Chapter 135: Shadows of Possession

Alexander's POV

The city lights blurred into streaks of neon as night settled over the skyline. Two hours had passed since my little wolf walked out of my office, and I hadn't moved from my desk.

My phone vibrated against the polished surface of my desk. Mason.

"Report," I answered, my voice tight with the restraint I'd been exercising since watching her leave.

"She's at Shadow Heights University, sir," his voice was clinical, professional. "She arrived early for her study group. Alpha Daniel was waiting for her in the faculty parking lot."

My grip tightened on the phone. "What are they doing?"

"They appear to be arguing about study arrangements. He attempted to isolate her by sending away the third member of their group—Jason, I believe. Amelia refused."

A small sense of pride flickered through my rage. At least she wasn't making this easy for him.

"They've moved inside the library now," Mason continued. "Daniel is sitting unusually close to her. She keeps creating distance. He appears... frustrated by this."

I rose from my chair, walking to the window. From here, I could see the entire city sprawled before me. Somewhere in that maze of streets and buildings, my mate was being pursued by another Alpha. The thought made my wolf snarl.

"Sir, there's a situation developing," Mason's voice grew more urgent. "Daniel just attempted to send the other student away with a text message. Amelia intercepted it. He's... he's losing control. He just issued an Alpha command in the middle of the library."

The glass of water on my desk shattered in my free hand, shards cutting into my palm. I barely felt it.

"Should we intervene?" Mason asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"Not yet," the word came out as a growl. "Keep watching."

"She's dragging him out of the library now," Mason reported moments later. "She appears to be confronting him about his behavior. They're arguing on the steps."

I paced the length of my office, blood dripping from my palm onto the pristine carpet. Every instinct screamed at me to go there myself, to rip Daniel's hands off what was mine.

"Sir!" Mason's voice sharpened. "He's grabbed her from behind. He's embracing her against her will."

"What?" The word exploded from my chest, my vision momentarily clouding with red.

"She's rigid, clearly uncomfortable. She's telling him to let go."

"If he doesn't release her in the next five seconds, break his fucking arms," I ordered, already reaching for my coat.

"Wait—he's backing off," Mason said quickly. "He's released her. He's offering to drive her home now."

I froze, my hand on the door handle, waiting for Mason's next words with murderous anticipation.

"She's refusing his offer to drive her home. He's backing off, calling her a taxi instead."

The relief I felt was momentary, swallowed by the rage still coursing through my veins.

"She's leaving alone in the taxi now. Do you want us to continue following?"

"Yes." My knuckles had gone white around the phone. "Don't lose her."

I ended the call and stared at the cityscape, at the countless lights dotting the darkness. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to find her, to remind Daniel exactly who Amelia belonged to.

Amelia's POV

The taxi's interior smelled like cheap air freshener. I leaned my head against the cool window, watching the city blur past, trying to process what had just happened.

"If I could, I wish you were my mate."

Daniel's words echoed in my head, making my stomach twist. The word 'mate' from his lips felt wrong, invasive even. Alexander had only recently given me permission to call him my mate in private, making it something intimate and sacred between us.

I closed my eyes, unable to shake the memory of Daniel's arms around me. On the surface, it looked like a friendly hug—that's what he claimed, at least. But I felt the possessiveness in his embrace, the way his scent tried to mark me.

What was I doing? Daniel was my ex. The guy who cheated on me with my best friend. The guy who tried to kill me when I discovered what he really was. And now, what—we were project partners? Friends?

No. I couldn't afford to be naïve about this. Whatever game Daniel was playing, I wouldn't be a part of it. My feelings for Alexander were real and consuming. The thought of him made my heart race in a way Daniel never could, even before I knew what we truly were to each other.

As the taxi pulled up to my apartment building, I checked my phone out of habit. No messages from Alexander. I wondered if he was still working, or if he was thinking about me too.

---

The next day, I barely had time to chat with Isabelle and Wesley before heading to the library. Our group project deadline was approaching, and despite my misgivings, I couldn't avoid working with Daniel and Jason.

"Amelia!" Jason waved from our usual table, surrounded by books and his laptop. Daniel sat beside him, his eyes finding mine immediately.

I took the seat across from them, not beside Daniel as I might have before. "Sorry I'm late. The bus was delayed."

"No problem," Daniel said, his smile too warm, too familiar. "We just got started."

Throughout the session, I kept my contributions strictly academic, avoiding eye contact with Daniel when possible. I noticed how he tried to create opportunities for our hands to brush when passing notes or books, how he leaned slightly closer than necessary when explaining a concept.

I shifted away each time, maintaining the invisible barrier between us. Daniel noticed—I could tell by the slight furrow in his brow—but he didn't call me out on it.

On the bus to Westbrook Industries later that afternoon, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

You still haven't completely let him go, have you?

My blood ran cold. The same anonymous texter. I glanced around the bus, suddenly paranoid. Had Alexander assigned someone to follow me again? Had they seen Daniel hug me yesterday?

The atmosphere at Westbrook Industries hit me the moment I stepped in the company's gate. Employees hurried past with their heads down, conversations were hushed, and the air reeked of anxiety and fear.

"What's going on?" I asked Rebecca as I passed the front desk.

She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "The boss fired two people this morning. No warning, no explanation."

"Why?"

Rebecca shrugged, her eyes darting nervously toward Alexander's office. "No one knows. But he seems to be in a mood this morning. Better stay clear if you can."

My stomach dropped. Yesterday afternoon—right around when I left to meet Daniel. Was this because of me?

"Thanks for the warning," I murmured, heading to the break room.

If Alexander was in a mood because of me, the least I could do was bring him coffee the way he liked it. A peace offering of sorts, though I wasn't sure what exactly I was apologizing for.

When I reached Alexander's office, I knocked twice but received no response. After a moment's hesitation, I eased the door open.

Alexander stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to me, a thin trail of smoke rising from the cigarette between his fingers. He rarely smoked, only when particularly stressed or angry.

I set the coffee cup on his desk and paused, taking in the sight of him. Even from behind, Alexander was imposing—broad shoulders stretching his tailored suit, his stance wide and powerful. He radiated a dark energy that made the air heavy around him.

My wolf stirred beneath my skin, responding to his presence despite his apparent anger. I moved closer, stopping a few feet behind him.

"A... Alex?" I said softly, the intimate version of his name slipping out before I could stop it.