Chapter 42: Unexpected Perspectives

Amelia's POV

My gaze traveled upward to meet kind eyes and an amused smile. The man looking down at me seemed both unfamiliar and vaguely recognizable at the same time.

"I'm so sorry," I blurted out, mortified. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

His grip on my shoulders loosened, but he didn't immediately let go, as if making sure I was truly steady. "No harm done. You look like you're having quite the morning." He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "First day with Alpha Alexander and already running for the hills? I thought you two were getting along swimmingly."

I stared at him, taken aback. "Pack member? You know who I am?"

"Amelia Throne," he confirmed with a casual nod. "The entire building's been buzzing about Alexander's new executive assistant."

My eyes narrowed. "How do you—" I paused, studying his face more carefully. There was definitely something familiar about him that I couldn't quite place. Dark hair, strong jawline, and kind eyes that seemed to know more than they let on. "Wait, have we met before?"

"We haven't formally met," he said, noticing my confusion. "I'm Delta Jackson. Shadow Kingdom's Delta."

The title clicked things into place. In werewolf hierarchy, the Delta ranked just below Beta, responsible for intelligence and security within the pack.

"You were at the Luna Festival," I realized aloud. "I think I saw you there."

He nodded, his expression warming. "Good memory. I was standing near your brother Nathan. Though you had other things on your mind that night."

"You know Nathan?" I asked, suddenly more interested.

"Know him? We practically ran security drills together every weekend before he was appointed to the border," Jackson said with genuine fondness. "Your brother, Carlos, and I were Alexander's go-to team for anything important. If Alexander had an event or mission that required absolute trust, the three of us were always by his side."

That explained why he looked familiar. Nathan must have mentioned him in his stories about pack duties, maybe even shown me pictures I'd forgotten about.

My cheeks flushed at the reminder of the Luna Festival. "Right. That wasn't exactly my finest moment."

Jackson glanced around the busy hallway, where curious employees were starting to take notice of our conversation. "This isn't the best place to chat. Come with me."

I hesitated for a moment, then followed him down the corridor to a spacious break room. Most of the tables were empty this early in the day. We settled in a quiet corner, but I could still feel curious glances from the few employees getting their morning coffee. Being the new EA to Alexander Westbrook clearly made me an object of interest.

"So," I said, cutting straight to the point, "why would Alexander hire me? We're not exactly on good terms."

Jackson's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Alexander has always held Nathan in high regard. And he knows how much Nathan cares about his family."

"If he respected my brother so much, he wouldn't have punished him by sending him away," I countered, the bitterness creeping into my voice.

To my surprise, Jackson chuckled. "Punishment? Is that what you think it is? Not everyone gets selected for intelligence work, Amelia."

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"The border assignment isn't some exile," Jackson explained, lowering his voice. "It's a position of trust. Alexander needed someone reliable to monitor Richard's movements. Someone smart, capable, and loyal to Shadow Kingdom."

"But—"

"Think about it," he continued. "Richard poses a significant threat. Alexander wouldn't send just anyone to keep tabs on him. He chose Nathan because he trusts him. Because he believes in his abilities. Your brother was part of Alexander's inner circle, alongside Carlos and me. That kind of trust doesn't vanish overnight."

I sat back, processing this new perspective. For months, I'd been convinced Alexander had sent Nathan away as punishment for defending me. But what if there was more to it?

"Alexander also knows about your mother's condition," Jackson said softly. "He wouldn't leave Nathan's family struggling. That's not who he is."

Something shifted inside me, a crack in the wall of resentment I'd built against Alexander. Have I been wrong about him all this time?

Jackson studied my face, seeming to read my thoughts. "Perhaps you should reconsider your opinion of our Alpha. He's more complex than you give him credit for, Amelia."

"I never thought about it that way," I admitted, my world view tilting slightly on its axis.

Before Jackson could respond, my phone buzzed. Seraphina's name flashed on the screen. I answered with a tentative "Hello?"

"Amelia," Seraphina's cold voice sliced through the speaker. "Where the hell are you! Forget your training, huh?"

"I'll be right there," I promised, ending the call. I stood up, giving Jackson an apologetic look. "Duty calls."

He smiled encouragingly. "Good luck. And remember—everyone here is watching you. Some are waiting for you to fail, others hoping you'll succeed. Show them what you're made of."

With a grateful nod, I hurried back to my office, his words echoing in my mind. When I pushed open my door, I froze. A mountain of papers and folders covered my desk, stacked so high they threatened to topple over.

Seraphina stood beside it, her perfect posture and immaculate appearance making me acutely aware of my own disheveled state.

"As Mr. Westbrook's executive assistant, you're expected to process these by end of day," she informed me, not bothering to hide her skepticism. "All of them require his signature, but only after your thorough review."

I stared at the intimidating pile, recognizing this for what it was—a test. Maybe even a trap. Was Alexander trying to prove I couldn't handle this job? Or was this Seraphina's doing?

It doesn't matter, I decided. Either way, I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me fail.

"I'll have them ready," I said firmly, meeting Seraphina's icy gaze.

She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "We'll see." With that, she glided out of my office, closing the door behind her.

I took a deep breath and approached my desk, determined to prove myself. If Alexander wanted to see what I was capable of, I'd show him. And everyone else watching.

Game on, Westbrook.