Zara

The next morning, I was awakened by a soft knock on the door. Rubbing my eyes, I said sleepily,

"Come in."

Opening the door, I saw Asbela with a mischievous smile.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty, or rather, lovesick beauty," she teased, approaching the table with a large tray.

Memories of the previous night surfaced, and my cheeks flushed with a wave of embarrassment.

Yesterday, Alpha Kane had kicked everyone out of the house, and I knew everyone had figured it out.

WHY.

***

Alpha Kane

Tired of this torment, my she-wolf fell asleep in my arms. I would have gladly drawn her a hot bath, but she was too tired.

"Zara!" "I called out to her, glancing at her sleeping figure.

Her shirt was barely hanging on from how badly I’d torn it. Red stains had spread across her shoulders, and a few strands had even fallen onto her chest.

For a moment, I lay her on my lap and brushed the curtain of hair away from her serene face, watching her sleep innocently.

My fingers barely brushed her fluffy cheeks; they reminded me of the cotton candy I’d eaten as a child. I was sure she still loved her.

So trusting, I hadn’t even earned her trust.

"I will always protect you, Zara," I whispered slowly.

As sleep began to overwhelm me, I picked Zara up and laid her down on the bed. She woke up briefly and curled up under the covers. I gently kissed her temple and pulled away.

Heading to my room, I showered and changed before calling Olfie to let everyone in. She hadn’t had time to eat dinner, so I asked Asbela to bring her breakfast first thing in the morning.

I grabbed a pack of cigarettes and decided to smoke, but then Zara’s face appeared. She hated my habit, and I couldn’t. Not today. Throwing the pack on the table, I climbed into bed.

Soon, I dozed off too. The next couple of days promised to be busy, so I needed to get enough sleep to stay sharp.

The next day, I had to prepare the dress for her arrival for rehearsal. I left early for the office with Olfie, asking Kaysir to bring her later.

Another reason was that I wanted her to get some rest, as it was going to be a busy day with rehearsals. I left her a message explaining this so she wouldn’t feel left out.

I went to the design department. I’d been promised the dress would be ready tomorrow, and I wanted to see for myself.

Entering the workshop, I saw the team I’d assigned to assemble the dress.

"Sir, it’s ready," the head of design informed me with a satisfied smile, understanding my purpose.

"Show me," I said quickly, and they led me to the mannequin on which it was displayed.

I admired it as it sparkled under the sconces. It was just as I’d imagined, and I could picture Zara inside it.

Dazzling and dreamy, just like her. I knew she’d love it. She’ll look like a princess, a princess of the Sterling Empire.

Coming closer, I examined it carefully, reaching out to feel the soft fabric; it clung tightly to her skin. The excitement I felt at seeing her walking beside me, putting it on, made me slightly dizzy.

Turning around, I saw the entire department gathered to watch my reaction and hear my words of approval. Their expectant eyes and excited faces showed that they were dying to hear my praise.

"I wish there were more gems on the belt; it looks too plain. But overall, the work is simply stunning."

Their faces beamed, as if I’d offered them a 100% bonus. Apparently, praise from the boss served as an incentive for employees. Zara was right to urge me to praise others more.

"It will be done immediately. Perhaps we should send him to the rehearsal room?" the head of the design department asked, seeing me off.

"Yes, I need to check the invitations for the winter gala, but I’ll be heading there later," I told her, leaving the establishment and heading to my next destination.

I had a feeling this winter gala would be epic, because she would be my star attraction.

I arrived at the Marketing and Creative department’s office, and they immediately showed me the design. It was perfect, exactly what I wanted. Red ribbons intertwined with snowflakes, and our slogan was written in the center.

After giving them my approval, I left the Marketing and Creative department. Miranda joined me and, handing me a cup of coffee to go, explained my schedule.

"Sir, your next meeting is in five minutes. It runs until noon, and then you’ll have a rehearsal for your entrance."

Taking a sip and heading to the conference room, I asked, "Has Zara arrived?"

"Not yet, sir. But she sent me a voicemail saying she’ll be here in half an hour," Miranda replied, jogging after me.

"Excellent. Go downstairs yourself and meet her when she arrives. She might want to take the stairs instead of the elevator, so try to... Make her feel comfortable.

"Make yourself comfortable and stay with her. Make sure she has everything she needs. After my meeting, we’ll have a dress rehearsal."

The glass door slid open, and I entered the conference room. Miranda nodded briefly and left.

The meeting dragged on, and I found it hard to concentrate. Images of a certain redhead sucking my dick kept running through my head.

But the meeting was important; we were planning product launches in January, and I couldn’t just relax. I strained myself and tried to focus. Two hours felt like two days, and finally it was over.

"You seemed distracted. You needed wrinkles on your forehead and a sharp tongue," Renold remarked irritably.

I was known for grumbling and grousing too much in meetings. It must have been odd when I overlooked too many mistakes and kept a neutral expression instead of my usual attentive one.

"I was concentrating. Why were you staring at my face instead of focusing on your work?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Just an observation. Let’s go to rehearsal. I assume your girlfriend is there," he smirked confidently.

I rolled my eyes, but that stupid organ inside my chest clicked with delight.

We headed to the rehearsal room, and upon entering, the first thing I saw was her in the costume I’d tailored and picked out especially for her. And my world turned upside down as I stared at her openly and forgot to breathe.

***