Chapter 13
Sabrina was already waiting at the practice range, rocking a lemon–yellow athletic dress.
She sized me up, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
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“Girl, you might as well wrap your neck in a scarf and call it a day. This is a golf club, not a grocery run.”
I smiled lightly, adjusting the collar of my tracksuit.
“I’m here for a job, not a pageant. Professionalism counts more than sequins, right?”
I saw nothing wrong with my outfit: a light blue tracksuit that let me move freely, hair pulled into a sleek high ponytail to keep it out of my face, and minimal makeup–just a touch of concealer and lip balm for a fresh, polished look. Professional, clean, perfect for discussing work.
“Babe, wolves are visual creatures,” Sabrina said, tapping her temple like she was sharing a secret.
“You think Alpha Gideon’s gonna hire someone who looks like she’s here to mow the lawn? C’mon.”
“If Alpha Gideon just wanted a pretty face for his chief secretary, he’d have filled the spot by now,” I argued.
“Beauty and brains aren’t mutually exclusive,” Sabrina teased, poking my arm playfully.
“Lucky for you, I brought a backup outfit. We’re about the same size–put it on. Trust me.”
Before I could protest, she dragged me to the locker room, shoving a garment bag into my hands and insisting I change.
I stepped out feeling like a stranger in my own skin: transformed into a sultry wildcat.
A fitted white sleeveless top and a black pleated mini–skirt hugged my curves, accentuating my chest, waist,
and hips.
My long, creamy legs–usually hidden in jeans or slacks–were on full display.
“OMG!” Sabrina gasped, hand over her mouth.
“Vivian, you’re a knockout! Alpha Adrian’s an idiot for passing this up. What’s Vanessa got on you? A pulse?”
I ignored the jab about Alpha Adrian, my jaw tightening.
Staring at my reflection, I bit my lip, worried.
“Sabrina, this is… too much. Won’t Alpha Gideon think I’m trying to seduce him? That’s the last thing I want.”
“Shh.” Sabrina hushed me, pulling out her phone and dialing.
“Hey, Julian! You and Alpha Gideon are already there? We’re on our way. Five minutes tops.”
No chance to change back now.
We climbed into a golf cart, and I fidgeted with the hem of the skirt, suddenly self–conscious.
On the way, I probed, “Sabrina, you ever meet Alpha Gideon? What’s he like?”
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< Chapter 13
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“Once, actually. I was six, tagging along with my parents to the Hartley pack for a New Year’s visit. Alpha Gideon was a pup back then–pale, chubby, super cute, like a little snowball. But he got shipped off to another pack as a teen, some fancy training program, so he’s barely around here. Total mystery now.”
“Huh…” My mind conjured an image: a steaming, doughy bun–white, soft, and round, like the ones my grandma used to bake.
The golf cart rounded a bend, revealing a sprawling green field.
In the distance, a forest and lake shimmered like a postcard; closer up, two wolves in athletic gear stood chatting near the tee.
My eyes locked on one, my pupils dilating in shock.
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The one in a navy shirt and camel pants was Julian–I’d met him once at a pack mixer, a smooth–talking charmer. Beside him stood a taller wolf, dressed in crisp white, his frame lean and regal, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist that made the fabric of his shirt pull taut.
When he turned slightly, his chiseled profile seemed airbrushed by the sunlight, high cheekbones and a sharp jawline that could cut glass.
My vision swam.
That had to be…
“Alpha Gideon!” Sabrina squealed under her breath, clutching my arm.
“God, he’s nothing like the pup I remember. How’s he so tall and hot now? I’m swooning. Look at those arms
“We’re screwed,” I muttered, my throat going dry.
“You too? Love at first sight, huh? Totally smitten?”
Sabrina grinned, wiggling her eyebrows.
My face felt hotter than if I’d been crying, a mix of panic and mortification.
It was him–the wolf from the elevator.
The one I’d trapped, the one I’d asked about “her measurements” like a bumbling fool.
The cart stopped.
The two wolves noticed us.
Julian waved, his eyes lingering on me with clear admiration, like he was already mentally undressing me.
Alpha Gideon’s surprise flickered briefly in his pale eyes before his expression turned cold, shrouded in an
unapproachable mist–like a frozen lake, beautiful but deadly.
Sabrina led me over, chattering away, and I followed like a lamb to the slaughter.
No turning back now.
