Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

VALERIA

I didn't know how to restrain my rage; what the fuck fuckity did he think of himself to have sex with me and then reject me afterward. I'm not going to let him go so easily after getting to me. I let go of Lucien and Morgana, but not this time. I'd had enough.

I rushed into the closest restroom to calm myself and splashed water on my face. My wolf was trying to take over. I wanted to stand and immerse myself in cold water to quell the fire inside me.

Water is not going to help calm your nerves. My wolf told me.

It would be helpful if you behaved. I told my wolf.

He broke your heart and you’re asking me to behave? My wolf growled annoyed.

Please send me the strength to deal with the situation.

Close your eyes for a while and breathe. My wolf suggested.

I held the counter and closed my eyes. I breathed in and out a few times and my lips started to turn upward. She finally soothes my nerves and I smile.

Thank you .

But I don’t know how long this is going to work. My wolf warned me.

I’ll manage . I told her and walked out of the restroom.

When I took a left turn in a corridor to return to my seat I bumped into Oliver. I immediately stepped back. “I apologize. I should have watched where I was going.”

Oliver shook his head, “It’s alright just make sure the next time you plan to bump into me I won’t have coffee in my hand.”

I squinted quizically, “What do you mean?”

Oliver pointed at a mug placed on a wooden shelf. “I was about to pick it back up after I was on a call.”

I made a big ‘O’ of my lips and my eyes widened. “I am sorry, again.”

Oliver smiled, “Come on, cut yourself some slack.” he walked past me holding his coffee.

The moment I sat in my seat the extension buzzed and Kai Parker flashed on the screen. “Yes, Kai.”

Kai cleared his throat, “Send me today’s schedule.”

“I thought you heard what I was telling you this morning loud and clear.”

Kai was about to say something but I cut him off. “I apologize, Kai. Sosilly of me, you were preparing to fuck me before rejecting me so how could you have listened?”

Kai didn’t respond so I asked. “Can you hear me?”

“If you are done with your childish attitude send me the schedule.”

I started to speak, but he cut the call off. I gritted my teeth and emailed him the schedule. I tried everything to keep my mind from going back to that moment, from looking through Instagram to making appointments a week ahead of time, but it didn't work.

Someone tapped on my table and when I looked up Oliver was standing there. Oliver asked. “Would you mind if I asked you to have lunch with me?”

Oliver is rather attractive. If he wasn't a humanand I hadn't met Kai, I'd have dated him. But after meeting Kai, I knew I couldn't feel anything for anyone else, it would lack the intensity.

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

Oliver leaned in close, “You can take the invite as a thank you.”

I raised my brows, “Thank you? For what?”

"The last time I was really hungry and you offered to share your lunch with me, so this time =it would be to say thanks for feeding me when I needed it the most."

Just as I was about to respond my extension started to ring, it was Kai... I asked Oliver to wait a second and picked up the call. “Yes, Kai?”

Kai’s icy tone came through the receiver, “Don’t you dare to step outside this office.”

I knew at this moment that he had been listening to me all this time from the moment I stepped into the office until I left. I still don’t know who he is or what is he. I was shocked and went blank for a moment and he said. “Have I made myself clear?”

I responded, “No, you won’t be making anything clear to me.”

Kai responded in a dominant tone. “Valeria, if you step out of this office with Oliver you’ll be responsible for the consequences he will face.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. People were not wrong when they called him a ruthless, cold-hearted vulture in the business world. I managed not to stammer, “Alright, Kai I will do as you ask is there anything else?”

Kai responded, “Good girl,” and then dropped the line.

I controlled my frustration and exhaled. Oliver was looking at me in confusion. I looked at him and smiled, “Actually I can’t go out for lunch today, but if you really want to return the favor we can order something and we can have lunch together in the office.”

Oliver nodded. “Sounds like a plan,” then he turned around and walked away.

I used my wolf senses and heard Kai groaning. His restlessness gave me peace.

Do you have any idea who or what Kai Parker is? I asked my wolf.

I am just as much in the dark as you are. My wolf responded.

How is that possible? Your senses are way more sensitive than mine. I asked my wolf.

As far as I know, he’s using some kind of power to hide his identity. My wolf gave me a hint but it was useless to me because I did not know anything about hiding identity power.

He smells earthy and musky and he has the strength to drink whiskey all the time without getting tipsy. Please give this some serious consideration. He healed much more quickly than any shapeshifter. Healing faster is a trait in vampires but his skin is not pale and I heard his heartbeat. He’s concealing his true identity. Nothing indicates he’s a bloodsucker, a warlock, or a shapeshifter. So what else he could be? My wolf laid out some descriptions of Kai.

