THE ALPHA WHO ONCE LOVED ME

Lucian's POV

The scent hit me before she even entered the restauraunt - soft, familiar, maddening.

Vanilla and rain.

Tessa Morgan.

I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. I'd spent the entire night trying to forget the sound of her laugh, the way her eyes softened when she smiled at me. The way my wolf stirred every damn time she was near.

My control was a thread stretched thin, and one wrong move, one wrong word, I'd snap.

"Alpha Lucian," Damon's voice broke through my thoughts. He stepped into my office, closing the door behind him. "You called?"

I nodded, turning toward the window. "Something's... wrong," I muttered.

"Wrong how?"

"My control," I said quietly. "She's throwing it off."

Damon arched a brow. "The human PA?"

A low growl escaped me before I could stop it. "Don't call her that."

His smirk faded. "Then what should I call her?"

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Tessa." Her name came out like a confession. "She was before all this, she was mine."

Damon's expression softened. "You mean that Tessa? The one from before you shifted?"

I gave a single, sharp nod. "Yes. And now she's here again. Working for me. Looking at me like I'm a stranger."

He was silent for a moment, then said carefully, "Maybe it's not a coincidence, Lucian. Maybe the Moon Goddess-"

"No." My voice cut through the air, harsh and final. "She's human. It's not possible."

"Are you sure?" Damon's gaze was steady. "Because the way your wolf's acting says otherwise."

I turned back toward the window. My reflection stared back; cold eyes, clenched jaw, the ghost of a boy who once believed he could love freely.

"She's human," I repeated, quieter this time. "And humans break."

Damon sighed, crossing his arms. "Then you'd better find a way to control yourself, Alpha. Because if she really is your mate-denying her might destroy you faster than claiming her."

The words lingered long after he left.

And for the first time in years, I wasn't sure which would destroy me more. Staying away from her... or giving in.

Tessa's POV

I heard something outside.

At first, I thought it was just my car being returned.

But then it stopped.

The night was unnervingly quiet. No crickets. No wind. Just... stillness.

Curiosity got the better of me. I grabbed my cardigan and stepped onto the porch. The air was cool, laced with the faint scent of rain and pine. I glanced around, only to see nothing but the familiar outline of the driveway.

No one was there.

Still, I could feel that prickle at the back of my neck, like I was being watched.

Something shifted in the woods. The bushes moved once, twice deliberately.

I swallowed, trying to convince myself it was just the wind, or maybe a deer. But the moment I turned to go back inside, the door refused to budge. It had jammed.

Panic tightened in my chest.

And then I saw them.

A faint glimmer between the trees - eyes. Not one. Not two. Dozens.

All glowing, low and golden in the dark, like predators lurking just beyond the line of shadow.

My brain screamed run.

Run inside, lock the doors, call someone.

But my body stayed frozen, caught between disbelief and fear, until, one by one, the eyes blinked out of sight.

For a long time, I stood there, the silence pressing in, heartbeat loud in my ears. All this time, I thought I had been seeing things... but I wasn't.

I made up my mind. Tomorrow, I was going to ask Eli about the eyes.

Then I locked the door twice - and went to bed.

Tomorrow was my second first day at work.

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I hadn't slept at all. My head was pounding, my mind replaying last night - those eyes, that silence, the feeling of being watched. But today wasn't the day to fall apart. Today I had to look.... normal.

I stood in front of the mirror, pulling on a plain white blouse and dark slacks. My hair stayed in a loose bun. No excessive make-up, a gentle spray of perfume. The goal was simple: blend in, disappear.

I got to the office 30 minutes early. Didn't want to upset the cold boss today. Whispers followed me as I walked in, fake smiles masking judgement. So much for blending in.

When I reached his floor, I nearly turned my back, but when his eyes lifted to mine, something in his gaze snapped. For a moment, I didn't breathe, neither did he.

He looked at me from head to toe, as if he was checking me out. He didn't hide it, he just stared.

"Miss Morgan," he finally said.

"Sir," I said quietly, refusing to meet his eyes. Silence stretched between us, thick and awkward.

Then, just as the elevator chimed, he said, "You'll be moving offices today."

"Moving?"

He nodded once, leading me out when the doors opened. His stride was confident - the kind that dared you to keep up. I followed, heels clicking softly against the marble.

"To where exactly?"

"Closer to mine."

I stumbled a step. "Why?"

He glanced over his shoulder, a hint of amusement in his tone. "It's easier for me that way."

That was all he said, but the words lingered easier for what, exactly? Easier to see him? Easier to call my name or look into my eyes? I don't know how I'm supposed to concentrate like that.

He stopped by a smaller glass-walled office beside his and gestured toward it. "You'll work here from now on."

It was neat, modern, and far too close to his. I could practically see straight into his space.

"Right." I forced a smile. "Because nothing says professional boundaries like shared walls."

The corner of his mouth curved just slightly. "Don't worry, Miss Morgan. I don't bite."

"Good to know." I replied sarcastically.

He stepped closer, close enough that his shadow brushed mine as he adjusted something on the desk. His scent hit me again, stronger this time.

"You cut your hair," he said suddenly.

I blinked. "What?"

He looked up, catching my gaze before I could look away. "It's shorter than it used to be."

Something flickered in his eyes - warmth, familiarity.

"How would you know?" I asked, confused.

He froze for a heartbeat, then turned away. "Company records," he said too quickly, straightening the papers on the desk. "Old ID photos."

"Oh." I nodded slowly, though something about the answer didn't feel right.

He cleared his throat. "You'll start with the shipment reports. I'll send you the files shortly."

And just like that, the warmth in his voice was gone.

But as he brushed past me to leave, his arm grazed mine - deliberate or not, I couldn't tell and my breath caught. This man was driving me crazy and, unsurprisingly...... I loved it.

He paused at the door, his tone lower this time. "Welcome to your new office, Miss Morgan."

And then he was gone.

I spent the entire day working. At least I finally had a productive day at work. It was past my closing hour, but I didn't want to go back to that cottage.....at least not yet.

By the time I finally sat down to relax, I was a mess of nerves, so I did what any sane woman would do - I called Eli.

He picked up on the first ring.

"You sound breathless," he said. "Please tell me it's because of stairs and not your boss again."

"I'm at work, Eli," I whispered. "And no, I didn't run up the stairs. I'm just-"

"Flustered by Mr. Tall, handsome, hot - ?"

I groaned. "Don't start."

He laughed softly. "Girl, I've seen the man. If I worked under him, I'd literally quit HR for harassment prevention."

"This isn't funny. He.....he moved me to a new office right next to his."

"Of course he did. Men like that always want proximity to their favorite distraction."

I sighed. "It's not that. Something's off. Last night, I saw eyes in the woods again. Dozens. I thought I was imagining things, but-Eli, it felt real. Like I was being watched."

That wiped the humor off his tone instantly. "Tessa... what kind of eyes?"

"Golden. Or silver. I couldn't tell."

There was silence on the line for a beat. Then, carefully, "You need to be careful. And maybe... keep your distance from your boss."

I frowned. "Why are you saying it like that?"

He hesitated, then forced a laugh. "Just my instincts. They're rarely wrong, honey."

"Eli-"

"Promise me you'll call if anything weird happens again. Promise."

"I promise," I said softly.

But even as I hung up, my gaze drifted through the glass wall - and straight into Lucian's eyes.

He was already looking at me, expression unreadable.

For a second, it felt like the world went still.

And something deep inside me whispered - he's not just your boss.