The sunlight streaming through the glass towers of the company felt too bright for Mia's eyes as she stepped out of the cab. It was her first full day back at work after the kidnapping. The wound on her forehead had faded, but the scar beneath her hairline still throbbed when she thought too hard about that night.
Still, she lifted her chin and walked through the revolving doors, ignoring the whispers that followed her.
"Is that her?"
"She's the one who got kidnapped, right?"
"She looks so strong, coming back already…"
She knew what they were saying. Part pity, part admiration, part gossip. Mia forced herself to smile at the receptionist, then made her way to her office.
Her desk was stacked with files waiting to be reviewed. Contracts, meeting schedules, proposals—the rhythm of the company that had never stopped, even when her life had almost been ripped away.
She took a seat, inhaled deeply, and began to work. Pen moving, mind steady, her hands refused to shake. She would not let the memory of Daniel's voice—"If I can't have you, no one will"—haunt her here. Not in Ryan's company. This was where she belonged.
But she still missed him. Ryan had left on a business trip two days ago, leaving her the company to manage in his absence. He called whenever he could, his voice protective and warm, but phone calls could not erase the empty chair in his office across from hers.
At noon, Rachel dropped by, carrying two cups of coffee.
"You should rest more, Mia," she said softly, placing one in front of her. "After everything that happened…"
"I can't," Mia interrupted gently. "If I sit still, I'll remember. And if I remember, I'll break. I have to keep moving forward."
Rachel sighed but squeezed her friend's hand. "Just… don't forget you're human, too. Even strong people need time to heal."
Mia nodded faintly. Her strength wasn't just for herself—it was for Ryan. She wanted to prove she could stand beside him, no matter what storms came their way.
---
Far from the glittering offices of the city, Ryan sat in a private jet, files open before him. His phone buzzed, another message from Mia—short, simple, but enough to make his chest tighten.
I'm at the office. Don't worry, everything is fine.
He wanted to believe her. But his wolf stirred restlessly inside him, whispering that trouble was brewing, shadows moving behind the light. He clenched his jaw, vowing to finish the business deal quickly and return to her side.
---
Meanwhile, in the Alpha's estate, darker plans were unfolding.
Suzan stood in front of Ryan's father, Alpha Adrian. Her gown was elegant, her face painted with determination. The man's cold, calculating eyes studied her from behind his desk, where old books and maps of the pack lands spread like secrets.
"You've been waiting for this moment, Suzan," Adrian said, his voice calm but laced with authority. "Ryan is away. Mia is alone. Do you see the opportunity?"
Suzan nodded, though her palms sweated. "Yes, Alpha. I've always loved Ryan. If Mia weren't in the way, he would be mine already."
Adrian's lips curved into a bitter smile. "That girl has poisoned him. She makes him weak. Blind. He needs someone who can understand his world, his bloodline, his duty. Not a human who can barely survive in it."
Suzan swallowed hard. "What… what do you want me to do?"
"Seduce him," Adrian said simply, his eyes narrowing. "Plant doubt in his heart. Make him question Mia's worth. He trusts you as a pack member. Use that trust. Show him you can give him what Mia never will—the strength of a Luna born from his own people."
Suzan's chest tightened. The words were dangerous, tempting, and terrifying all at once. "But… he loves her," she whispered.
Adrian leaned forward, his voice a low growl. "Love is fragile. Temptation is stronger. Get close to him while he is vulnerable. When he returns from this trip, his guard will be lowered. That's when you strike. If Mia crumbles, Ryan will come back to his senses."
Suzan's heart pounded. She had dreamed of Ryan for so long, but hearing the Alpha's plan made her stomach twist. Yet her desire burned stronger than her doubts. She had already rejected her fated mate for Ryan. She could not turn back now.
"I'll do it," she said finally, her voice trembling but resolute. "I'll make him mine."
Adrian's smile was sharp as a knife. "Good. Don't fail me, Suzan. Because if you do… you'll regret it."
As she left the office, Suzan's heels clicked against the marble floor, echoing like the sound of a trap being set. Her heart screamed Ryan's name, but her conscience whispered of the darkness she was stepping into.
And in the city, unaware of the betrayal brewing, Mia worked tirelessly at her desk, believing that love would be enough to protect them.