ELIAS VERNAL
I brought Liv to the Vernal Corporation headquarters. She seemed nervous. I could hear her heart pounding faster than usual.
That was understandable.
She still hadn't recovered her memories, yet I was already bringing her to work. Of course she would feel anxious and scared. But the doctors had said the best way to help her regain her memories was to have her re-experience her past.
"Do you remember this place?"
I led her into the elevator and asked softly as I pressed the button for the twenty-eighth floor. I noticed Liv's eyes fixed on the number, and a sense of pride rose in me. In this city, everyone knew the Vernal Corporation's standing. Every floor was a reminder of the immense wealth and power this pack commanded.
This was the empire my ancestors and I had built with blood and sweat.
The glory that belonged to the Vernal pack alone.
"I don't remember." Liv finally looked away and moved closer to me, her expression lost and vulnerable. "I'm sorry, Elias. I still can't recall anything."
"It's okay. The amnesia isn't your fault." My body stiffened for a moment.
"As long as you're back, that's all that matters. We can start over."
After saying that, my mind drifted. Serenity's determined figure surfaced in my mind as she walked away yesterday.
Starting over with Liv meant keeping my distance from Serenity. Her leaving was an inevitable outcome. And yet I hadn't been able to sleep all night. Every time I closed my eyes, her silhouette was there like a smudge on glass that wouldn't wipe away. No matter how hard I tried not to think about her, she stood there, watching me with sad eyes.
Liv's voice broke through. She tugged at my sleeve, puzzled. "Elias? We're here."
I forced the image away and managed a smile. "It's nothing. Let's go."
Stop thinking about her, Elias. She's just a traitor who deceived you. You should be glad she's gone, not unsettled and reluctant.
I kept repeating this to myself as I led Liv out of the elevator.
Before her amnesia, Liv had been my personal secretary. I wasn't sure how much her professional skills had been affected. To be safe, once we reached my office, I called Herman on the internal line.
He arrived quickly. The moment he pushed open the door and his gaze landed on Liv standing obediently beside me, his brow furrowed.
"Herman, let everyone know," I said directly. "From now on, Liv will be returning to work at the corporation. She'll resume her position."
Herman opened his mouth. "But Alpha," he finally spoke, his tone laced with concern, "Miss Liv just came back and has amnesia. I'm worried the secretary position is too demanding. It might worsen her condition."
His words sounded like concern for Liv, but I caught the underlying message. As my Beta, Herman had always been cautious. He was worried her amnesia might affect work efficiency and cause problems for the company.
But he didn't understand. Liv had saved my life. Repaying her was something I had to do.
Just as I was struggling with how to respond, Liv stepped forward. "It's okay. I'm not afraid of hard work. If there's something I don't know, I can learn. I'll study hard."
Her consideration put me at ease, and also made me pause.
This kind of thoughtfulness… Serenity used to give me that too. She ironed every piece of my clothing, remembered all my little habits, and prepared my favorite foods. That kind of care was something I'd never experienced while being groomed to become the pack Alpha… Liv noticed my silence and tugged at my sleeve.
"She's willing. Just arrange it." I collected myself and gave Herman the order. "Trust her abilities, Herman."
Herman's mouth twitched, but he nodded.
"Of course. I'll take care of it, Alpha," he added. "After all, I'm your Beta.
My job is to execute, not question your decisions."
He sounded displeased. I rubbed my nose and decided to pretend I hadn't caught his complaint.
Liv's onboarding was processed quickly. I personally escorted her to her work area and reintroduced her to the key department heads. She picked things up fast, not at all like someone meeting them for the first time. I thought perhaps her memories were slowly returning, even if she hadn't realized it yet.
"This is where you'll work. That's your desk. Take some time to get familiar with everything."
Finally, I brought her to the secretary floor on the twenty-first level and showed her to her workstation.
I reminded her patiently, "There's no rush to start officially until tomorrow.
If you have any questions, contact Herman or call me."
Liv glanced at her seat. A faint scent of displeasure seemed to drift from her. I sniffed, puzzled, and looked at her. But when she lifted her face to me, all I saw was a cloudless smile.
Maybe I had imagined it.
"Thank you, Elias." She suddenly hugged my arm and pressed her body against mine. The soft contact made me stiffen immediately.
"You went to all this trouble for me. I'm so happy." She smiled coyly, then, before I could react, rose on her tiptoes and pressed a light kiss to my lips.
Muffled gasps and whispers rose around us. The secretaries were all stunned by this sudden scene. I felt countless pairs of eyes on us, the air thick with gossip.
I was startled. My feelings were… strange. I'd expected to be happy—after all, I was kissing the woman I wanted to marry. Her lips were soft, her scent pleasant. Nothing about her was off-putting.
Yet my heart refused to soar. Fenrir lay listlessly inside me, uninterested in everything, and his apathy bled into me. All I felt was awkwardness and confusion.
"As long as you're happy…" In the end, I pushed her away gently, putting some distance between us. "I need to handle some other business. Will you be all right on your own?"
"Don't worry. Leave it to me." Liv smiled.
I nodded, left her to her work, and returned to my office.
I shut the door and threw myself into work, trying to ignore the unpleasant feeling her kiss had left me with.
Files piled high on my desk. I signed, approved, and made decisions—all the familiar routines felt unusually tedious and chaotic today.
My hand paused. The pen tip dragged across the contract, and the ink stain ruined all my work.
I tossed the pen down in frustration and leaned back in my chair. My fingers touched my lips, and I rubbed them without thinking. For some reason, I suddenly thought of Serenity.
Alfred had released her over my head.
