Chapter 6
“Laura, come here for a moment.”
I didn’t even realize when Steven’s speech had ended. The pack elder Marcus, gestured for me to step forward.
I braced myself and walked over.
“Alpha Steven, I must insist she apologizes to you today,” Elder Marcus began. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She’s usually meticulous, but somehow she managed to mess up something as simple as an airport pickup.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Laura, I don’t even know how to scold you anymore.”
He shot me a pointed look.
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“Alpha Steven, I’m sorry.” I lowered my head.
Steven gave a slight nod. “It’s fine.”
Then he asked, “What about the car? That chase–I owe you an apology for that incident.”
Elder Marcus froze, coughing violently as if the words had knocked the air out of him.
After a moment, he managed to ask, “Laura, what’s going on? Why didn’t you explain properly?”
I’d just found out Steven was the cause of the incident.
“Alpha Steven, rest assured, the car is being handled,” Elder Marcus quickly interjected.
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Steven nodded again, his tone calm but firm. “Good. But why was she doing a driver’s job? Perhaps the staff roles need better clarification.”
Because of that one comment, I got to leave work early–for one day.
But Steven kept running into me at 9 p.m. over the next three days. Finally, he asked, “I get that I’m swamped because I just got back, but why are you always the last to leave?”
I looked up at him, exhausted and unamused. “If I said I stayed late because I love working, would you believe me?”
He chuckled, his lips curling into a grin. “When you’re done, I’ll treat you to a late–night snack.”
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“That’s not appropriate.”
Before I could finish, my stomach growled audibly.
Steven laughed. “Let’s go now. Eat first, work later.”
Ignoring my protests, he turned and headed for the elevator.
The restaurant wasn’t far, just on the fourth floor of the neighboring mall. But as we approached the escalator, Steven paused.
“I pre–ordered the food, but it might take a while. Mind helping me pick out something for my mom? She’s been asking, and I almost forgot. The shop’s right over there.”
He gestured toward a store ahead, looking genuinely apologetic.
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I nodded.
It turned out the universe wasn’t done messing with me. Just as Steven paid for a gift, a familiar, venomous voice cut through. the air.
“Well, well, Laura. Didn’t expect you to find a new mark so quickly.”
I glanced at Elena, refusing to engage.
She smirked and turned to the clerk. “I’ll take the same item they’re buying. Wrap it up.”
The clerk smiled apologetically. “We have, other colors in stock. Would you like to take a look?”
Elena’s tone dropped, sharp and cold. “I want that one.”
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Steven’s expression hardened. “If you’re not done browsing, may I pay first?”
Elena rolled her eyes and handed over her card with a flourish.
“Let’s settle mine first,” she said.
Moments later, the machine beeped.
“Payment declined,” the clerk said, looking uneasy.
Elena tried several more cards, each rejected. I could hear her furious whisper over the phone.
“You fro
my cards?”
Bran’s voice leaked through the speaker. “Do you know how much you’ve spent this
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month?”
“Bran, you’ve changed! You used to be generous!”
“I used to spoil you, and you still left me. At least Laura never-” Bran stopped himself. “Elena, you’re nothing like Laura.”
I couldn’t help laughing out loud.
Elena spun around, glaring daggers at me. “You-” she started, but words failed her.
“Want me to call Bran for you?”
Her hand trembled with rage as she stormed off.
Back at the table, Steven hesitated.
“You’ve met before?” he finally asked.
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I sighed. “My ex’s ex. And now current.”
Steven blinked, then smiled. “I wasn’t going to pry, but I was thinking about something else.”
“What?”
He set a small bag on the table. “The shop gave me a gift. My mom won’t use it, and I thought you might like it.”
I shook my head, backing away. “Alpha Steven, that’s inappropriate.”
His face fell slightly, and I buried myself in my food, trying to ignore the unease brewing in my chest.
Everything tonight felt too personal, too close.
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Later, as I returned home, a message popped up–Steven sharing a joke.
I didn’t reply. Something about all this didn’t. feel right.
And then I ran into Bran again.
ala
