ARABELLA

“What are you doing here?” I turned at the sound of the voice. It was the same girl who seemed to be frustrated with me in that room.

Without letting me speak she grabbed my wrist roughly and dragged me with her.

Within moments, I was pushed back into the room. I stared at her, baffled.

“You were told not to leave the room,” she snapped. “But you still went roaming around. What were you doing there? Speak.”

I lowered my gaze, unable to answer. She acted like she had some kind of authority over me. And there was something else in her eyes.

“That girl…” I murmured, unsure how she’d react. “In that room... who was she? What happened to her?”

“That’s none of your business,” she said sharply. “You’re here because the boss brought you. That makes you his responsibility. Eat. Rest. But don’t even think about sticking your nose into his business.”

She stepped closer, her tone sharper this time.

“I’ll send your lunch. But remember, don’t leave this room again.”

Without waiting for a response, she slammed the door behind her and walked out. I felt like she had a personal grudge against me. But this was the first time I’d ever seen her.

My thoughts returned to the scene I’d just witnessed. The girl in that room was severely wounded. She was clutching a knife in one of her bloodied hands. Alex’s cheek had been bleeding. Showpieces were scattered all over the floor, furniture overturned. And Sebastian was standing near her, talking angrily.

Who was that girl? Were they keeping her against her will? Who had hurt her? Or Alex?

I was feeling very uncomfortable to be around these people. They looked like ordinary humans, but something was off. If they were like me, wouldn’t I have sensed it? Even without my wolf?

Betty.

As soon as her name surfaced in my mind, my throat tightened. I felt my eyes burn remembering how I was abandoned by my wolf. No. Not now. I had to figure this out on my own.

Sebastian. The girl had called him boss.

No wonder. His presence alone radiated authority.

I don't know how much time passed when a sudden knock jolted me. I jumped quickly and opened the door.

A middle aged woman entered the room. “Here's your lunch,” she said, offering a smile.

“ I’m Arabella,” I said, hoping to start a conversation.

“ Susan,” she replied warmly. “And the girl who came before me… her name’s Judy.”

I nodded. “By the way… I heard a girl screaming earlier. Is everything okay?” I tried to sound casual.

But Susan’s smile faded listening to me.

“ Finish your food. Boss will talk to you soon. I’ll come get you.” With the words, she turned and left.

Shit! I messed up again. But what she said? Sebastian wanted to talk. I’d be asking him directly, then.

I was about to sit down when my eyes fell on the table. Susan must have forgotten her phone. Without thinking much I snatched it up with trembling hands. Thankfully It wasn’t locked.

For someone this rich, there had to be something online about Sebastian. Within a few minutes his face popped up instantly on the screen and my fingers froze.

CEO of T & S Corporation Ltd.

I blinked. So he wasn’t just some random rich guy but a freaking billionaire! I scrolled further, but there was almost no personal information. Nor even his surname. Just that he owned one of the fastest growing companies in the world.

Suddenly I heard footsteps outside. Panicking, I moved to put the phone back just as Susan entered the room. “Oh! I was coming to give this to you,” I said, forcing an awkward smile.

She looked at me shortly, took the phone, and left without a word. Phew! That was close.

******************

Hearing a loud bang I hurried to the door while brushing sleep from my eyes. “Sorry, I must’ve dozed off,”

“Boss wants to see you. Come with me.” Susan said in a soft but urgent voice.

After freshening up quickly, I followed her and stopped near a massive mahogany door.

“Sir’s inside. You’ll need to knock. Wait for him to let you in.” And without another word, Susan walked away.

I hesitated for a moment but finally knocked. A few seconds passed before the voice came from inside, “Come in.”

I slowly pushed the door open. Sebastian was sitting behind a large oak desk and going through some documents. His eyes didn’t lift.

“Take a seat.”

I sat into the leather chair across from him. My confidence was suddenly slipping away in his presence. Finally, he closed the folder and looked up.

“You must have a lot of questions, Arabella.” His voice was calm, almost patient. “But I’m curious, how many will you actually ask?”

I gulped and opened my mouth. “I…”

Then it hit me.

“How do you know my name?” Surely I hadn’t told him.

For a second, Something flashed in his eyes and his jaw clenched. But it was gone just as fast.

“Susan told me.” Leaning back slightly, he calmly replied.

“What were you doing on a deserted road at midnight?” his tone changed into a sharp one.

I swallowed hard. What should I say?

“I just didn’t feel like living with my family. So I left.”

I couldn’t tell him the truth, of course. Did he even know a species like mine existed? Would he believe me if I told him who I was?

“I see.” He relaxed, steepling his fingers in front of him.

“But you know what, Arabella?” He leaned in suddenly, making me startle.

“People don’t just leave home in the middle of the night because they don’t like it. Especially not girls who need to be saved.” His voice dropped dangerously low, hot breath fanning over my face.

“ What are you hiding Bella?” He asked as his gray, intense eyes locked onto mine.

My spine stiffened.

“I… I am not hiding anything,” I whispered, maybe a little too quickly.

A faint smirk curved one corner of his mouth as he went back to his seat again, “ Is that so?”

Sebastian stared at me for a few seconds longer, as if he could see straight through me. Then his phone rang. He picked it up, and as he listened, his expression darkened instantly.

He cut the call and stood up. “Go back to your room. Now.”

I blinked, surprised at the sudden shift.

“Arabella, Go.” His voice was firmer this time.

I didn’t argue. Without another word, I stepped out of the room.

But curiosity burned through my veins. As I walked through the hallway, I saw Sebastian coming out of the room seconds later, walking fast. Before he could get far, Alex stopped him.

“It’s the third time, Seb,” Alex said in a tense voice.

Sebastian didn’t respond. He just looked at Alex, then moved to step around him.

But he froze when Alex said the next words.

“He called me.”

Sebastian stopped in his tracks, turning back with a raised brow, waiting.

“He was telling you to go back... with Amy,” Alex said, gulping.

What was going on? What were they talking about? Their expressions were tense, especially Alex’s.

I looked around and hid behind a large bar, my heart pounding so fast. Luckily they didn't see me. I quickly looked around to make sure nobody was around. It was too risky but I had to know what they were up to.

There was a long silence before Sebastian spoke again. “Tell me, Alex, what did you do about our security?” He asked in his baritone voice.

“What? What are you talking about?” Alex sounded genuinely confused.

“There’s a spy in our mansion, roaming here and there,” Sebastian said.

“A spy? Here?” Alex looked at him with disbelief.

Another few seconds passed in silence, and then I heard footsteps. Someone was coming this way. Panic surged through me as I looked around for an escape route. But before I could take a single step, I was yanked out from behind the bar.

It was Sebastian!

He shoved me hard against the bar, making me flinch. His large hands dug into my shoulders, sharply.

“Did you enjoy hearing our conversation, hiding there like a little curious spy?” he hissed.