(Andrew's POV)

I watched silently as Daisy's figure disappeared beyond the door, but the elusive flutter in my chest refused to dissipate.

"Andrew, she feels... different," my wolf, Pyke, mused, his thoughts laced with curiosity. Yet, he was a bit confused. "But I can't sense the bond of a mate in her."

"Her wolf remains dormant," I replied evenly, withdrawing my gaze from the door. "She's not our mate."

Pyke let out a disappointed sigh. "Still, you were unusually exhilarated yesterday. I've never felt such a surge of emotion from you before. Honestly, most of the time, you're so cold that I almost think you're a robot."

His jab triggered an unwelcome recollection—images of last night flooding my mind unbidden.

Daisy's arresting eyes gazed up at me, hazy with longing, her soft lips parting to release a shy moan that sent a spark of fire straight through me like a dangerous drug.

London teemed with women more beautiful, more seductive than her, yet none elicited the same visceral response.

Was it her eyes? Did they remind me of... her?

"Andrew, what are you staring at?" Lilith's voice yanked me from my thoughts. She waved a hand in front of my face and followed my gaze, her expression morphing into a teasing grin.

"Oh, I see now. Were you staring at Miss Daisy?"

"Don't be absurd," I said, swatting her hand aside as I strode into the office. My gaze landed on Alan's face, and I faltered momentarily.

A glaring red handprint adorned his cheek.

As I recalled the fire in Daisy's expression earlier, a suspicion bloomed in my mind. Feigning nonchalance, I asked, "What happened to your face?"

Alan touched his cheek involuntarily, a flicker of panic flashing in his eyes before quickly subsiding. "It was Miss Daisy," he admitted with a sigh, his tone resigned. "She asked me to help her as a friend. I refused, and she lost her temper."

"That's outrageous!" Lilith exclaimed, stomping her feet in indignation. "I'm going to confront her right now."

She made to storm out, but Alan grabbed her arm gently, his voice soothing. "Let it go, darling. Her father is in serious trouble. She's having a tough time."

Lilith still fumed, but I had run out of patience. I reminded her, "Lilith, my time is valuable."

Finally, as if suddenly recalling the purpose of today's meeting, she softened her expression and clung to my arm, acting cute. "Andrew, Alan and I are getting married soon. You should let him take over that project of yours, don't you think? Look at this—"

She gestured grandly around the office. "Alan has been running his company so well. He even has the proposal ready to go."

I cast a dispassionate glance at Alan. He pulled Lilith back slightly and said in a resigned tone, "Sweetheart, I told you I could handle it myself."

Lilith put her hands on her hips, snorting. "But I want to make things easier for you!"

What little patience I'd had evaporated completely. It was a minor project, after all. If delegating it would placate Lilith, so be it.

I agreed indifferently and left as soon as I could. Once I got into the car, Joey, who was seated in the driver's seat, shot me a reproachful look. "What took you so long?"

Joey was my beta and a childhood companion. Our familiarity lent a certain informality to our interactions.

"Lilith insisted on dragging me over," I said, sighing.

Joey rolled his eyes. "That girl's a fool. Anyone can see Alan's no good. But she's smitten."

I massaged my temples and replied tonelessly, "Women in love are always fools. I opposed it once, but Lilith was so distraught she threatened to jump off a building. Her heart condition can't withstand that kind of stress."

A shadow of doubt stirred in my thoughts again. Lilith claimed to have fallen for Alan after he rescued her from an attempted rape. Yet when I dispatched people to locate the culprits, they found nothing.

Was it really a coincidence?

Plus, if I hadn't looked into Alan before Lilith's engagement, I might never have known about his relationship with Daisy.

"By the way," Joey said suddenly, "have you heard about Martin? Word is, a doctor was behind his death. They just need a bit more evidence to seal the case."

"Joey, you know I have no interest in the people or affairs about my father," I replied flatly.

And yet, unbidden, Daisy's defiant, striking face flashed in my mind, stirring something unnameable within me.

From my investigation, the doctor suspected in Martin's death was Daisy's father. And Alan seemed far from uninvolved.

The despair in Daisy's eyes when I saw her at Alan's office resurfaced vividly in my memory. I couldn't help but frown.

For a fleeting moment, the notion of doing her a favor flared within me.

But it fizzled out just as quickly. I knew all too well that meddling in this affair would only bring headaches.

My relationship with my father had always been tenuous. Should I involve myself, the elders in my father's faction were sure to seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. While I wasn't afraid of conflict, why should I invite chaos for the sake of a woman I barely knew?

Shaking off the complexities of the moment, I tried to shift my attention and asked Joey, "I heard you've organized a hunting event three days from now. I'll join this time."

Joey's jaw dropped to the ground. "You're seriously joining our little event? That's rare."