Chapter 188

Chapter 188
[Amelia's POV]

I continued flipping through Alex's files, completely absorbed in the creative evolution of Silver Moon Pack. Each project told a story not just of business growth, but of artistic vision becoming reality. My fingers traced the edges of hand-drawn storyboards, marveling at how these rough sketches had transformed into films that reached millions of people.

The detail was incredible. Alex's handwriting filled the margins - notes about character motivation, lighting suggestions, even small doodles that somehow captured the essence of a scene better than words could. I could smell the faint trace of his Alpha scent lingering on some of the older papers, a reminder of late nights spent perfecting every detail.

I reached for another folder, this one slightly thicker than the others. As I opened it, a loose sheet of paper fluttered out, landing face-up on my lap. The header caught my attention immediately: "Potential Talent Acquisitions - Active Consideration List."

My heart stopped.

It was a table with columns for Name, Age, Educational Background, Blood Status, and Notes. But it was the third entry that made my hands start trembling:

Amelia Brown - 23 - Dramatic Arts Academy Graduate - Omega Level - Pending Confirmation

I stared at the paper, reading my own name over and over again. The date at the top was from six months ago - long before I'd ever met Alex, long before our night together.

He knew. He knew who I was before we ever met.

My breathing became shallow as I scanned the other names on the list. Most had different blood status markers - Beta, Delta, even a few marked as "Human - Approved." But my entry stood out, not just because it was me, but because of that notation: "Pending Confirmation."

What did that mean? What needed to be confirmed?

The paper felt like it was burning in my hands. Without thinking, I quickly folded it and slipped it into the pocket of Alex's T-shirt that I was still wearing. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure it would wake him.

Why am I hiding this? Why don't I just ask him about it?

But even as the questions formed in my mind, I knew why. Some instinct, some deep-seated fear, was telling me that this changed everything. Had our meeting been planned? Had everything between us been orchestrated?

I forced myself to take slow, quiet breaths and keep looking through the other files, but the words swam before my eyes. All I could think about was that list, that clinical assessment of my value to the Pack.

Omega Level - Pending Confirmation.

"Mmm..." Alex stirred beneath me, his arms tightening around my waist. "Still going through my treasures?"

I quickly closed the folder I'd been pretending to read. "Haven't finished yet," I managed to say, hoping my voice sounded normal.

Alex's eyes opened slowly, that warm amber gaze focusing on me with sleepy contentment. "Haven't bored you to death with my old work yet?"

"Trust me, these will never bore me," I said, and at least that part was completely true. Though now they fascinated me for entirely different reasons.

He stretched slightly, never loosening his hold on me. "Thanks for letting me use your lap as a pillow. That was the best sleep I've had in..." He paused, seeming to search for the right words. "I could stay here forever."

His amber eyes flickered with that golden light I'd come to recognize, the satisfied glow of his Alpha nature when he was content. The sight should have warmed me, but now it just made me more aware of the paper burning a hole in my pocket.

"You looked like you needed the rest," I said softly, running my fingers through his hair one more time.

Alex smiled and sat up, rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks from sleeping on the couch. "I've been pushing too hard lately. Having you here..." He reached out to touch my cheek. "It changes everything."

The gentle words felt like a knife in my chest. But did you plan for it to change everything? Was this always the endgame?

"Are you okay?" Alex's brow furrowed slightly. "You seem... distant."

I forced a smile. "Just processing everything. Your work is incredible, Alex. The scope of what you've built..."

"We've built," he corrected automatically. "Silver Moon is a Pack effort."

"Speaking of which," Alex said, glancing at the window where the light was beginning to fade, "we should probably get some dinner. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak much. The paper in my pocket felt heavier with every second.

"Unless you'd rather stay in and order something?" Alex continued, studying my face with those too-perceptive eyes.

"No, going out sounds good," I said quickly. Maybe being in public would help me get my head straight. Maybe I could figure out how to bring this up without sounding accusatory. Maybe I was overthinking everything.

"Great." Alex stood and offered me his hand. "I should probably change out of this wrinkled shirt anyway."

As he pulled me up from the couch, I felt the paper crinkle slightly in my pocket. The sound seemed impossibly loud in the quiet apartment.

"Where should we go?" I asked as we headed toward his bedroom. "I mean, do we still need to be... careful? About being seen together?"

Alex paused in the hallway, turning to look at me with surprise. "Careful?"

"You know. Everything we talked about before..."

Understanding dawned in his eyes. "Amelia, after everything that's happened between us, after what we've shared... You're my mate. The Pack knows that. There's no hiding it anymore."

Your mate. Or your carefully selected acquisition?

"Right," I said weakly. "I just wanted to make sure."

Alex stepped closer, his hand coming up to cup my face. "Hey. What's really going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

For a moment, I almost told him. Almost pulled out the paper and demanded answers. But something held me back - fear, maybe, or the desperate hope that there was an innocent explanation I hadn't thought of.

"I'm fine," I lied. "Just hungry. You pick the place."

Alex studied my face for another long moment, but then nodded. "I know a good spot. You okay with Asian food?"

"Sounds perfect."

But as Alex disappeared into his walk-in closet to change, I stood in his bedroom with my hand pressed against my pocket, wondering if anything about my life was actually perfect anymore.

Twenty minutes later, we were in Alex's car, driving through the city as evening settled around us. Alex had changed into dark jeans and a gray button-down that somehow made his eyes look even more golden. He kept glancing over at me, clearly sensing my mood but not pushing.

The paper was still in my pocket. I'd managed to transfer it when I borrowed a cardigan from the spare clothes Alex had bought for me to keep at his place. Each time the car turned, I could feel it shift against my ribs.

"Here we are," Alex said, pulling up to what looked like an unmarked door between two shops. "I hope you don't mind somewhere... intimate."

The word 'intimate' sent a shiver through me. In my current state of mind, everything felt loaded with double meaning.

Alex led me through the unmarked door and up a narrow staircase. At the top, a hostess greeted him by name - clearly he was a regular here. She led us through a dimly lit hallway to a small dining room that contained exactly one table, set for two with flickering candles.

"Wow," I breathed, momentarily distracted from my anxiety. "This is..."

"Private," Alex finished, pulling out my chair. "I thought you might appreciate somewhere we could talk without worrying about being overheard."

As I sat down, his Alpha scent seemed to intensify in the enclosed space. Usually, that would have been comforting, arousing even. Tonight, it felt overwhelming.

"I think private dinner dates like this aren't bad," I said, trying to inject some lightness into my voice. "Very... quiet... and intimate."

Alex smiled as he took his seat across from me. "I'm glad you like it. I wanted tonight to be special."

"Alex," I started, then stopped. The words felt impossible to form.

"What is it?" His eyes were warm, concerned. Patient.

I took a deep breath. "I've been thinking about... us. About how we have to keep things secret, and what that means for..."

"Secret?" Alex interrupted gently. "Amelia, we're not keeping things secret anymore. I thought we'd moved past that."

"I know, I know. I just mean... if we could act more like... a normal couple. You know?"

Alex leaned forward slightly. "What would that look like to you?"

It would look like honesty. It would look like you telling me that you knew who I was before we met.

"I don't know," I said instead. "Maybe we should appear in public more often? Let people see us together?"

Alex's expression shifted, becoming more thoughtful. "Is that what you want? More public appearances?"