I hardly moved. I took a seat in the office, just waiting for Gabriel to come back. Time dragged, every second stretching out until it hurt. I was bored and hungry, as I still hadn't eaten anything yet.
With nothing to do, I wandered around his office, drifting in circles, letting the familiar scent of him wrap around me. It was almost like he was there, holding me close, even when he was gone. I took a deep breath. Calm settled over me. Val, my wolf, purred quietly inside in contentment.
My eyes landed on Gabriel's desk. The wood glowed in the sunlight, polished and smooth. I traced a finger along the edges, feeling the care he put into everything.
Then I moved to the window, caught my own reflection in the glass, and stared at myself for a second, as if I could find answers there. I looked weak and tired; there were bags under my eyes. My gaze drifted beyond to the view outside. There, I could see the vast pack territory, the landscape and forest appeared inviting. It would be good to go for a run.
I was lost in my thoughts and on the view outside when the sound of the office doors opening brought my attention back to my immediate surroundings. The peace I felt for some moments snapped in half when the door banged open.
A young lady who looked to be in her twenties strode in with dark, wavy hair, and eyes that didn't miss a thing. Her black dress looked expensive. I felt almost invisible next to her. The woman's scent hit me hard, but underneath it, her perfume was sharp and cold.
"And you are?" The woman's voice was clipped and cold.
I blinked, thrown off by the hostility. The woman didn't wait. "Are you deaf?" she snapped with narrowed eyes. "What are you doing behind Gabriel's desk?"
I tried to steady my voice, even though my heart hammered. "The Alpha told me to wait here."
Her sharp laugh was humiliating, and there was nothing nice in it. "Gabriel told you what? Please. Why would he leave you alone in his office unattended?"
Jealousy stung deeply in my heart. This woman moved like she owned the place, like she belonged here in a way I never could. Who was she anyway, and why was she referring to Alpha Gabriel as Gabriel? It felt intimate, and my wolf Val wanted to claw at this woman and wipe away that annoying look on her face, but I forced myself to remain calm; there's no point adding more conflict to my problems.
"Maybe you should ask him yourself," I shot back, letting some fight into my words. Though I trespassed into their pack without proper procedure, everyone I had encountered since yesterday had been rude to me; they surely had that in common.
The woman's eyes sharpened, cold and calculating. "I haven't seen you in this pack. I think I'll call security. You're trespassing."
"Who are you?" I demanded, not backing down.
The woman's smile turned sharp. "You really don't know? That just proves you don't belong here." She stalked closer, ready to drag me out herself. "Don't touch me," I warned, feeling my wolf bristle inside me skin.
For a second, the woman looked surprised. Then she got even colder. "No one here doesn't know me. You're a stranger. That's all I need to know."
Before I could answer, someone knocked. The woman's voice flipped, suddenly sweet: "Come in."
Two guards appeared, big and broad, ready for action, blocking the doorway. The woman didn't take her eyes off me. "Arrest this person. She was snooping where she shouldn't be. She doesn't belong to the Silverblade pack too. I can tell you."
Anger burned through me. "I'm not stealing anything! The Alpha told me to wait here."
The woman arched an eyebrow, mocking. "Oh? Did he also tell you to dig through his desk?"
The guards stepped closer. My wolf growled, low and dangerous. "Don't touch me," I warned, my eyes flashing.
"Take her away," the woman snapped, dropping the fake sweetness.
I didn't hesitate. I ducked past one guard and shoved the other out of my way. "I'll leave when Alpha Gabriel gets here," I growled, my voice full of confidence I wasn't feeling. The Alpha didn't ask me to leave yet, so no one had the right to tell me otherwise.
The woman's smile twisted. "You don't give orders here. Take her!"
The guards closed in again, looming. I stood my ground, eyes locked with the woman. The air felt thick, like the whole room was holding its breath. The woman's smile stayed in place, but her eyes glittered with victory like she was enjoying the show. She thought she'd already won. She wasn't about to let me slip away.
Then a voice cut through everything. Deep and commanding. "Enough!"
Everyone froze. The guards stopped mid-step. For a second, the lady's perfect mask broke, and annoyance flashed across her face.
Gabriel stood in the doorway, impossible to ignore. His presence filled the room. "What's going on here?" he asked, eyes sweeping over the scene.
The woman recovered fast, smiling snapping back. She sauntered over to Gabriel, hips swinging, every step oozing confidence and a little bit of a challenge. She flashed him a look, desire lighting up her eyes, her lips pushed out in a pout, as if that could tug at something deep inside him.
When she got close, she reached out, pressing her hand to his chest, her fingers spread wide over them. "I was just worried about you, Gabriel, darling. I found this... person going through your things. I was just about to call security," she purred.
My eyes widened for half a second. What was the relationship between these two? I wondered. I could still feel Gabriel watching me. His gaze was heavy with questions he didn't say out loud.
I met his eyes, heart thumping, my wolf still on guard, waiting for whatever came next.
Gabriel's gaze searched my face. "Is that true?" His voice was soft, but it carried a warning.