Mia sat in her office with tired eyes, her fingers dragging across the keyboard more slowly than usual. The last few days had been draining—paperwork, meetings, phone calls, endless decisions that Ryan usually shared with her. She missed him. She wouldn't admit it out loud, not even to Rachel, but she did. Even with all his annoying habits, his smug smirks, the way he teased her, Ryan had a way of making her feel alive. Without him, the silence of the office felt heavier, the air thicker. She leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head, trying to fight the fatigue that threatened to swallow her whole.
The screen in front of her blinked back with numbers and contracts. She was on the final stretch of closing a deal with Daniel's company, and at least that gave her some relief. Handling things in Ryan's absence wasn't easy, but it gave her pride to know she was doing it. She was keeping the company stable, proving—to herself more than anyone—that she could manage.
Still, her body protested. Her eyelids grew heavy, her shoulders tense. She needed a break. So she gathered her things and left her office, heading for the cafeteria downstairs.
The cafeteria buzzed with the low murmur of employees, clattering dishes, and the smell of fresh coffee. Mia grabbed a tray and ordered something light, then found a seat at a quiet corner. She had barely taken her first bite when a voice cut through her moment of peace.
"Hey, Mia."
Her fork froze midair. She knew that voice.
She turned slowly, her eyes narrowing the moment they landed on Suzan. She was dressed, as usual, in something too short and too flashy for the workplace—her lips painted red, her heels clicking as she approached the table like she owned the room.
"Hi," Mia replied curtly, her tone cool.
Suzan smirked, sliding into the seat across from her without being invited. "No need to be so cold. I just came to deliver a message."
Mia arched a brow. "And that would be?"
Suzan leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand like she was about to share some delicious secret. "Ryan asked me to tell you he won't be around. He's… busy. At my house. Making babies with me."
The words landed like ice water on Mia's skin. She blinked, shocked, her lips parting slightly. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. But then she drew in a slow breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "Oh, okay," she answered flatly, refusing to give Suzan the satisfaction of seeing her crack.
Suzan's smirk widened. "You don't believe me? Well… here's proof."
She pulled out her phone and slid it across the table. On the screen was a photo of Suzan hugging Ryan, his face angled in a way that made it look intimate. Mia stared at it, her heart skipping. Was that really him? Could it be?
Her instincts screamed otherwise. No. Something felt off. She squinted, studying the picture carefully. The lighting, the way their figures didn't quite blend—it was edited. Poorly, too. She looked up, her lips tugging into a small, defiant smile.
"Oh dear," Mia said softly, her tone almost pitying. "Are you that desperate? It's obvious you photoshopped this."
For a second, Suzan's face stiffened, shock flashing across her eyes. She hadn't expected Mia to catch on so quickly.
"Why would I do that?" Suzan countered, forcing a laugh. "Ryan has been in my home all this time, and we've been… doing things together."
Mia's patience was thinning. She gathered her tray, standing tall. "Okay. I don't care what you say. Just leave me alone." Without another glance, she walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Inside, though, her chest ached. The image of the photo lingered. She wanted to believe it was fake, and deep down she did, but doubt was a cruel little seed. She pushed it aside, choosing instead to trust Ryan. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't cruel. He wouldn't do that to her.
By the time work ended, Mia was drained. She packed up her things and left the office, catching a cab. Her mind felt heavy, circling around the day's events. The cab dropped her off near an old Chinese restaurant she had always liked—the kind of place that offered comfort in steaming bowls of noodles and fragrant dumplings. She decided she deserved a little peace, so she walked inside.
The bell above the door chimed softly, and she was instantly wrapped in the warm scent of sesame oil, garlic, and soy sauce. The restaurant was cozy, dimly lit, with wooden screens separating tables and red lanterns swaying overhead. She asked for a seat near the window and slid into the booth, letting out a quiet sigh.
She reached for the menu, grateful for the calm, when a voice interrupted.
"Fancy meeting you here."
Mia froze. That voice again.
She looked up and found Daniel standing there, his grin as smooth as ever.
