23. Maeve
23
MAEVE
“ I ’m going to go grab a coffee for my lunch break,” I say. Cheryl, the receptionist, on my floor, nods, sliding the records book over to me.
She’s a good forty years or so older than I am, with bright red curls, and she’s been very kind since Malachi dropped me off here this morning.
My office, of course, is right next to Draven’s with a connecting door between our offices—one I made sure to lock immediately. There’s two windows with blinds on his side that are thankfully closed.
Cheryl took me on a tour, snarking about who’s nice and who to avoid. She doesn’t seem to understand yet that I’ll be avoiding them all.
She’s a dolphin shifter—obviously nice is part of her DNA.
One day, maybe she’ll shift for me, and I’ll get to check that off my list of “Shifters I’ve Met.” I should probably make a scrapbook of them or something to stay on top of it.
“Have a good break. Don’t hurry back,” she says, cheerily waving me off as her phone rings. If only everyone was as easy to manage as her.
I step into the elevator, alone. The ride down is quick. The buzzing anticipation in my chest won’t let me stand still. It’s been a strange day, that subtle feeling of being watched making the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. I try to shake it off. No need to get paranoid.
I don’t know how it works here, since Atticus is the alpha and likely does this kind of thing for anyone who needs it, but it makes me feel weird, and I want to prove I also earned my spot.
“How’s your day been?” Colin, the newest guard asks as I meet him in the foyer. He’s thirty, and is a leopard shifter. There seems to be an abundance of big cats in this pride, or maybe I just find myself interacting with them more often.
It’s not a bad thing, I just find the more exotic animals like giraffes and elephants far more exciting than a damn cat.
“Not bad, only one person died,” I quip, looking around the busy street, my heart racing for reasons unknown to me.
They’re probably unknown to my brain, too, it’s just causing problems for the sake of causing them.
Got to love my life.
“I mean, that was a planned death or something, right?” he asks, eyeing me warily.
I smirk. “Everyone should expect death when I’m around.”
There’s a strange tension in my body today. People glance at me, too many eyes flicking in my direction, but they keep their distance. It sets me on edge—I hate being watched, hate being surrounded.
It’s hard in the pride because I don’t know any of these people, and they don’t know me.
On the compound, I at least had that level of security where they realised I was a bitch, and they knew I was with Adrian.
I was left alone, ignored, and occasionally stared at.
“Stay behind me, I’ll clear the path for you,” Colin says, stepping in front of me.
“Thanks,” I say, weirdly touched by his kindness. I don’t dislike him as much as I disliked Lucas or Anthony, so that’s a good sign for him.
Caspian wasn’t happy about me firing yet another guard, only two days in, but I don’t live my life to make him happy.
I barely live my life to make myself happy.
And honestly, everyone needs to have at least one difficult client on the resume to prove they can actually do their job.
We approach the café, and he opens the door for me, following inside a step or two behind.
I like that.
So far, Colin gets a solid five stars. It’s rare I actually tolerate someone, but so far, he’s not terrible.
“I’ll sit over there,” he says, motioning his head to the corner where there’s an open table with a viewpoint of the door and a good portion of the café.
“You’re not going to insist on sitting with me?” I ask, raising a brow.
He shakes his head. “This is your time, Maeve. I’m just supervising.”
Supervising. Funny how most people think that means keeping me safe.
I grab my food from the counter, appreciating the simplicity of pre-ordering. For a little while, it’s blissfully quiet. I eat, I watch people walk by, and I catch up on the group chat.
For once, my mind doesn’t drag me to the darkest corners of anxiety.
Once I’m done, Colin escorts me back out, not once being overbearing whilst keeping the pathway clear for me. I like that. He’s tolerable, and that’s all I could ask for in a guard.
My phone buzzes once more, and I reply to Ari’s message as we cross the road.
I’m engrossed, barely aware of my surroundings, when the screech of tires jolts me out of my phone.
I shriek, stumbling back onto the curb, my heart thudding so hard against my rib cage, I’m worried they might break.
What the actual fuck?
“What the fuck are you doing?” an angry voice snarls before I can even gather my wits.
He’s out of the car and charging towards me, eyes burning with fury.
“You walked in front of my fucking car,” he snaps, his voice dripping with venom.
He’s tall, dark-haired, and dark-skinned with a scowl that makes my stomach twist. His eyes are a vivid amber, burning with rage, as he sizes me up like a predator would do to his prey.
