Chapter 38: A Strategic Acceptance
Amelia's POV
I stared at my phone screen for what felt like the hundredth time, the Westbrook Industries email logo glaring back at me like some kind of twisted joke. The offer letter sat in my inbox since last night, after the most bizarre interview of my life with none other than Alexander Westbrook himself.
Executive Assistant Intern to the CEO. Starting salary: $75,000 annually.
The figure made my head spin. This amount could cover Mom's medical bills and still leave something for savings. But working directly with Alexander? The same man who had forced me to write a blood oath renouncing our mate bond? The same Alpha who had banished my brother to the borders?
"Is this a trap or an actual opportunity?" I whispered to my empty bedroom.
I tossed my phone onto my pillow and paced the small space. Why would he offer me this position after our heated confrontation in his office? It made no sense. The memory of his ice-cold stare still sent shivers down my spine.
My wolf whined softly inside me, confused but intrigued by the prospect of being near our mate daily. I shushed her mentally. He's not ours anymore. Remember the blood oath?
After another minute of internal debate, I grabbed my phone and texted Isabelle:
Need to talk ASAP. Coffee at noon? Campus café?
Her reply came seconds later: Sure. Everything ok?
I'll explain when I see you. It's complicated.
I tucked my phone into my backpack and headed to school, my mind a million miles away from the classes I was supposed to attend.
---
The campus hallways buzzed with activity, but I might as well have been walking through a fog. Professor Martinez greeted me as I passed, but I barely managed a nod in response. In my economics class, I opened my notebook and drew a line down the middle of a blank page.
Accept on one side. Decline on the other.
Under "Accept":
- Money for Mom's treatment
- Financial stability
- Prestigious position
- Potential to help Nathan return?
Under "Decline":
- Working with Alexander daily = emotional torture
- Constant reminder of rejection
- Risk of more Alpha commands
- Cassandra's inevitable hostility
The bell rang before I could add more points. I slammed my notebook shut and headed toward the campus café, my stomach in knots.
---
I arrived fifteen minutes early and claimed the most secluded corner table. The café wasn't too crowded yet, but I didn't want to risk anyone overhearing our conversation. I ordered a black coffee and drummed my fingers nervously on the table.
When Isabelle walked in, her face lit up the room. She practically floated to my table, a new silver bracelet catching the light as she moved.
"Wesley?" I asked, nodding toward the bracelet as she sat down.
Her smile widened. "Yes! Isn't it beautiful? He said it reminded him of moonlight on water."
"It's gorgeous," I said, genuinely happy for her despite the ache in my chest. What would it be like to have someone who cared that much?
Isabelle's expression shifted as she studied my face. "Okay, spill it. Your text sounded urgent. What's wrong?"
I took a deep breath. "Remember my interview at Westbrook Industries?"
"Of course. How did it go?"
"Well, turns out my interviewer was Alexander himself."
Isabelle's eyes widened. "The Head Alpha interviewed you personally? That's... unusual."
"Oh, it gets better," I said, leaning forward. "He tried using an Alpha command on me. Just slipped it into conversation like it was nothing."
"He did what?" Isabelle hissed, her protective instincts flaring.
"Yeah. And when I called him out on it, we basically had a full-blown argument in his office." I ran a hand through my hair. "I thought I'd blown any chance at the job. I practically told the Head Alpha to go fuck himself."
"Amelia!" Isabelle looked both horrified and impressed.
"And then," I continued, pulling out my phone, "I got this last night."
I slid my phone across the table. Isabelle's jaw dropped as she read the email.
"Executive Assistant Intern to the CEO? This salary is..." she looked up, stunned. "This is three times what entry-level positions usually pay!"
"Exactly," I said, taking back my phone. "Why would he offer me this after I basically challenge him to his face? It doesn't make sense."
A slow smile spread across Isabelle's face.
"What?" I asked, suddenly uncomfortable.
"You really don't see it, do you?" She leaned forward. "You should take the job."
I nearly choked on my coffee. "Are you insane? Work directly with that controlling, arrogant Alpha every day?"
Isabelle lowered her voice. "Think about it, Amelia. Alexander is your mate. And what's the First Law of the Pack regarding mates?"
I swallowed hard. "A wolf who rejects their fated mate faces exile or death."
"Exactly. Even the Head Alpha isn't exempt from that law. He can't harm you without risking everything he has."
I frowned. "He already forced me to write a blood oath renouncing our bond. He publicly rejected me."
Isabelle shook her head. "If he truly rejected you, why is he acting so contradictory?"
She began counting on her fingers. "On your eighteenth birthday, when you kissed him, did he push you away immediately?"
"Well, no, but—"
"And at the Luna Festival, he abandoned his marking ceremony with Cassandra to personally take you to the Pack Hospital when you collapsed."
I hadn't thought about it that way before.
"And after the biology scholarship disaster," she continued, "he investigated and punished Daniel and Vanessa. I haven't seen Vanessa on campus for days."
My wolf perked up at this information, but I remained skeptical. "That doesn't mean anything."
"It means everything, Amelia." Isabelle grabbed my hand. "Think about Nathan. If you could repair your relationship with Alexander, maybe he'd allow Nathan to return early from exile."
The possibility made my heart race. God, I missed my brother.
"The stronger his reaction to you, the more conflicted he is inside," Isabelle said softly. "He knows the consequences of rejecting a fated mate."
I sat back, processing her words. Could Alexander's coldness be masking something else? I recalled moments when something flickered in his eyes—something beyond anger.
"Even if you're right," I said finally, "working together would be torture. We can barely be in the same room without arguing."
"Or it could be an opportunity to see the real Alexander, not just the Head Alpha persona." Isabelle smiled. "Plus, the money would solve your family's financial problems, right?"
I nodded reluctantly.
"I suggest you bring a gift on your first day," she added. "A peace offering."
"A gift? For the Alpha who nearly killed me?" I stared at her like she'd grown a second head.
Isabelle's expression turned serious. "The bond between fated mates can't be denied forever, Amelia. No matter how many blood oaths or arguments, souls destined for each other eventually find their way."
Inside me, my wolf whimpered in agreement.
"Give each other a chance," Isabelle urged. "Maybe this job is the universe's way of pushing you together."
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine. I'll do it. For Mom's medical bills. For Nathan."
My mind started racing. "But what gift could I possibly give him? I don't even know what he likes."
"Something meaningful, not necessarily expensive," Isabelle suggested. "Something that shows your sincerity."
A memory flickered in my mind, and I felt the ghost of a smile form on my lips. "I might have an idea..."
The café's clock chimed, reminding us of afternoon classes. As we gathered our things, I felt a strange mix of dread and anticipation. Whatever Alexander's real intentions were, I was about to become a daily fixture in his life—and he in mine.
Maybe Isabelle was right. Maybe this was our chance to start over.