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<Chapter 13
Slim odds or not, I was determined to make my case.
“Julian, Alpha Gideon!”
Sabrina greeted them warmly, then turned to Alpha Gideon, gesturing to me eagerly.
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“This is my bestie, Vivian. She’s here to get a taste of Alpha Gideon’s… aura. Said she heard great things
about your leadership.”
My nerves churned, but my smile stayed flawless, practiced from years of charming stubborn pack elders.
Julian smirked, leaning against his golf club.
“No wonder Vivian tagged along, all dolled up. Gunning for Alpha Gideon, huh? Big ambitions. Can’t blame
you–he’s the catch of the century.”
I ignored his teasing, nodding at Julian.
“Good to see you again.”
Then I turned to Alpha Gideon, forcing a formal tone.
a Gideon, pleasure to meet you.”
after the words left my mouth did I realize my mistake.
My eyes twitched–damn my autopilot politeness!
Pleasure to meet you?
More like pleasure to make a fool of myself in front of you twice.
“First time meeting?”
Alpha Gideon’s pale gaze settled on me, voice low and smooth, like gravel in a stream.
I held my composed smile, though inside I was crumbling.
Piling on the charm, I said, “I’m thrilled to meet you. Sabrina’s told me so much about your work with the
Hartley Group.”
I looked at him, a mix of nerves and silent pleading.
Please don’t call me out. Please.
Alpha Gideon seemed to read my expression, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips–barely there, but
enough to make my stomach flip.
“Vivian does look pretty thrilled.”
His rich voice carried a teasing lilt, each word dripping with playful indulgence, like he was enjoying my discomfort.
Julian and Sabrina exchanged stunned glances, clearly misinterpreting the vibe. What? She’s got him already?
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Sabrina shot me a look: Told you the outfit was a game–changer. Use those assets.
I sighed inwardly. Teasing, not flirting, you idiots.
We started playing.
Alpha Gideon’s golf game was sharp, each swing precise, like he was calculating the wind and distance with
a wolf’s instinct.
Julian held his own, cracking jokes between shots, while Sabrina and I took a few swings but mostly played
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cheerleaders–Sabrina more enthusiastically than me, since I was too busy replaying the elevator fiasco in
my head.
After a round, we settled in the shade of a oak tree to rest, towels draped over our necks.
Sabrina, ever the matchmaker, grabbed Julian’s arm.
“Hey, Julian, let’s hit the club shop–they got new putters, remember? I wanna see if they’ve got one in pink.” She dragged him away, leaving me alone with Alpha Gideon.
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<Chapter 13
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He sat on the bench, legs stretched out, and I perched on the edge, trying to look casual.
Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed a water bottle from the cooler and handed it to him with a flattering smile.
“You must be thirsty.”
Alpha Gideon stared at my hand for a few seconds before taking it, his fingers brushing mine–cool,
calloused, a hunter’s hands. But he didn’t drink, just set it on the table beside him.
My heart sank. No shot, huh?
“First time meeting, and you go to all this trouble to meet me. Not just to ask about my measurements, I hope,” Alpha Gideon said, picking up a towel to wipe sweat from his brow, his movements fluid and refined.
His tone was casual, but the words were pointed, a deliberate jab.
I winced.
I pressed my lips together, choosing my words carefully.
“The ‘first time‘ thing was a slip. Old habit–pack protocol, you know? And asking Frank about your…
measurements was because I ruined your suit jacket in the rain. I wanted to replace it with a new set, as an
apology.”
“As for meeting you,” I added, sitting up straighter, “I heard you’re hiring a secretary. I have nine years of
experience in pack administration, project management-”
Alpha Gideon set the towel down, cutting me off with a blunt, “You’re not a fit.”
With that, he stood and headed toward the forest behind us, like he couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Rejected without even a question–hell no, I wasn’t having it.
My stubborn streak kicked in, the one that had gotten me through Alpha Adrian’s rages and Vanessa’s
tantrums. I stood and followed, my shoes crunching on the grass.
As we walked, one behind the other, a golf cart carrying Alpha Adrian and a client passed nearby on the path.
Vanessa was there too, clinging to Alpha Adrian’s arm, laughing too loudly at something the client said.
Alpha Adrian’s eyes locked on me–the sexy, curvy figure in the mini–skirt walking away from another alpha-
and his brow creased with suspicion, his jaw tightening.
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