I whispered, my voice shaking. My free hand pushed against his chest, but it was like trying to move a mountain.

His lips parted slightly, and though the words were nearly inaudible, I caught it.

“Mate.”

My heart stopped.

Wait—did I hear that right? My mind scrambled to make sense of it, but his lips had barely moved. His ice-blue eyes softened for a fraction of a second, a glimmer of awe breaking through his hard expression.

I shook my head, pulling harder against his grip. “Look, let go!” I mumbled again, desperation lacing my voice.

Then his eyes changed. Right before me, the blue morphed into a molten hue of gold, burning bright and wild. I froze, unable to tear my gaze away from the transformation. It was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once.

My cry must have done something to him, because his grip loosened suddenly, and I yanked my arm free, stumbling back. My feet carried me toward the doors in a blur, my mind screaming at me not to look back.

Who was that man? His aura had been suffocating, powerful in a way that made my knees weak. Another Alpha—he had to be. No ordinary werewolf radiated that kind of authority.

Outside, the cool air hit my face, but it did little to clear the haze in my mind. A taxi screeched to a stop before me, and I climbed in without hesitation.

“Where to?” the driver asked, his voice snapping me out of my stupor.

I rattled off my address, sinking into the seat as the car pulled away. My eyes shut, but the faces of three men flashed in my mind like a slideshow I couldn’t stop: the man from the elevator and his sharp reaction, the Alpha who interviewed me and seemed to see through me, and now this one with his unrelenting ice-blue gaze.

I let out a shaky breath, realizing I’d been holding it. The driver caught my eye in the rearview mirror and gave me a smile, but it didn’t help.

Why did I have to meet three ridiculously handsome men in one day? Exciting? Maybe. But terrifying, too. Their auras were suffocating, their presence overwhelming.

And yet, I couldn’t shake them from my mind.

The moment I got home, I bolted straight to my room, locking the door behind me. My heart raced, and I could still feel the residual unease from the day’s events. The job I had promised my parents I’d secure now seemed out of reach, and I couldn’t bear to face their disappointed faces. The lie I’d told the Alpha weighed heavily on me. I had no pack, but instead of being honest, I’d tried to cover it up, knowing full well that Alphas despised deceit.

I flung my bag onto the bed and sank to the floor, my back pressed against the door. If Alphas truly punished liars, then what if the Alpha sent someone after me?

Alpha Pedro wouldn’t hesitate to hand me over if it meant staying out of trouble. The thought alone made me shiver. I hugged my knees, burying my face in them, wishing I could undo everything.

Hours passed. I stayed hidden in my room, avoiding the muffled voices of my parents. Eventually, I heard footsteps outside my door. I held my breath, closing my eyes and pretending to sleep. The door creaked open, and I risked a peek, expecting my mother. Instead, it was Everly.

“Hey, Serena, I know you’re not sleeping,” she grumbled, marching over to the bed. She yanked the worn duvet off me, tossing it aside. “Quit the act.”

“Everly, seriously?” I groaned as she grabbed my arm, jerking me upright.

“Your mother said you’ve been holed up in here all day. What’s going on?” She plopped onto the bed beside me, arms crossed.

I avoided her gaze. “Nothing.”

“Nothing, huh?” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you get the job?”

My throat tightened. “I... I don’t know.”

Everly leaned closer, whispering, “Did you meet the three hot Alphas?”

My eyes widened. “You knew H.A.C. Consortium was owned by Alphas?”

“Of course. Who else could manage a company that massive?” She shrugged, giving me a pointed look. “Wait... you didn’t know?”

“No! I thought it was owned by humans!” My voice cracked, and she rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Are you crazy? Would you have backed out if you knew?”

“Maybe,” I admitted, my shoulders slumping. “If I had, I wouldn’t have messed up.”

Her expression hardened. “Messed up how?”

I sighed, recounting the day’s events. “I lied, Everly. I told an Alpha I didn’t have a pack.”

“You what?” she exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief. “Serena, lying to an Alpha is practically begging for trouble!”

“I know!” I threw my hands up in frustration. “And it gets worse. I think someone followed me home.”

Her jaw dropped. “Followed you? Are you sure?”

I nodded. “There was this guy who came out of the elevator right as I was trying to leave. He looked like he was sent to watch me by the Alpha.”