"Daniel?" she asked, blinking in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you, I imagine," he said, sliding into the seat across from her without waiting for permission. "Good food, good wine, good company… though the last one, I wasn't expecting."
Mia shook her head, a small laugh escaping her. "You're unbelievable. You just sat down without asking."
"And let you eat alone? No chance," Daniel replied easily, leaning forward on the table. "I'd be a terrible man if I did."
The waiter arrived with menus, and Mia tried to focus on hers, but she could feel Daniel's eyes on her. It was unsettling—and flattering.
"You look tired," he said softly after a moment. "The kind of tired even tea can't fix. Been working too hard again?"
Mia sighed, setting the menu down. "You could say that. Ryan's away for a while, so I've been handling everything. It's been… hectic."
At Ryan's name, Daniel's eyes flickered with something sharp, though his smile didn't fade. "Then you deserve a break. And lucky me, I get to be here for it."
Mia chuckled lightly. "You make it sound like some grand event."
"Because it is," Daniel said smoothly. His voice lowered, intimate. "Do you even realize how magnetic you are, Mia? The way you walk into a room, the way you smile, the way you talk—people notice. I notice."
Her cheeks warmed, and she quickly looked away, fiddling with her chopsticks. "Daniel…" she started, unsure how to respond.
He leaned closer, his hand brushing hers on the table. "Relax. I'm just telling the truth. It's not my fault you make me want to say things like this." His eyes glinted mischievously. "And don't tell me you don't like hearing it."
Mia shook her head, hiding a small smile. "You're impossible."
"And you love it," he teased, his grin widening.
Mia didn't reply, focusing on her food when it arrived. They ate, talking lightly about work, travel, and random things. She laughed a few times, though in the back of her mind she felt uneasy. Daniel was charming, but there was an edge to his charm—an insistence, a hunger. She didn't want to lead him on, but she didn't want to be rude either.
Far away, in the Alpha's study, Ryan paced like a caged predator. His Beta stood at the door, waiting silently.
"Report," Ryan barked, his tone clipped.
The Beta bowed his head. "Your spies followed Mia tonight. She bumped into Daniel… at the old Chinese restaurant."
Ryan froze midstep, his golden eyes flashing. "Daniel," he growled.
"Yes, Alpha. They ate together. He was… close to her. Too close."
Ryan's jaw clenched, his wolf scratching violently against his skin, demanding freedom. His fists curled, his knuckles cracking under the force. "She's mine," he muttered, voice low and dangerous.
The Beta said nothing, but he could see the glow of Ryan's eyes, the storm threatening to break free.
"Keep watching," Ryan ordered finally, his voice trembling with restrained fury. "If he touches her again… I'll end him."
The Beta bowed deeply. "Yes, Alpha."
When the door closed, Ryan sank into his chair, his chest heaving. He could see Mia's smile in his mind, hear her laugh—the same laugh Daniel was stealing. His wolf snarled inside him, restless and enraged. No one steals what's mine.
Meanwhile, Mia excused herself from dinner as soon as she could. She thanked Daniel politely, brushed off his attempt to linger, and hurried out of the restaurant. She caught a cab home, her thoughts swirling. Why was Daniel suddenly so interested in her? Why now? She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it.
At home, she locked the door behind her, kicking off her shoes. She went straight to the bathroom, slipping into the tub, letting warm water wash away her tension. She closed her eyes and thought of Ryan. She missed him so badly it hurt. She had tried calling him earlier, but he never picked up. Was he avoiding her?
Her chest tightened. Maybe he didn't care as much as she thought. Maybe Suzan was right, maybe—no. She shook her head. She wouldn't believe that. She sponged her body slowly, rinsed off, then slipped into comfortable clothes.
She lay on her bed, scrolling through her phone, but nothing distracted her from the ache in her chest. She opened a movie, but halfway through she found herself staring blankly at the screen, her thoughts circling Ryan.
Why did it hurt so much? Why did she miss him when he was the one pulling away? She curled into her blanket, her phone slipping from her hand as her eyes grew heavy.
She fell asleep with his name on her lips.
And somewhere miles away, Ryan sat in the dark, his wolf restless, his mind torn between duty and the unbearable pull of his mate.