----

The silence in the room was dense, nearly suffocating.

Aria Lane’s hand hovered in the air, waiting for her new boss to shake it. But Kael Blackthorn just stared at her. No words. No movement. Just those eyes—sharp, golden, unreadable.

Her heart thudded awkwardly in her chest.

Well, this is off to a weird start.

“Um…” she began, lowering her hand slowly. “I’m Aria. I was told to come up for final approval.”

Still nothing. Kael stood there like a statue, his jaw tense, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that bordered on unsettling.

She glanced behind her, half-expecting someone to whisper “Just kidding! You’ve been pranked!” But the room remained silent. Large, clean, cold—just like the man in front of her.

Aria cleared her throat and smoothed the front of her blouse. “Mr. Blackthorn?”

That did it. He blinked, finally. Once. Slowly.

“Sit,” he said. His voice was deep, like thunder muffled behind stone. It sent a ripple down her spine, though she couldn’t say why.

“O-kay,” she muttered, moving to the leather chair across from his massive desk. She sat, careful to keep her posture straight, and crossed her ankles like she had rehearsed for countless job interviews.

Kael sat too, but not before giving her one more piercing look. Aria couldn’t help but glance down at the résumé folder in her lap, even though she already knew every word on the page.

“This won’t take long,” he said, voice crisp now, like he'd locked something away. “You’ve passed the background checks. HR says you’re punctual and organized. You type at 104 words per minute.”

“Hundred and six on a good day,” she said automatically, before mentally kicking herself. Why did I say that? Humor was her defense mechanism—and apparently, she deployed it even when she was nervous.

His lip twitched.

Barely.

Almost like the ghost of a smirk tried to form but failed midway.

“You’re here early,” he observed, tapping his pen against the desk.

“I figured being early was better than late.” She smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m sure you’re not a fan of wasted time.”

“I’m not.”

Figures.

Kael leaned back, steepling his fingers. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were still on her like a predator watching prey it hadn’t decided what to do with yet.

Aria forced herself not to squirm. “If you’d like, I can take the stack of reports from your assistant’s desk and get started—”

“No.” The word cut through the air like a blade.

She blinked. “I… sorry?”

Kael stood suddenly and turned toward the wide window behind him. “You’ll begin tomorrow. Today, I needed to meet you. To see you.”

To see me? Aria tilted her head. “Okay... Is there a reason?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, his voice dropped just slightly. “Tell me, Miss Lane. Do you believe in fate?”

She paused. Where did that come from?

“I… I guess I’ve never really thought about it,” she said carefully. “I mean, maybe everything happens for a reason, but I believe we choose how we respond.”

“Hm.”

That sound again. Like he was testing her words. Like he was... measuring her.

“Did someone recommend me for this job?” she asked, her curiosity finally overpowering her hesitation. “Because I wasn’t expecting a callback, to be honest. The competition for your company is brutal.”

Kael turned halfway toward her, his expression unreadable. “I didn’t choose you.”

Her heart sank. “Oh.”

“I mean I didn’t select you personally,” he clarified. “But I approve every hire that comes within ten feet of my office.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Right,” she said quickly. “Of course.”

Then, unexpectedly, Kael’s head tilted just slightly, as if he was listening to something she couldn’t hear.

He stepped toward her.

Each movement was fluid, quiet, yet incredibly intimidating.

Aria’s fingers tightened around her folder. She told herself not to back away. That he was just a man. A CEO. A powerful one, yes, but still human.

But there was something else.

Something in the air.

Kael stopped in front of her, less than a foot away. He leaned in slightly, inhaling. Not dramatically. Not audibly. Just a subtle intake of breath. But she felt it.

Felt it like heat on her skin.

“What perfume is that?” he asked, eyes boring into hers.

“I’m not wearing any.” Her voice came out too soft, too confused.

Another pause.

He nodded once and stepped away, reclaiming the space behind his desk. “You’ll report directly to me. Your hours begin at seven sharp. Don’t be late.”

“Understood.”

He picked up a file and handed it to her. “Take this to your desk. Review the last three quarterly reports. We’ll discuss your responsibilities in the morning.”

Aria stood, taking the file. “Got it.”

Her heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she walked to the door, hyper-aware of the man behind her. She didn’t understand what had just happened, but one thing was clear:

Kael Blackthorn was not normal.

And if she had any sense, she’d keep her head down and do her job.

But something—something primal—told her she was already tangled in something far bigger than herself.

---

Downstairs – Blackthorn Enterprises HQ Lobby

The moment Aria was out of his office, Kael let out a shaky breath.

The wolf inside him was pacing, tail twitching, claws dragging against the inside of his chest.

Mate.

The scent was unmistakable. The bond, though faint, was there—coiled like a golden thread trying to stitch itself into his soul.

He’d spent the last two years believing the Moon Goddess had turned her back on him. That he would never feel the mate bond again. That his punishment was eternal coldness.

And now...

Now, she had the audacity to give him a second chance?

A human.

A fragile, clueless human who didn’t even know what he was.

It was unheard of. Dangerous. Forbidden, even. The last Alpha who took a human mate had been cast out. And that had been decades ago.

Kael slammed a hand against the desk.

He couldn’t go through this again. He wouldn’t.

But even as he cursed the heavens, his body betrayed him.

He could still smell her. Feel her energy, warm and soft, like sunlight on skin. His wolf had already accepted her.

It didn’t matter that she was human. It didn’t care.

She was his.

---

Later That Night – Aria’s Apartment

Aria lay on her bed, still fully dressed, staring at the ceiling fan.

“What the hell was that?” she muttered aloud.

Her first day hadn’t even officially started, and already she was reeling. She’d expected a strict boss, but Kael Blackthorn was something else entirely.

Cold, yes. Unreadable, definitely.

But there was something animalistic about him. Not violent or crude, just… intense. Watching him felt like being seen too deeply. As if her soul had been weighed and filed away in some mental vault he kept just for people who got too close.

She didn’t scare easily. She’d been through rough jobs, toxic relationships, and more disappointments than she could count.

But Kael?

He unsettled her in ways she didn’t have names for.

---

Kael’s Penthouse – Midnight

Kael stood alone in the dark, glass of scotch in hand, staring at the moon.

“You said you’d only give one mate,” he whispered to the sky. “Why her? Why now?”

The Moon didn’t answer.

But the wolf inside him growled low in his chest, a sound of longing and hunger.

And for the first time in years, Kael Blackthorn felt fear.

Because no matter how cold he tried to be…

No matter how hard he’d trained himself not to feel...

He wanted her.

And the worst part?

He hadn’t even seen her smile yet.

---