Chapter 3
THREE
MILA
Mila’s reflection stared back at her from the restroom mirror that morning and she barely recognized herself.
The sleeveless navy dress hugged her curves in ways her usual blouses and skirts never did, the mascara made her blue eyes look deeper, and her golden blonde hair fell past her shoulders instead of being pulled back in its typical ponytail.
What am I doing? She smoothed the dress fabric with nervous fingers. Getting dressed up to meet a wolf shifter prince from another planet. That’s completely normal Tuesday behavior, right?
The walk to her office felt surreal. Every familiar hallway and doorway seemed different today, as if she were seeing them through new eyes while her mind kept circling back to Gerri’s impossible proposition from the night before.
A future queen. The words still made her stomach flutter with equal parts terror and excitement. Me? The woman who can’t even get her father to notice her contributions to the firm?
She settled at her desk, but concentration proved impossible.
The case files that usually demanded her complete attention felt trivial compared to the magnitude of what lay ahead.
Every few minutes, her gaze drifted to the clock, calculating how much time remained before she’d meet this mysterious Cade.
What would a wolf prince even look like? Her imagination conjured images of brooding intensity and raw power, the kind of man who commanded rooms simply by entering them. Please don’t let him be another arrogant alpha type who thinks a paralegal isn’t worth his time.
Her dating history read like a catalog of disappointments. Five years of being single, punctuated by awkward blind dates and one promising connection that had fizzled when he’d decided she wasn’t “adventurous enough” for his taste.
Well, traveling to another planet to become a queen certainly qualifies as adventurous.
The thought made her laugh despite her nerves. Maybe her track record was about to change dramatically.
“Earth to Mila.” Riley’s voice cut through her wandering thoughts. Her sister stood in the doorway, immaculate as always in a charcoal gray pantsuit that probably cost more than Mila’s monthly salary. “You’ve been staring at that same document for three minutes without reading a word.”
Heat flooded Mila’s cheeks. “Just thinking.”
“Dangerous habit.” Riley stepped into Mila’s office, her sharp hazel eyes taking inventory of Mila’s appearance. “You look different today. Good different. That dress is absolutely gorgeous on you.”
“Thanks.” Mila fidgeted with her pen, unsure how to navigate the compliment without revealing her morning’s agenda.
“Special occasion?” Riley’s tone carried that mixture of genuine interest and competitive edge that had defined their relationship since childhood.
Before Mila could formulate an answer, heels clicked down the hallway like castanets announcing an entrance. Then, Gerri Wilder appeared in the doorway wearing a vibrant emerald pantsuit that somehow made her look both professional and magical.
“Good morning, sunshine!” Gerri’s smile was radiant as she swept into the office. “Ready for our brunch date?”
Riley’s eyebrows shot up. “Brunch date?”
Mila’s heart hammered in her chest. The moment of truth had arrived, and she felt woefully unprepared despite a sleepless night of mental rehearsal.
“Gerri, this is my sister Riley, if you didn’t know already.” The introduction felt wooden, but it bought her precious seconds to think. “Riley, you remember Gerri Wilder from yesterday’s meeting.”
“Of course.” Riley’s attorney instincts were clearly pinging. “Though I wasn’t aware you two had made social plans today.”
Gerri’s laugh was like champagne bubbles, light and effervescent. “Oh, we have so much to discuss this morning! Business and pleasure, you know how it is.”
Business and pleasure. If only Riley knew how accurate that description was.
“No pressure, Mila,” Gerri continued, her tone casual but her eyes holding depths of meaning. “Just meet him today and see what you think. Then let me know afterwards.”
The words landed like bombs in the quiet office.
“Meet who exactly?” Riley’s voice sharpened with protective sister instincts. “Him who? What kind of meeting are we talking about here?”
Mila’s throat went dry. The careful normalcy of her morning routine crumbled around her as both women waited for an explanation she couldn’t possibly give.
How do you tell your accomplished attorney sister that you’re about to have brunch with an alien wolf prince who might want to make you his queen?
Gerri’s eyes flashed that distinctive gold, and her smile turned mysteriously serene. “Just a lovely gentleman who’s visiting from out of town.”
The understatement was so massive it made Mila’s head spin.
Riley crossed her arms, clearly dissatisfied with the vague response. “Out of town how far? And why the secrecy?”