His senses are very sharp. He’s been listening to you, so, of course, he can smell your scent. My wolf reminded me of the trait that I had forgotten to tell her.

Damn, don’t give me the details, I already know everything about him except his kind. I muttered.

My extension buzzed again.

“Yes, Kai?”

“Come into my office.”

I put the receiver down without responding. I stood up, grabbed my writing pad and pen, and marched into his office. I opened the door opened my writing pad and asked. “Yes, Kai?”

He growled, “Look at me.”

I kept looking at my writing pad. “I can hear you without looking at you.”

He growled hard this time. “I told you to stay away from Oliver.”

“What is your problem?”

Kai clenched his jaw. “You are encouraging Oliver by being friendly with him.”

“How is this any of your business?”

“You are making a mistake. I told you Oliver would face the consequences of your actions.”

I responded. “You don’t want me as your mate so why does it bother you if I talk to Oliver?”

Kai nodded, “Alright, when I fire him you’ll know how serious my warnings are.”

I crossed my arms against my chest. “How many employees are you going to fire? I have half a mind to keep torturing you by not accepting your rejection and to keep flirting.”

Kai picked up his receiver. “Oliver you are fi…”

A big loud ‘No’ escaped my mouth and Kai stopped. I raised my hands in surrender, “Please don’t do this.”

Kai smirked and I wanted to smack his fucking face. “Oliver, the file you sent to HR can you send it to me as well, please?”

“You are a fucking asshole.”

Kai ducked his head. “You can go now.”

I sighed, “Just let me have lunch with him today. I don't want to be rude. I promise after this lunch I won't do anything.”

Kai nodded and looked at his laptop screen. I walked out of his office while cursing him under my breath.

The whole day I didn’t do anything that would bother Kai Parker and when it was time to go home I was consumed by misery and anger. I decided to go to a bar first before heading home. I told Mom and lied and said I'd be out with friends. While drinking I was drowning my sorrows I met a guy that was giving me all of the signals of wanting to get laid. I needed a distraction from the pain that Kai caused me. I swallowed my last tequila shot and stood up, “Where do you live?”

The guy held my hand and led me out of the bar. “I don’t live around here, but my hotel is nearby.”

“Lead the way, Casanova.”

The guy smiled and led me into his room. After shutting the door behind me he clung onto me and I didn’t like his kiss at all, but I kept my lips locked with his so that I would get aroused. When his hands started moving up and down all over me I started feeling my paws coming out of my chest. I tried to stop him but he didn’t stop until my wolf started to growl. He got scared and stepped back. “What is this?”

I shook my head and lied. “What do you mean?”

He stammered. “I…..I heard some animal kind of noise.”

I kept my hands at my waist. “Really? I didn’t hear anything. Maybe it was a street dog or a cat outside?”

How could you do this? My wolf asked in anger.

Just shut the fuck up, you just got me in trouble. I responded.

The guy asked. “Who are you talking to?”

Before I responded my wolf growled hard and the door of the room flung open, Kai entered and lifted the guy by his neck until he fell unconscious to the floor.

I was taken aback, “What the fuck did you just do? Are you following me?”

My wolf immediately took advantage of the distraction and came out. Kai watched and didn’t even flinch after watching me turn into a wolf. He came close to my wolf and started rubbing behind her ears instead.

“I know you are angry, but it's not her fault.”

My wolf growled and Kai calmed her. “Shh… no she didn’t mean to hurt me or you. She was just upset because of me.”

My wolf nodded and his hands moved to under her neck. “Just look into my eyes and you'll understand who I am.”

I looked into his eyes and I saw his wolf’s golden eyes and wondered how he never smelled like a wolf. Kai kept rubbing my wolf’s neck. “Now that you have seen my identity, can you please let Valeria return?”

My wolf growled low and he responded. “I promise, I will show you my wolf, but right now please let Valeria out. It's a request.”

My wolf started to give me back control within a few seconds and I was standing naked in front of him. Kai immediately took off his coat and gave it to me. I covered myself, but I had no strength to ask any questions. Kai immediately picked the guy off the floor and placed him on the bed then picked up my shredded clothes. He grabbed one of the guy’s shirts and led me out of the room.

“How have you hidden your identity for all this time and why would you?”

Kai sighed, “I have to hide myself because of my lineage. It’s rare and in our community no one likes us.”