I can feel the adrenaline spike in my veins, but I won’t be backing down from him.
“You’re fucking reckless, and I could’ve hit you.” He takes another step forward, his words biting like venom, and they hit me like a slap.
He’s not wrong. This was my fault.
I glance over my shoulder, looking for Colin, but he’s gone. Well, not really, but he’s taken a few steps back from me.
“Put your phone down, you ignorant girl, and watch where the fuck you’re going.” He’s still spitting insults, still raging.
“Are you—” I start.
My fear spikes, but it’s quickly replaced with anger. What the fuck is his attitude for? I was going to apologise.
“Don’t you dare try to argue with me,” the driver shouts, stepping onto the street, advancing towards me.
Colin moves further out of reach, not that I’d try and touch the cowardly asshole.
My heart is pounding, and despite my fear, I stand taller, meeting this driver’s gaze head on.
“I can say whatever I want to say,” I reply, giving him a dirty look. Fuck my apology—I want to see him squirm. “I am fully aware?—”
“You’re not aware of anything, you stupid cow,” he hisses, stopping a metre or so away from me. “You’re too absorbed into your fucking phone, not caring about anybody else’s lives.”
I mean, I was genuinely going to apologise. I was fully in the wrong, and even with his shifter reflexes, I could’ve terrified the man or even hurt him.
But the moment he opened his mouth, all my sympathy died.
He can go fuck himself now. I’m furious he didn’t actually hit me because I would’ve had his life for that.
Prick.
“That is enough,” a deep voice growls, the sound causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. The air around me feels heavy and warm.
It’s a sound I’ve never heard before, but somehow, it feels comfortingly familiar.
I turn my head, my heart skipping a beat when I see him. He’s taller and broader than anyone I’ve ever met and exudes a presence so powerful it nearly knocks me off my feet.
His presence commands the street, the very air.
His eyes are a molten gold, sharp and intense, and when they meet mine, something in me stirs.
My chromius pushes forward, drawn to him in a way I can’t explain.
A large scar runs down the entire left side of his face, jagged and raised, making him look like something out of a war story.
He’d be beautiful without it.
With it? He’s stunningly brutal.
It’s dramatic, it’s rough, it’s glorious.
I might hate people, and I have no doubt he’ll do something in this interaction to add his name to my list of hate, but I can appreciate his beauty.
He’s huge, like, genuinely massive. Wide, broad, tall, bulky. Any word you can think of to describe a hulk of a man, and it would be him. Each thigh practically as thick as my waist, his arms bulging.
And, of course, Mr Dangerous is in the tightest suit known to man-kind and has somehow managed to not rip it as he moves. It feels like an impossibility.
There’s something primal about him, something that makes my chromius stir restlessly inside me.
He strides towards us, his gaze briefly flicking to mine before settling on the driver with such ferocity that I squirm.
“Don’t you dare speak to her like that again,” he growls, the sheer authority in his voice causing the driver to flinch and step back.
His attention snaps back to me, and a jolt rushes through my entire body. For a moment, we just stare at each other.
His gaze is too intense, too knowing, and it sends a strange shiver down my spine.
I don’t know what it is, but it feels like he’s seeing right through me—like he knows something I don’t.
My chromius pushes forward to marvel at him, wanting to know more about this mysterious shifter.
I don’t know what kind of shifter he is. Mythical for sure, the energy is there and can’t be ignored. But past that, I can’t say.
He’s clearly been in the pride long enough that he doesn’t need the security detail, but something about him makes me think that he’s his own security.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his golden eyes softening, his tone calming. “Were you hurt?”
My body vibrates with nervous energy, but I force myself to not cower underneath his gaze.
“Physically, no,” I say, turning to give the driver a dirty look before turning to Mr Daunting with an almost pout. “Emotionally, absolutely.”
The driver pales, his eyes widening, as his passenger lets out a deep growl.
It shouldn’t thrill me.
Especially since I’m lying through my teeth just to cause some extra drama.
Colin snorts, still lurking a few feet behind me like the most useless shadow to exist.
He’s getting fired the moment I’m done with this bullshit.
“Who are you?” Mr Dark demands, giving Colin a look so scorching I’m surprised he’s not burst into flames.
“My security,” I say dryly.