“No secrecy!” Gerri’s voice carried musical notes of amusement. “Just... discretion. You understand.”
Discretion. That was certainly one way to describe keeping interplanetary romance under wraps.
Mila felt both women’s attention on her, demanding a decision she wasn’t sure she was brave enough to make now. Her heart raced as she felt that same inexplicable pull from last night when Gerri first mentioned Cade’s name—a magnetic draw toward something unknown and potentially life-changing.
What’s the worst that could happen? I meet him, realize this whole thing is ridiculous, and go back to my perfectly ordinary life, right?
But even as the thought formed, part of her rebelled against the idea of ordinary. She’d been ordinary for thirty-two years, and where had it gotten her? Invisible, overworked, and watching life happen to other people.
“I...” The word came out as barely a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I think I’d like to meet him now.”
Gerri practically squealed, her eyes flashing that brilliant gold as she grabbed Mila’s hand with surprising strength for someone so petite.
“Oh, this is perfect! Absolutely perfect!” She tugged Mila toward the office door with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning. “Come on, darling, no time to waste!”
Mila’s heels clicked frantically against the floor as she struggled to keep pace with Gerri’s determined stride. Behind them, she could hear Riley calling out questions that went unanswered as they swept down the hallway and through the reception area.
“Gerri, wait—“ Mila tried to catch her breath as they burst through the front doors into the warm summer morning. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Nonsense!” Gerri’s grip tightened as they navigated the sidewalk toward the corner café. “You’re just nervous, which is perfectly natural. But do you know how brave you’re being right now? How absolutely extraordinary?”
Extraordinary. That word felt foreign when applied to herself. Mila’s stomach churned as pedestrians moved around them, everyone going about their normal Tuesday routines while she walked toward what might be the most life-altering moment of her existence.
“Most women would run screaming from this opportunity,” Gerri continued, her voice warm with conviction. “But not you. I knew the moment we met yesterday that you were special, Mila. There’s something about you—a strength, a resilience—that’s exactly what he needs.”
He. Prince Cade. The wolf shifter king-to-be who apparently needed a queen.
They reached the café, its cheerful yellow awning and outdoor seating area looking deceptively normal for a place where interplanetary romance was about to unfold. Gerri paused at the entrance, her hands settling on Mila’s shoulders with a gentleness.
“Remember, you’re not just any woman. You’re the woman. Trust me on this.”
Before Mila could respond, Gerri pushed open the glass door and led her inside. The café buzzed with morning energy—the hiss of espresso machines, the clink of ceramic mugs, and conversations blending into a comfortable hum of normalcy that would soon be shattered.
“There they are!” Gerri’s voice carried across the space as she guided them toward the corner table.
Mila’s gaze followed Gerri’s pointing finger, and her world tilted sideways.
Two figures sat at the secluded corner table—a stunning woman with long dark brown hair and the most attractive man Mila had ever laid eyes on. Her heart plummeted for a split second as jealousy stabbed through her chest.
“That’s Cade’s sister, Lyra,” Gerri whispered quickly, sensing Mila’s momentary panic. “Family support system, you know how it is.”
Relief flooded through her, followed immediately by a new wave of nervousness as Cade turned toward them. Their eyes met across the café, and everything else faded into white noise.
Oh, wow.
He was magnificent. Six feet and change of pure masculine power, with broad shoulders that filled out his dark shirt in ways that should be illegal. His thick brown hair was styled with effortless precision, and his eyes—God, his eyes were the most intense shade of green she’d ever seen.
He stood in one fluid motion, his movements carrying the kind of controlled grace that suggested coiled strength beneath the surface.
Every step toward them radiated confidence and authority, but not the performative kind she was used to seeing from successful men.
This was different—primal, natural, like watching a predator move through his territory.
“Hello, Mila.” His voice was deep and rich, making her name sound like music. “I’m Cade.”
He extended his hand, and the moment their skin made contact, tingles shot up her arm.
Warmth spread from their joined fingers straight to her core, and she suddenly forgot how to breathe.
The café, the other customers, even Gerri’s delighted laughter—everything disappeared except the electric connection crackling between them.
What is happening?
“Well!” Gerri’s voice cut through the charged silence like a bell. “I’d say we’re off to a very good start!”