Sophia walked into the pub with a heavy weight pressing down on her shoulders. It was the first Monday after her exams, and she still wasn’t sure whether she’d passed. She felt torn between pride for pushing through and fear that her exhausted brain had betrayed her in the end. Her confidence was shaken, her nerves frayed. And, despite the relief of having the tests behind her, there was one thing she couldn’t ignore.
The wall with the week’s roster.
She stared at it as soon as she walked in. Another week filled with double shifts—every day. Her stomach twisted as she calculated the hours she’d be putting in, her body aching at the thought. She was on the verge of tears, realizing she hadn’t even recovered from the previous week’s schedule.
After taking a shaky breath, she scanned the bar and saw Luke stacking glasses behind the counter. The sight of him added fuel to the frustration simmering in her chest. She wasn’t usually one to make waves, but enough was enough. Her body couldn’t handle this. She deserved to know why he was working her to the bone.
She straightened her shoulders, crossed the room, and stood firmly in front of Luke, clearing her throat. “Luke,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, “we need to talk about the schedule.”
Luke looked up, his expression unreadable as he continued wiping down the glass in his hand. “What about it?”
Sophia gestured to the roster pinned to the wall. “This is the third week in a row of double shifts. My body can’t take this anymore. I need a break. It’s getting impossible to balance work and school.”
For a moment, Luke’s face softened, as though he might actually hear her out, but then his jaw clenched, and he let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, so you’re finally finding things ‘impossible,’ are you?” he sneered. “Maybe you wouldn’t be so drained if you weren’t spending every spare second with him.”
Sophia blinked, thrown off by the sudden hostility in his tone. “What are you talking about?”
Luke’s eyes flashed, and he slammed the glass onto the counter. “Ethan,” he spat. “You think I don’t notice? You’re always running off to him, and the next day, you show up exhausted, half-hearted in everything you do. I’m the one who picks up the slack.”
Her frustration flared. “I’m exhausted because of the double shifts, Luke! Not because of Ethan.”
“Right,” he said bitterly. “You think it’s that simple? You think you can just run off with the Alpha of some werewolf pack and not have it mess with your job here?”
His words cut deep, but confusion mingled with her anger. “Why do you care so much?” she asked, crossing her arms. “What does Ethan have to do with how many shifts I get?”
Luke’s face twisted with something dark and vulnerable. His hands clenched into fists, and for a moment, he looked like he was fighting with himself. Then he let out a frustrated sigh and met her gaze, his eyes flashing with raw emotion.
“Because I care about you, Sophia,” he said, his voice low and intense. “Because I have feelings for you.”
The words hung between them, and for a second, Sophia didn’t know how to respond. She just stood there, stunned, the reality of his confession crashing over her like a tidal wave. She’d never once considered that Luke might see her as anything more than an employee. Sure, he’d always been a bit possessive, but she’d chalked it up to his naturally protective nature.
“Luke,” she started, her voice barely a whisper, “I didn’t know.”
“Well, now you do,” he replied, bitter and angry. “I tried to keep it professional, I really did. But seeing you with him, day after day, it’s driving me insane.”
Sophia swallowed, the weight of his words pressing down on her. “Luke, I… I don’t know what to say. I never meant to hurt you. But… Ethan and I…”
He cut her off, laughing bitterly. “Yeah, I know, you’re ‘mates’ or whatever he calls it. I know what that means in their world. And I know I don’t stand a chance against him. But it doesn’t change how I feel.”
She took a shaky breath, guilt settling heavy in her stomach. She’d never asked for this—never wanted to hurt anyone, least of all Luke. But she couldn’t pretend that Ethan wasn’t a part of her life now, or that the bond between them didn’t feel as natural as breathing.
“Luke,” she said carefully, choosing her words with care, “I can’t change the way things are between me and Ethan. I didn’t expect this to happen either, and I never wanted to hurt you. But the way you’ve been treating me… it’s not fair. I’m still your employee, and I deserve respect.”
For a moment, he looked away, and she saw the hint of vulnerability beneath his anger. “I know,” he admitted quietly, his shoulders slumping. “I know it isn’t fair. But it kills me, Sophia, seeing you with him. Watching you get closer every day.”
Sophia felt her heart break a little at the raw pain in his voice. She reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “Luke, you’re a good man,” she said softly. “And a great boss. But we can’t change what’s happening. I can’t stop what I feel for Ethan, any more than you can stop your feelings for me.”
He looked down at her hand, his jaw clenched, and then let out a shaky breath. “You’re right,” he murmured. “I know you’re right.”
They stood in silence for a moment, and then Luke straightened, taking a step back and pulling himself together. “Fine,” he said, his tone more controlled, though she could still see the pain in his eyes. “I’ll ease up on the schedule. You deserve a break.”
Sophia managed a small, grateful smile. “Thank you, Luke. Really.”
He nodded curtly, not meeting her eyes. “Just… go easy on me, okay?” he muttered, attempting a weak smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ll get over it eventually.”
Her heart ached for him, but she knew there was nothing more she could do. She gave him a brief, grateful nod and turned to start her shift, leaving him behind the counter to process the mess of emotions she’d just uncovered.
As she moved through her work that night, her mind was filled with a mixture of relief and sadness. She’d never expected this confrontation, and she hated knowing that her happiness with Ethan had come at a price. But now, at least, things were out in the open. She just hoped that Luke would find peace in time, and that maybe, someday, they could rebuild the friendship they’d once had.
But for now, she was simply grateful that, for the first time in weeks, she’d have a chance to catch her breath.