Al's POV
The meeting went better than I expected—not that I had high hopes to begin with. Maybe I've just gotten used to these things dragging on, filled with the usual back-and-forth that never really goes anywhere. Afterward, I stuck around for some small talk before slipping out of the conference room. I needed coffee.
I headed to the office café, the one place that served it just the way I liked. The moment I walked in, the barista spotted me and got to work without a word. She always did. I wasn't sure how long she'd been here—probably longer than I could remember—but that didn't matter. What did matter was the way she looked at me. Something about it unsettled me, though I couldn't quite put my finger on why.
I grabbed my coffee the second it hit the counter and walked out. No waiting in line, no unnecessary pleasantries. People here knew who I was, and that came with certain privileges. Not that I cared much for most of them, but this? Skipping the line, getting what I needed without delay? This, at least, was convenient.
"Ooopss—" The words barely escaped my lips before I felt a sharp impact. My body slammed into someone as I turned quickly, my pace too fast for the crowded café. My irritation shot up instantly.
"I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed, sounding panicked as he frantically tried to wipe the coffee stains off my coat with a towel.
I froze, glaring at him. I could hear the gasps of everyone around us—what a mess this was turning into. Then came the deafening silence, like the entire café had held its breath.
I glanced down at my coat, now ruined by the splashes of coffee. "Oh my gosh!" I sighed heavily, trying to fight off the rising frustration. "Great, just great. My favorite coat is ruined." I glanced around, but no one moved.
I wiped my face with my hand, trying to calm down. "Good thing it's dark. The stain's not as noticeable…" I muttered, my patience already fraying.
"I'm really sorry," he said again, this time in a more apologetic tone, and he continued trying to clean the mess, his hand shaking a little as he wiped the fabric.
"Yeah, I get it," I snapped, feeling the anger rise again. "But seriously, do you not see people walking around here? You couldn't have taken a second to—"
But then something happened. I stopped mid-sentence. Something… something shifted. That smell. It was subtle at first, just a faint trace, but then it grew stronger—soft, warm, and unfamiliar. I inhaled deeply without thinking. My anger froze, like it had been abruptly put on pause.
It was unlike anything I'd ever smelled—rich, smooth, and almost intoxicating. Was it his cologne? The coffee? No, this wasn't like any coffee smell I'd ever encountered before. I looked at him, my irritation forgotten for a moment, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. What was that scent?
"Uh, sir?" His voice broke through my thoughts, and I blinked, snapped back to the moment. "Are you okay?"
I stared at him for a second, confused. Was I… was I still mad? I looked at the towel he was holding, then back at him, before awkwardly clearing my throat. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I muttered, the frustration in my voice fading somehow. "It was my fault too, I guess. I should've been paying attention."
I felt an odd calm wash over me, like I was suddenly in a completely different space, even though we were still standing in the middle of the café. My fingers instinctively moved to help him wipe at the stain on my coat, though the usual rage I'd expect to feel was… gone.
"I really didn't mean to bump into you," he said again, still holding the towel, his face flushed with embarrassment. "This is so embarrassing."
"No, no, it's fine." I waved him off, though part of me was still trying to wrap my head around the change in my mood. "It was an accident. Happens to the best of us." I forced a smile, and I couldn't help but notice how genuine his apology felt.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked me right in the eye, his voice softening. "I can make it up to you—get you a new coat or... something. If you want?"
I paused, blinking, still distracted by that strange scent that still lingered in the air. "A new coat?" I repeated, a small laugh escaping me. "I mean, it's not that bad. I'll live."
But something about his offer felt… different. Was he serious? Was it his nervousness making him say it, or was there more to him than I'd first thought?
For a second, the café seemed to fade into the background, and all I could think about was that strange scent.
"Really, it's fine," I finally said, my voice softer now, the edge of annoyance slipping away. "Don't worry about it." I gave him a small smile, even though my thoughts were still swirling around the smell. Whatever it was, it was getting under my skin in the strangest way.
He nodded, but his eyes seemed to linger on me for a moment too long, like he was waiting for something. I couldn't put my finger on it—what was going on? Why was this so… different?
"Well, I—uh—hope your day gets better," he said awkwardly, still holding the towel in his hand like he didn't know what to do with it anymore.
"Yeah, thanks," I said, giving him another smile, though my mind was still on that scent. "Take care."
As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. I had been ready to explode, but that strange, intoxicating scent had stopped me. And now, it was all I could think about.
I wasn't even thinking about my coffee anymore. The scent lingered faintly, but my mind had already moved elsewhere. As I stepped into the elevator, I shrugged off my coat, exhaling slowly.
The moment the doors slid open on my floor, I barely had time to take a step before a familiar figure rushed toward me.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Silvermoon" she panted, clutching a thick portfolio in both hands. She held it out to me, trying to steady her breath. "Here are the applicant files for the executive secretary position. You may review these profiles and let us know whom we should proceed with."
I took the portfolio without a word, nodding slightly before continuing toward my office. My grip on the folder was loose, my mind still caught on something else entirely. That scent…
It had faded, yet I could still remember it perfectly. Something warm, rich, and strangely captivating. It wasn't just pleasant—it was distracting.
Shaking my head, I pushed open my office door and walked in, letting the city skyline greet me through the towering glass windows. The sun had begun its descent, splashing golden light across the buildings. I sighed, letting my gaze linger for a moment longer. The sight was… grounding. A small piece of quiet at the end of a long day, even if all I did was sit through meetings.
Eventually, I turned away and dropped into my chair, flipping open the portfolio.
"Alright," I muttered to myself. "Let's see who we have here."
One by one, I scanned the profiles. Nothing caught my attention. The names blurred together, the faces all polished and professional. They were all… the same. Pretty, accomplished, but nothing stood out.
Until—
A name.
Rubeus Midnightwalker.
I frowned slightly. A guy? That was new. I had never seen a man apply for this role before. Not that it mattered—executive secretary work required organization, adaptability, and precision. Gender had nothing to do with it.
But something about the name tugged at my memory. Rubeus. Rubeus…
Wait.
This was the guy I bumped into earlier.
I sat up straighter, flipping through his details, my eyes narrowing as I read. So, he was here for the position. Huh.
Without thinking, I reached for the intercom.
"HR. Get in here. Now."
The moment someone on the other end confirmed, I hung up, eyes drifting back to his file. My fingers tapped against the paper as I stared at his photo, his details.
What was with this guy?
My jaw tensed. That scent from earlier… why was I remembering it now?
I pulled his profile closer, almost unconsciously, wondering if somehow—
What the hell am I doing?
I jolted as a sudden knock rattled my office door, snapping me back to reality. My heart gave a single, hard thump before settling back to normal. I blinked down at the paper in my hand.
Was I seriously about to try smelling it?
I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head. Damn it. Maybe I was more tired than I thought. Then again… I was an Alpha wolf. My sense of smell was the strongest of my kind. If there was even a trace of that scent left on—
Stop.
I straightened, rolling my shoulders as I cleared my throat.
"Come in," I called.
The door creaked open, and an HR staff member stepped inside. Without hesitation, I handed them Rubeus's profile.
"Call this person. ASAP. He starts tomorrow."