6
“Enough! Stop this madness!”
Rick clamped his hand over my mouth, dragging me out of the office.
His grip on my nose and mouth was brutal, threatening suffocation.
Then, I heard Calista’s forgiving words to my colleagues. “Since the necklace is found, no harm done. We’re all colleagues; I won’t pursue it! Afternoon tea’s on me, thanks everyone!”
Rick, fearing a public exposure of our relationship, pulled me into the breakroom.
“What’s your game? There’s a limit to this craziness,” he said, rubbing his temples, clearly stressed.
I gasped for air, my face bruised from his grip.
“What has gotten into you? Calista is being generous. Apologize to her!”
“I won’t apologize. I didn’t do it!”
I glared at him.
He asked what’s wrong with me; I wanted to ask when he became so estranged.
Calista entered, pouring me a cup of hot water.
“Daisy, drink some water. I know you resent me, but don’t be impulsive.”
I didn’t take the water.
Calista spilled the hot water on my arm.
“Ow! Hot!” A few drops scalded her finger, Rick rushed her to the sink.
My thin blouse was soaked, yet the boiling water hissed and evaporated upon contact.
Grief consumed me; I didn’t notice the self-preservation of my awakening werewolf queen bloodline.
In the restroom, I saw that despite the widespread splash, the burn was minimal.
Returning to pack, Rick grabbed my hand.
“Ouch!” I cried out. Rick flinched, releasing me.
He stammered, “Are you alright?”
I found it ludicrous.
The slap was his doing, the burn Calista’s.
His feigned concern was nauseating.
I shook him off, sweeping the scattered items into the trash.
He started to speak, then left with a curt, “You were too impulsive today.”
After deaning up, I went to the security office.
I wouldn’t be falsely accused.
But the staff refused my request to view the morning’s footage, claiming only internal personnel had access.
My internal employee account was deleted-Rick’s handiwork.
Only he could act so swiftly.
He’d sided with Calista, convinced of my guilt.
Then I remembered the tech company was owned by the Flockhart family.
I decided to meet Harrison, the Flockhart heir, and the Lycan Alpha.
Leaving the office, a tingling sensation shot up my wrist.
A black Bentley’s window lowered in the parking lot; a wolf in the backseat gazed at me.
< 6
Me
The burn miraculously subsided; warmth spread through my veins-later I learned it was the first resonance between a Lycan leader and a werewolf queen’s bloodline.
Back at my apartment, I moved out everything, purging the relationship from my life.
That evening, a delivery arrived-burn cream.
I left it on the counter, taking a final look at the empty apartment.
The next day, I booked my flight back to Marisola.
I finalized my handover and briefed my replacement.
On the third day, I stepped onto the plane.
Before boarding, I sent Rick a final breakup message on his work WhatsApp.