“I accept that I had trouble recognizing you, but I can tell you are lying to me.”

Kai looked at me, “What makes you say that?”

I yelled at him, “Because you hid your original scent. Also, not a single lineage is more rare than the Halo lineage. So don’t play games with me.”

Kai looked away and asked quietly, “Tell me where you live and I’ll drop you off.”

I snatched the guy’s shirt and removed my coat. Wearing a shirt and a jacket, I climbed out of his car and rushed towards a cab waiting nearby. Kai called my name, but I didn’t listen. The minute I sat in the cab “Silverine Street” I told the driver.

I don’t know what the truth was behind all his lies but whatever it was I was determined to find out. I dialed Luke’s number but he didn’t pick up. I threw my phone in my bag and waited for the cab to reach home. I opened the door carefully because I didn’t want Mom to see me wearing someone else’s clothes. Before rushing into my room, I peeked into Mom’s room. She was snoring and I sighed in relief and immediately went to take a shower and erase the guy’s smell off of my body.

I was drying my hair when Elliot’s name flashed on my screen. I picked up. “How come my eldest brother called me today?”

Elliot responded, “Because your eldest brother is taking care of your third brother.”

“What happened to Lu?”

Elliot grunted, “He is wasted.”

I giggled, “You and Emmet should keep an eye on him.”

Elliot asked. “Why were you calling Lu?”

I lied. “Nothing just wanted to chat with him.”

Elliot replied icily, “Lu told you about our visions Valeria, so please refrain from lying to me.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I wanted to come and join you guys.”

“We are coming back tomorrow.”

I nodded and pretended to be chipper, “Oh that’s wonderful, I am so happy to hear that.”

“Emmet wants to talk to you.”

Emmet asked, “Valeria, when were you planning to tell us about Lucien and you breaking up?”

I gasped, “How did you know….of course you were with Lu when he was drinking. Right?”

“That is not important. The main thing is that you did not believe Elliot and I were worthy enough to share this.”

“No, that is not true. I just didn’t want to make a fuss, so I left the job.”

“Be prepared because we’re telling Dad once we return.”

I didn’t want to talk about Lucien, “The visions you guys were having about me, it actually happened?”

“What happened to you?”

I sighed, “My new boss, Kai Parker, is my fated mate and at first he ignored our connection and then when I pushed him too hard today he rejected me as his mate. So the dark visions showed my rejection. He also has the same power to hide his identity. He told me that his kind is rare.”

“Kai Parker from Parker Tower?”

“Yes.”

Emmet and Elliot both were shocked to know that Kai Parker was actually a werewolf. They had met him before but had never recognized him as a werewolf. Then they cursed Luke and ended the call as I heard the sound of him retching in the background. I put my phone aside and closed my eyes. After hours of restlessly twisting and turning I finally drifted off.

The next day in the office was uneventful. I refrained from annoying Kai and he maintained his distance. Except for professional conversation, we didn’t even look at each other. I also avoided talking to Oliver. When the day came to an end I was about to leave but Margot invited me to go for drinks with everyone before enjoying the weekend. I organized my desk and went with them.

I danced and drank a lot. I sought refuge in the music's rhythmic beat and the numbing effects of the alcohol. Each sip of my drink appeared to ease the ache I had buried deep within my heart. The vivid energy of the club, the flashing lights, and the careless laughter of strangers provided a brief break from my inner struggle.

I danced with the crowd, feeling a deep thud in my chest and letting the rhythm lead me. For those few hours, I almost forgot about the agony that was quickly becoming my daily companion.

When the club started to empty and the once-crowded dance floor thinned away I knew it was time to leave. I bid goodbye to everyone. Stepping outside in the crisp night air brought a sobering realization.

I was tipsy, but not so drunk that I couldn't defend myself against human hooligans. I was standing waiting for a cab when a group of men arrived unexpectedly. Their aggressive actions indicated their intentions. I fought back, punching them hard, driven by adrenaline and the residue of my previous drinks.

The struggle was intense. I felt a burst of excitement when I struck a particularly powerful punch, but it was brief. A stinging pain erupted in the back of my head when one of them struck me. My vision dimmed, and the world around me spun wildly. I stumbled as my strength faded.

Among the chaos, I heard the hooligans' screams of pain. My senses were fading away but I could pick out a new presence: someone strong and determined. A set of hands picked me up and held me gently. I tried to concentrate to see who my rescuer was, but it was too late. As darkness closed in I lost consciousness and surrendered to the emptiness.

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