Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Isabella’s POV
The next morning, I woke to find Dimitri standing by the window overlooking the gardens, wearing nothing but his shorts from last night. Even with his back turned to me, I sensed something was wrong. The easy warmth from last night had vanished, replaced by a tension so thick I could taste it.
“Dimitri?” My voice came out hesitant, uncertain.
His body went rigid, muscles locking before he turned to face me. The moment our eyes met, I saw it—the conflict warring in his gaze.
“We need to talk, Isabella.”
I sat up, pulling the blanket over my bare breasts. Dimitri’s eyes dropped to my chest, and desire flared in them, but when he looked up again, his expression had shuttered.
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, making it stand on end. “Isabella, last night was—”
“A mistake?” The word escaped before I could stop it.
His gaze snapped to mine. “What? No.” He shook his head emphatically. “No, it wasn’t. You’re my Mate, Isabella. Last night was the rightest thing in the world.”
Relief flooded through me so intensely that my eyes burned with tears. I smiled, letting myself relax against the chaise. “Then what’s wrong?”
He crossed the room to sit beside me, taking my hand in both of his. His touch was warm, but his grip felt more like an anchor than a caress.
“What’s going to happen now?” I asked quietly. “With your engagement to Selene. Are you…” I bit my lip. “Are you going to call it off?”
He looked away. Just for a second, but it was long enough for me to see the answer written in the tension of his jaw, in the way hesitation flickered through his eyes.
The fire with which he’d made his promises last night—the conviction, the certainty—it wasn’t there anymore.
“I’ll handle the engagement,” he said finally, his voice careful. “I’ll handle everything. But Isabella, you have to keep quiet about our bond for now. Just until I tell my mother myself. Until I tell the pack.”
“You want me to hide it.” Tears pricked my eyes before I could stop them.
“No—”
“That’s exactly what you’re asking.” My voice came out smaller than I intended. “Dimitri, I thought—”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” This time, his voice held conviction, though his eyes still carried that shadow of worry.
“I just need time, Isabella. I want to do this right—to prepare things so no one can use this against you. You know how my mother is. If she finds out the wrong way, she’ll twist it, turn the entire pack against you before I can even explain.
I won’t let that happen.” He reached out, brushing his thumb across my knuckles.
“Let me handle it. Please. I need to make sure when the truth comes out, you’re protected. ”
The rational part of me understood. If Maia discovered that Dimitri and I had slept together, that we were Fated Mates—she would lose her mind. She’d make my life even more unbearable than it already was. Maybe worse.
He was trying to protect me.
I nodded, managing a small, halfhearted smile.
Dimitri responded by pressing his lips to mine. The kiss was long, desperate, clinging—like he was trying to seal a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep. I let myself drown in the taste of him, in the warmth of his mouth, in the hope that everything would be okay.
“Trust me, Isabella,” he murmured against my lips, deepening the kiss.
A faint smile tugged at his mouth as he pulled back just enough to whisper, “Besides, my wolf will kick my ass if I let you go. He’s made it very clear he only wants you.
He…and I…wouldn’t have it any other way.
” The teasing tone was soft, but the way his voice roughened on the last word made my pulse stumble all over again.
The Mate bond flared between us, desire snapping taut like a live wire. Dimitri’s hand moved to pull down the blanket, but I caught it, holding the fabric in place.
“I have to get to work,” I said reluctantly.
He groaned but pulled away, frustration in his features. “You’re killing me, Isabella.”
I forced a small smile, clutching the blanket tighter around me as I stood.
“Someone has to keep things running around here.” I said, trying to imitate his “bossy” voice, and he chuckled, though it lacked any humor.
His eyes were locked on me. For a moment, it looked like he might pull me back, but instead, he just ran a hand through his hair and exhaled sharply.
I gathered my clothes and slipped out of the study,
Back in my room, I pressed my hand to my chest where the bond hummed contentedly, my wolf practically purring with satisfaction. I’d just found my Fated Mate. It was supposed to be the happiest feeling in the world.
So why did I feel so hollow?
I spent longer than usual in the shower, scrubbing until my skin stung.
Three rounds of soap, maybe four—I lost count.
Wolf shifters could pick up an Alpha’s scent easily, and if anyone caught Dimitri’s on me, it would give everything away.