“You’re pathetic,” Mr Damning says, his eyes darkening. “As a man? You’re an embarrassment. As security? Your actions are unforgivable. You’ll be lucky to keep your life once you’re fired from this job.”
Oh, wow, I liked that threat.
He moves past the driver, approaching me. My heart speeds up, my legs trembling. I’m not scared of him , not really.
There’s not a single part of me that thinks this man is capable of hurting me. It’s stupid, considering he’s the deadliest man I’ve ever seen in my entire life, but it’s the truth.
However, I am scared of whatever he might say, and I do not want to stick around for that.
“You shouldn’t be out here without proper protection,” he murmurs, his voice low and measured.
“I can handle myself,” I reply, more defensive than I intended.
I don’t know where this sudden rush of energy is coming from, but I don’t need this guy thinking I’m some damsel in distress.
His lips twitch, almost as if he’s holding back a smile. His eyes soften, and there’s something unreadable flickering.
The air between us crackles. I don’t know what’s going on, I can’t understand it. Something bubbling just underneath the surface.
“Thanks for your help, but I’ve got this handled,” I murmur, ignoring the shadow that crosses his face. I don’t trust myself to speak any louder, I don’t know how to handle his intensity.
I duck my head, turn on my heel, and practically run away, my feet moving faster than my mind can process.
I don’t look back to see his expression, but I can feel his eyes on me the entire time.
Colin follows silently, staying a few steps behind like the useless shadow he’s proven to be. I don’t have the energy to speak to him.
He deserves to be torn apart for what just happened, but I’m not sure I trust myself to stay composed.
My legs feel shaky like they’re barely keeping me upright. I’d like to pretend it was from the near-accident, but I know it’s from him .
Colin mutters something about sitting in the car until I finish, but I ignore him, racing through the building as fast as my heels can carry me.
My hands fumble as I jam my finger into the elevator button over and over, desperate to escape the buzzing confusion in my chest.
Finally, the doors open, and I step inside, grateful to be alone. My pulse is still hammering in my throat, only now, can I finally breathe.
The weight of his presence clings to me like an electric charge still buzzing under my skin. The way he looked at me, the way he spoke to me… I can’t shake it.
Who the fuck was he?
And why the hell am I so… afraid.
His eyes, his prowess… his beauty.
I don’t like the way he has affected me.
I shake my head, biting back the unexplainable pull I felt towards him. I don’t know why I even care.
By the time the elevator dings and the doors slide open on my floor, I’ve managed to compose myself enough to step out into the hallway.
The feeling? It’s still there.
I pull my phone out to text Caspian and let this energy out at someone. No fucking way am I getting back in Colin’s car at the end of this shift.
Sure, stepping out in the street was my fault. I can’t blame Colin for that, and realistically, I wouldn’t have been severely hurt, even if I was hit by the car. I was in the wrong, I should’ve been paying attention.
But backing away from a raging lunatic screaming at me in the street? Staying silent and letting me handle that myself ?
Disgraceful.
Honestly, compared to Mr Dominant, he’s a little puny anyway. Maybe that needs to be the requirement of my new security: must prove they can kill a man.
Maeve
I want him gone.
Caspian
Maeve this is the third one in as many days. You can’t keep firing every single member of your security team.
Maeve
I was nearly hit by a car.
My bad.
But as I was screamed at by the driver of said car, he just stood there.
Like an idiot.
Not caring that I was being verbally assaulted in the street.
Cowardly.
Caspian
He let you nearly get hit by a car?
I roll my eyes, keying out my response with a frustrated tap.
Maeve
Like I said, that was my fault.
I’m not blaming him for something that wouldn’t have killed me.
I want him fired for being useless in a confrontation.
How am I meant to rely on him for safety when that’s the way he behaves when we’re dealing with an irate taxi driver?
Imagine dealing with an actual hunter or a murderer.
He’d die on the spot.
No, I want him gone.
I’m not getting in his car, so have someone for me when my shift finishes or I’ll walk home myself.
Caspian
Understood.
Jasper will be there to pick you up at the usual time.
I can imagine how much it pains him to have to reply so calmly.
It’s so perfect that it’s Jasper coming because I’ve got some errands to run, which are his absolute favourite things.
What a lucky girl I’m going to be.
I heave a sigh, pocketing my phone as I step out of the lift. I give Cheryl a wave, seeing her in the middle of a heated conversation on the phone, so I don’t bother to stop by and sign myself back in.
