Chapter 7 Chapter seven
Stetson stood at the glass wall, his hands against it, like he wanted to break through. She was here. His eyes followed her until she disappeared into the building, the faint scent of her lingering in the air even through the glass, despite the distance.
“Mate” Asher growled again, his voice low and impatient in the back of Stetson’s mind. The wolf was restless, prowling, pressing against the edge of his control. They’ve both been searching for a mate for so long, finding one now means needing a hell load of self-control.
“She’s late” Stetson muttered under his breath, though the smirk tugging at his lips was more for himself than anyone else. He didn’t like the way his wolf reacted to her—wild, hungry, as if she were the only thing in the world worth chasing.
Last night, she had been a mess—drunk, flushed, reckless. Vulnerable. He had taken her home, telling himself it was responsibility, nothing more. Getting her home safely, making sure no one took advantage, though the truth burned sharper: there was something about the way she laughed, even drunk and fragile, that tugged at something in his chest that he thought was long dead and wanted to forget. But Asher hadn’t stopped pacing inside him since.
“You should go to her. She belongs to us, you claimed her”
He hoped she’d remember his effort yesterday. He remembered the note and flower he left her as a warm gesture, the hangover medicine was to help with the headache and nausea. Maybe something small as that can create an opening in her heart.
“She doesn’t know” Stetson muttered, though his chest ached at the truth of it. He had taken what fate thrown at him without hesitation, but she was a human—fragile and unaware of the bond tying them together. To her it was just a drunken mistake.
Part of him was hurt she’d think that way. She didn’t belong in his world but still he wasn’t willing to let her go. He hoped she’d be with him, he wanted her to smile, laugh and cry in his arms.
“Doesn’t matter. Her body knows. Her soul knows. She’ll come back to us”
Stetson’s lips curved into a humorless smirk as he walked towards the door at the sound of a knock. “Or she’ll run away again”.
“Then we’ll chase her, we’re good at hunting”
The door opened for him to see his assistant, ready to do today’s briefing. Stetson gestured the man to skip the greetings and go straight to the point. It was the usual everyday routine but this time he’d have his mate tag along. He could almost smell her.
“That concludes today’s briefing”, his assistant looked up from his clipboard and pulled out a letter behind it, setting it on the desk. “This also came for you Sir”. Stetson’s eyes narrowed at the envelop as he dismissed his assistant immediately.
He already knew who it was from, envelopes like that came every month, with a moon symbol sealing its content. He picked it up and like all others, he disposed it immediately, not bothering to check.
He turned towards the glass wall when his office door opened.
“Mate” Asher growled
He exactly knew who it was as the smell of grapes and lavender filled his nose, she smelt so good. He tightened his fists, maintaining self-control despite Asher’s rampage. Zarlia Shaw was here. He suddenly became nervous, what if she runs away? What if she gets scared?
“I brought your coffee Sir”, her voice was like music to his ears, right before he turned around to meet her wide eyes. She looked like she’d been spooked by a ghost.
“Morning Darling”
Zarlia froze, the tray in her hands trembling slightly as recognition hit her like a blow. The stranger from that night she made a mistake—the same man who followed her—the man who left a tulip on her table—the man whose touch still haunted her dreams—was now standing right in front of her. Here. In the day light. Flesh and blood.
Her lips parted but no words came out. She could only stare, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. She tried to convince herself that it was her mind playing ticks on her. but the sharpness of his features, depth of his gaze—there was no mistaking him.
“You…” the words slipped out before she could stop it. And so did the tray, crashing to the ground but neither of them paid any attention to it.
Stetson’s smirk deepened, though his chest tightened at the way she looked at him—half fear, half wonder. “Me”, he confirmed, his voice low, velvet smooth yet carrying an edge.
“She remembers”, Asher growled, satisfaction rumbling through him.
She immediately looked over at the desk to see his name boldly written as the CEO. Her steps faltered, “T…this can’t be real”, she whispered, more to herself than him.
Stetson stepped forward, slow and deliberate, closing the space between them until her back brushed the edge of his desk. He lowered his head just enough so his eyes caught hers, pinning her in place.
“Did you see the flower I left you? Hope you’re not having a bad headache”, he muttered, his voice brushing against her like a caress. “Are you okay darling?”
Her breath hitched, her body betraying her denial. She wanted to look away, but his presence was magnetic, suffocating. Her mind screamed to run, yet her legs refused to move.
“Why…why are you here?” she forced out, though her voice cracked.
Stetson tilted his head, his smirk turned into a hearty chuckle. “I own his place”. She took in a sharp breath and she immediately pushed him away from her. She caught him off guard, making him stumble back a bit.
“Look, lets put whatever happened at the club behind us. I really need money right now” she sighed, “Let’s just maintain a friendly work relationship”.
Stetson’s initial plan was to make her realize that she was already his and his alone but since his darling wants to take it slow, it was fine by him.