After I got dressed, I doused myself in perfume, layer after layer, until I could barely breathe.
Only then did I feel ready to face the world.
When I arrived at the office an hour later, I was immediately informed that Edmund wanted to see me.
I found him in his office.
“You sent for me, sir?”
“Ah, Isabella.” He looked up, then froze. His eyes swept over my face, lingering for a moment too long, as if he could see something I was trying to hide. But he didn’t comment. Thank goodness for that shower and the perfume.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we’re sending a team to Zurich to negotiate a merger with Crane Internationale. I’ve included you on the team.”
My heart sank.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Edmund continued. “Even though you’re Mr. Ravencrest’s executive assistant now, you’re still an intern. These kinds of experiences are invaluable for your development.”
Any other day, I would have been thrilled. A chance to work on an international merger, to prove myself, to escape Maia’s constant presence.
But not now. Not when I’d just found my Mate.
“Does Mr. Ravencrest know about this?” The words burst out before I could stop them.
Edmund’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ll inform him, but I’m sure he’ll have no objections. Why do you ask?”
“I just—” I scrambled for an excuse. “As his executive assistant, I can’t just leave without notice.”
“Hmm.” He studied me for a long moment. “I’ll speak with him. In the meantime, go home and pack. The plane leaves in three hours.”
Three hours?
“Make the most of this opportunity, Isabella.”
I left his office feeling like I was drowning. I needed to see Dimitri, needed to talk to him about this, but when I checked his office, he wasn’t there. His secretary said he was in meetings all day.
The message showed as delivered. Then read.
But no response came.
I went back to the mansion to pack, checking my phone every few minutes. Still nothing.
By the time the car arrived to take me to the airport, my phone remained silent.
He’s just busy, I told myself as I climbed into the car. He’ll call when he can.
Three hours later, I boarded the plane with no word from him.
As Virginia disappeared beneath the clouds, I pressed my hand to my chest where the bond stretched thin, remembering his words. Trust me, Isabella.
Zurich was beautiful in a way that felt almost cruel.
Clean streets lined with centuries-old buildings, crisp mountain air, and the distant Alps rising like sentinels. Under different circumstances, I might have appreciated it.
Instead, I felt numb.
The team checked into a sleek hotel near the financial district. I barely noticed the luxury suite, the view of Lake Zurich, or the complimentary champagne waiting in my room.
All I could think about was Dimitri. And his silence.
The first meeting with Crane Internationale was scheduled for the next morning. I’d spent the flight reviewing files. They were a tech conglomerate looking to merge with our manufacturing division. Good synergy, solid financials, minimal risk.
I expected a standard corporate negotiation.
What I got was Alexander Crane.
He strode into the conference room like he owned not just the company but the entire city. Tall, silver-haired, probably in his mid-forties, with the kind of commanding presence that screamed Alpha. His eyes—pale blue and sharp—swept over our team before landing on me.
And staying there.
“Mr. Crane.” Richard, our team leader, stood to shake his hand. “Thank you for meeting with us.”
“My pleasure.” But Crane’s gaze never left my face. “And you are?”
“Isabella Garrett.” I stood, extending my hand professionally. “Executive Assistant to Mr. Ravencrest.”
His handshake was firm, assessing. “Isabella Garrett.”
Throughout the meeting, my attention kept drifting to my phone. Waiting for a notification. A call. A text. Anything from Dimitri.
Nothing came.
I forced myself to focus on the negotiation. Crane was sharp, demanding, pushing back on every projection and assumption.
By the end of the meeting, he’d made a decision.
“I admire your analytical precision, Ms. Garrett,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “And I’d like to assign you to the core diligence team. Your projections flagged a discrepancy my own analysts missed.”
Richard sputtered. “But Mr. Crane, with all due respect, Ms. Garrett is only an intern. She doesn’t have the experience to be part of a core diligence team.”
“The decision is made. .” Crane’s smile was pleasant, but his tone left no room for argument. “Unless Ravencrest Global has a problem with that?”
Richard looked at me, barely concealed anger in his eyes. First Marcus Chen, now him. I was making enemies with everyone at the office now.
I turned back to Crane. “I’ll make sure this merger proceeds smoothly, sir. You have my word.”
His smile widened. “I have absolutely no doubt about that.”
The days bled into weeks.