THE ALPHA WHO ONCE LOVED ME

LUCIAN'S POV

The moment I caught his scent in the hallway, I knew trouble had found me.

Eli never came here without a reason - and none of his reasons were ever good.

He stepped into my office without knocking, all sharp edges and defiance. "We need to talk."

I leaned back in my chair, suppressing a growl. "You forget who you're speaking to."

"Oh, I remember perfectly, Alpha," he said, spitting the title like it burned. "That's why I'm here."

I watched him, my jaw tightening. "Then say what you came to say."

"You're losing control, Lucian. I can smell it. The entire pack can."

My muscles tensed. "Watch your words."

"It's her, isn't it?" he snapped. "Tessa."

The name hit harder than it should've.

I didn't respond. Didn't have to. The silence said enough.

Eli stepped closer "You think no one notices the way your scent spikes when she's around? The way your wolf reacts like she's already yours?"

"She's human,"

"Maybe," he said, "but that doesn't change what's happening to you."

I stood, the chair scraping against the marble floor. "You think I haven't tried to stop it? You think I want this?"

"She's not Tessa from before," he said. "She doesn't remember you. And if she finds out what you are-"

"Then she'll run." My voice was quiet. Final. "Like everyone else."

Eli's expression softened, just for a moment. "You can't keep pretending this is under control. One wrong move, and you'll expose everything."

"I have it under control."

"Do you?" he challenged. "Because from where I'm standing, you're one heartbeat away from snapping."

I didn't realize my claws had extended until the faint scrape echoed against the desk.

I curled my fists, forcing them back. "Get out."

Eli didn't move. "I said, get-"

"Out!"

The roar tore through me before I could stop it, shaking the walls. The air in the room shifted, dense with power.

And that's when I heard it.

A soft gasp.

I turned toward the door.

Tessa stood there - frozen. Her wide eyes locked on mine.

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Her scent hit me again - warm, grounding, maddening.

But this time, it wasn't just attraction, it was recognition.

My wolf pressed forward, whispering one word that made my chest ache - mate.

No.

Not possible.

Eli swore under his breath, stepping forward, but I raised a hand to stop him.

"Tessa," I said, forcing my voice steady. "It's not what it looks like."

Her voice trembled. "Then what is it? Because every time I think I understand you, something else-"

Her gaze flicked to my eyes. "They were.....different. I saw it."

"Leave," I said quietly. "Please."

She shook her head. "You're hiding something from me."

I took a step closer before I could think better of it. "And you should thank me for it."

Her breath caught. "You're scaring me."

Those words cut deeper than claws ever could.

I froze, muscles locking, forcing my wolf back down where it belonged.

"Please," I whispered, softer this time. "Just go."

She hesitated, eyes searching mine one last time before she turned and left, her heels echoing down the corridor.

The moment the door closed, I slammed my fist into the wall out of rage.

Eli's voice came quietly behind me.

"You're going to lose her again, brother. And this time... I don't think either of you will survive it"

TESSA'S POV

I didn't stop walking until the elevator doors shut behind me.

My pulse was wild, my hands trembling as the last image replayed in my head - his eyes glowing like molten fire. That wasn't human. Nothing about that was human.

I pressed a palm against the wall, forcing myself to breathe. It must've been the lighting, I told myself. The stress. Anything but what I actually saw.

"Tessa."

I turned. Eli was there - leaning casually against the opposite wall, as if nothing had happened.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharper than I meant.

He smiled, too easily. "I was just passing through. Thought I'd check on my favourite workaholic."

"Don't." I shook my head, taking a step back. "Don't lie to me right now."

His smile faltered. "Tess-"

"I saw you," I said. "In his office. You were talking to him. Like you knew him. Like you've known him for years."

For a second, something flickered behind his eyes - a crack in that calm, joking mask. Then he laughed, forced and flat. "I think you're overreacting."

"Eli." I swallowed hard. "What's going on? Who is he?"

He looked at me for a long moment, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You shouldn't be asking questions you don't want answers to."

"That's not an answer," I snapped.

He met my gaze - and for a heartbeat, his eyes glimmered faintly under the lights.

My chest tightened. "Eli..."

"I'll take care of this," he said quietly. "Just... stay away from him. Please."

"Why?"

His lips parted like he wanted to tell me everything - then he just shook his head. "Because if you don't, Tess... you'll remember."

"Remember what?"

"Never mind, we'll talk better tomorrow," he said, snatching my car keys from my hand.

"I'll drive, no complaints." he added

And I was left standing there - heart pounding, mind spinning, knowing that whatever secret they were hiding... somehow, I was part of it.

The ride had been painfully silent, except for the faint hum of some pop song he'd turned on halfway through to "lighten the mood."

I wasn't in the mood.

Not after that.

Lucian's voice, the look in his eyes - the way he'd acted like I was nothing but another employee. I clenched her fists as I got out of the car.

"Tessa, wait-"

"I'm fine, Eli."

"You don't look fine."

"Good thing I didn't ask for your opinion."

I slammed the door before he could respond and marched up the steps.

By the time I got inside, I was shaking, half from anger, half from something I couldn't name. I paced around my tiny living room, took off my heels, threw my bag on the couch, and then finally exhaled.

Five minutes. That's all I needed. Just five minutes to breathe.

But then-

A knock on the door

My head snapped up.

Another knock. Firmer this time.

"Eli?" I called out.

No answer.

When I opened the door, my heart nearly stopped.

Lucian stood there tall and composed.

For a moment, my brain refused to connect the dots.

He'd left the building after me.

There was no car following us.

No time for him to get here.

My throat went dry. "How-how did you-?"

He didn't answer. His eyes dragged over my face like he was memorizing every detail.

My words caught in my throat before I could speak. Then he said it, like a confession and a threat all at once.

"I can't stop thinking about you, Tessa."