She had been out of the mansion for a day now. I had no idea where she was.
Those thoughts unsettled me far more than Liv's kiss.
At first, I'd been angry at how resolutely she'd left. I didn't understand how she could accept my protection all this time and then turn around and blame me. Did she think leaving the mansion and being 'free' was a good thing?
The pack members who resented her were just waiting for her to be alone.
Without the mansion's protection, her life would only get harder.
But as time passed and reason returned, a quiet voice told me she hadn't actually done anything wrong.
She was right. Once Liv returned, I had already decided to cut ties with Serenity. Letting her go was the logical thing to do. She was still under suspicion, but there wasn't enough evidence to prove she was the traitor. I couldn't imprison her forever. It went against my principles and pack rules.
I shouldn't be angry at her.
Yet every time I thought about it, my emotions spiraled out of control.
Frustration consumed me. I could barely breathe.
I stood abruptly and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The city streets sprawled below, dense with buildings. From this height, the world looked both small and vast. My gaze wandered from one building to the next, wondering which might be the apartment Serenity had rented.
Did she have enough money?
How was she planning to survive alone?
Questions bubbled up from my heart like rising foam.
Serenity had grown up sheltered in the Keller pack. Her only real skills were cooking and making coffee. Unlike Liv, she had no advanced degree or work experience. Away from pack support, could she really survive on her own?
My fingers trembled uncontrollably. A powerful urge seized me, and I spun around, striding back to my desk and pressing the internal line.
The call connected. Herman's voice came through. "Alpha, what can I do for you?"
The words were on the tip of my tongue when I felt a twinge of awkwardness. Fenrir prodded me impatiently, so I pushed on. "Isn't Serenity's birthday coming up?"
"That's right," Herman confirmed.
I cleared my throat. "Then arrange for a birthday cake to be delivered to her.
Whatever else, she's still the pack's Luna. We should at least observe the formalities. I won't have other packs laughing at us."
"Understood. I'll arrange it."
"Also—" I finally circled around to my real purpose. "She's moved out of the mansion, so make sure the cake goes to her new address. By the way, do you know where she's staying now?"
I deliberately made the last question sound casual, but Herman still took a beat before answering.
"I'm afraid I don't, Alpha." His voice was careful. "The Luna didn't leave any information."
My heart sank.
Fenrir howled inside me. I rubbed my temples, a headache forming.
Just then, someone knocked on my office door.
Without waiting for permission, the door swung open. I was about to snap at the intruder when I saw who it was. My anger subsided, though a nameless irritation took its place.
"Elias, I made you a cup of coffee." She stood there looking innocent, holding a tray. When she noticed the phone in my hand, she quickly apologized. "I'm sorry—did I interrupt your work?"
I covered the receiver. "No. But, Liv, next time, knock and wait for my permission."
"I'm sorry. I don't remember anything." Liv's shoulders drooped, her expression wounded and sad. "I won't do it again."
I didn't continue the conversation. I uncovered the receiver and instructed Herman, "If you don't have the address, just deposit her living expenses into her bank account. Check with the bank to confirm the account details."
At the very least, I couldn't let the Vernal pack's Luna starve outside the mansion walls. With some money, Serenity could at least find a place to stay instead of ending up homeless.
"Understood. I'll get right on —" "Elias!" Liv interrupted again. I looked up. She hurried to my desk and asked, "If you don't mind, could you let me handle this?"
"You?"
Liv nodded firmly, putting on a pleading expression—the kind of look I couldn't refuse. "The other secretaries won't let me help with anything. I don't want to just be a patient you're taking care of. Mr. Herman has more important work to do. He's busy enough. Let me handle these small tasks."
I hesitated for a moment, weighing her words carefully, and realized I couldn't find a reason to refuse. After all, I was the one who had brought her to the company. I couldn't let Liv suffer here. Especially when these were things a secretary was supposed to handle anyway.
"All right," I agreed. "Herman, Liv will come find you. Give her the relevant files to arrange."
"Thank you, Elias! I'll take care of it!" Liv's face lit up. She left the office in high spirits.
After she was gone, I was about to hang up when Herman stopped me. "Is this really a good idea, Alpha?"
"What do you mean?"
"Miss Liv," Herman said. "There are still too many unanswered questions about her return. I don't think we should trust her completely at this stage."
I fell silent. Serenity had said the same thing.
"I don't completely trust her, Herman." Alone with my Beta, I could be honest. "That's exactly why I brought her to the office."
Only where I could see her could I monitor her.
"If you've thought it through, I won't say more." Herman paused. "But there's one more thing I think you should know."
"What is it?"
"The Luna," Herman said quietly. "She's pregnant."
My breath stopped. Fenrir leapt up inside me, howling with joy. My hand shook violently. My body felt light, as if wrapped in clouds. Only one thought remained: Pregnant? Serenity is pregnant? I'm going to be a father?
The corner of my mouth curved up instinctively—but then I remembered just how few times Serenity and I had actually shared a bed. I could count them on one hand. The joy evaporated.
"That's not possible." I forced myself to stay calm. "How did you hear this?"
"She told me herself."
"When?"
"When…" Herman suddenly faltered. "When she was trying to get past the guards so she could come see you and Miss Liv…" I laughed—a cold, humorless sound. "Obviously, she was just lying to get away from you. If she were really pregnant, the family doctor would have told me immediately. There's no way I wouldn't know."
Herman still sounded uncertain. "But I thought the Luna seemed very genuine at the time."
"That's because she's good at that." I answered flatly. The old anger resurfaced, tangled painfully with something deeper.
"I won't trust her again."
I said it with finality.