I’ll just tamper with the sheet when I sign out this evening.
I step into my office and immediately freeze. A large gift basket sits on my desk, and I feel a chill creep up my spine.
My chromius pushes forward, using a great deal of her energy to merge with me, and we take a deep inhale, trying to detect any sign of danger.
There’s no blood, which is a good sign.
Not that I know what poison smells like, but I don’t smell anything toxic, pungent, or off-putting.
In fact, I just smell sweetness, sugar, deliciousness .
Nothing seems dangerous, but it feels wrong—terrifying.
I can’t breathe this air, unable to advance towards the package, using all of my energy to stare the gift basket out.
Colin never mentioned anything about this, so it’s not like he was drafted to okay it. Surely, he’d say something if he did, right?
Does the security of Legal Pride check these things over before delivering them to random people’s desks?
I mean, I’ve met some of the people that work here, and I’d send them death threats just for existing. Never mind them causing an actual issue.
It’s got to be safe—right?
Surely, my stalker hasn’t followed me here.
Surely, Adrian’s not that fucking shit at his one job that he’s let my stalker leave the compound, too.
Please, please, please.
I can’t fucking do it. I can’t check it out.
I move out to the reception area, and Cheryl holds a hand up, asking to wait a minute. I do, barely resisting the urge to tap my feet, as I listen to her dealing with the same irate client.
I don’t know their issue, and honestly, I don’t care. I bet that they haven’t been delivered a delicious basket of chocolate, sweets, and goodies.
Don’t they realise how bad my day has just gotten?
“Hey, Maeve, what’s wrong?” she asks, putting the phone down on the client, and gifting me with a very warm grin.
“Um, were you meant to just hang up on them?” I ask, my lips quirking up, despite my panic.
She snorts, tucking her bright red hair behind her ears. “Trust me, honey, they’re lucky it was me they were bitching out and not Draven or they’d find themselves losing a limb rather than just a few minutes of their time.”
I feign a laugh, and she winks at me. “Now, what can I do for you?”
“There’s a package on my desk. Do you know where it came from?” My body is vibrating with a nervous energy, and I’m not sure what to do in this situation.
The smart thing would be to message Jasper and ask him to come over and check it out, considering I’ve just fired Colin. I could even reach out to Caspian, since Jasper is probably going to be useless if there is an issue, since he’s scared of his own fucking shadow.
But I don’t want to risk doing that, if it’s an overreaction. I really don’t like having to rely on them, and I don’t want them judging me for being this… dramatic.
Whiny.
Broken.
I shake off my internal thoughts, trying my best to stay calm. If it were a bomb, it probably would’ve gone off by now.
My stalker doesn’t seem to want to hurt me, but I can’t imagine why he’d send me a huge gift set full of chocolate.
“It was delivered by a local company,” she says, reaching for the visitor’s log, not seeming anxious about my questions at all. “There’s a card from somebody called Julian Graves.”
Julian. Of fucking course it’s him.
I let out a groan as some of the panic fades from my body. I wish I was more relieved, but honestly, this is arguably worse.
Why the fuck is he sending me shit like we’re friends?
“Problem?” She moves to rise from the desk, but I shake my head.
“No, no,” I say, shaking my head, my agitation replacing the anxiety. “I know him. He’s just an old colleague who is unable to take a hint and is trying to earn some affection.”
Well, that’s putting it far too simply. She doesn’t need to know that he’s a manipulative, lying asshole who is working with his psychotic uncle to try and force me into a mating I don’t want.
Huh, it sounds terrible when you put it like that.
I wonder what heroic twist Julian and Adrian put on it.
“Trust me, honey, those kinds of men are the biggest red flags,” she says, giving me a knowing look that’s weirdly comforting. “If I were you, I’d bin it and forget all about him.”
“Oh, trust me, I’ve got better uses for it than that,” I say, smirking at her. I go back to my office, some of the anxiety still there, but I grab the note and read for myself, my blood boiling.
Congratulations, pretty girl. Can’t wait to watch you soar.
My lips curl up in a snarl as my chromius pants over the pegasus in an almost eager way. She’s a fool.
She whines at me, and I can feel her anger across our bond.
“He doesn’t actually care,” I snarl at her, picking up the gift basket, and dropping it to the side of the desk to deal with later.
Fuck her, and fuck Julian Graves.