In the quiet atmosphere of her apartment, lit only by the dim glow of the street lights, Serena looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a simple, dark green dress that reached to her ankles, which she had once found in a small boutique in Milan. This dress was one of the few remnants of her past, a memento of simpler times that she had kept for herself. But it was nothing special. It had a simple cut and showed a little back. A clever side slit gave the otherwise unremarkable dress an elegant touch. Serena left her hair loose, but secured it with two bobby pins at the side, draping it elegantly over one shoulder.

Over her shoulders she draped a light white shawl that she had bought today with the last of her emergency money. She had spent her money on something that made her look like something she no longer wanted to be. A perfectly draped doll that had been made of her as a teenager.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone vibrated. An email from Nathan. He had arranged for a driver to pick her up. A glance at the clock told her it was time to get going. When Serena entered the restaurant, she was immediately captivated by its elegant and finely crafted atmosphere. The most striking feature was a magnificent living tree that rose majestically in the middle of the room, its branches reaching out like protective arms over the tables. The room itself was bathed in a soft, dim light emitted by tastefully designed lamps, creating an intimate and almost magical atmosphere. Delicate music, discreetly in the background, filled the room without disturbing conversations, giving it a sense of luxury and delicacy. Every element, from the carefully arranged tables to the understated artwork on the walls, contributed to an impression of exclusivity. She was led to the table where Nathan and other guests were already seated. When he saw her, he stood up to greet her briefly and introduce herself.

"This is Serena, my assistant." Nathan's voice was confident as he made the introductions. Serena stepped forward, smiled politely, and shook hands with each investor in turn to greet them. The elegant woman at Nathan's side, whose presence Serena had noticed when she arrived - not least because of the casual way Nathan had put his arm around her as they sat together - also rose to her feet.

Dressed in a stunning red dress, she exuded an elegance that couldn't help but captivate Serena. She had beautiful tanned skin and a radiant, captivating smile. Was she his Luna? She had to be. She seemed like an Alpha's mate, bound to him by a deep, ritual bond. The way she moved with a natural grace that matched Nathan's appearance perfectly.

"Nathan," she began, her smile warm and inviting, "she's far too pretty to be your assistant."

"I don't choose my assistant based on her appearance, Amanda," he corrected her quietly, "Stop, you're embarrassing her."

"I'm not sure, are you a wo..." Before Amanda Wolf could say, she was interrupted by Nathan.

"She's not from our family..." he warned, making her believe that Serena was just human.

"Can't you speak for yourself?" Amanda asked, brushing off his objection.

Serena opened her mouth, ready to answer Amanda, and was immediately interrupted. With a wide smile that betrayed his good humor and wit, a man strode straight toward the company. He was tall and undeniably attractive, though his looks did not match Nathan's magnetic appeal. But what he may have lacked in supernatural beauty, he made up for with his radiant presence and easy charm. "Hey, old friend," he greeted Nathan warmly. "A beauty as always," he greeted Amanda. Then he saw Serena and beamed. "Serena, right?" he said, "I'm glad Nathan managed to choose you."

Amanda smiled. "Now a lot of things are becoming clear," she whispered to Nathan, who gave her a warning look.

"This is Alex Grant," said Nathan, "My right hand man."

Without saying another word, Alex took Serena's hand and pressed an elegant kiss to it. "A warm welcome to our midst," he said with a beaming smile.

Amanda couldn't help but roll her eyes in annoyance. "Why am I never greeted like that?" she laughed as she sat back down.

"Because I've had the misfortune of knowing you for far too long," Alex countered, his amused smile leaving no doubt as to the friendly nature of their exchange.

"I suddenly feel 20 years older," Amanda replied, feigning indignation.

Alex winked at her, but refrained from replying. Instead, he pulled up a chair and gallantly offered Serena a seat. His light-hearted humor and the ease of his manners noticeably lightened the otherwise formal atmosphere of the evening.

Nathan, on the other hand, seemed less impressed by his beta's jokes. A quick warning look in Alex's direction served as an unspoken reminder not to overstep the boundaries of this evening.

❦

The evening went far better than Nathan expected. The investors seemed impressed and satisfied with the presentations and discussions that had taken place. One by one they left, each with a firm, warm handshake and a promise to be in touch again soon. Nathan watched it all with a mixture of relief and tense alertness. He had worked hard to make this evening a success, and it seemed that his efforts had paid off.

But beneath the surface of his professional facade, something was brewing. Nathan couldn't deny that he was annoyed, even if he didn't want to admit it to himself. Every time he saw Alex courting Serena, he felt something inside him tighten. His answers to Amanda became more and more terse, his expression a little harder every time he noticed Alex's charming smile in Serena's direction. It was irrational, Nathan knew. Serena was his assistant, and Alex was his beta. Still, he couldn't shake the growing unease. His wolf was getting restless. He could sense it.

As the evening officially came to an end, Alex grabbed his jacket and, standing at the door of the restaurant, smiled and offered Serena a ride home. Nathan felt his muscles tense, an instinctive no on his lips. He had to intervene.

"Alex, could you take Amanda home?" Nathan asked, his voice calm but firm. Alex's eyebrows rose in surprise, but he finally nodded and followed his Alpha.

"Amanda, please don't be mad at me. I still have to discuss some business matters with Serena. It's really important," he added apologetically and gave her a goodbye kiss on the cheek, "It was really nice of you to be here. We'll talk on the phone tomorrow."

She said goodbye to Serena and got into the car that was brought to her and Alex.

Only Nathan and Serena remained outside the restaurant, enveloped in the nighttime silence as they waited for Nathan's car to arrive. He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to her right now. She also seemed to prefer to remain silent.

Was it really wise to be alone in a car with her now, in this agitated state? Somehow it felt like a challenge that would only unnecessarily irritate his wolf.

Serena stood there, her loose hair playing in the night wind, and her scent - so unique - seemed to envelop him completely. He had smelled this scent all evening, so present as if it were standing right in front of him. Had no one else really noticed how intense and captivating she smelled? Nathan couldn't believe that he was the only one able to sense the essence of her wolf.

Nathan's vehicle, a dark blue SUV, glided gracefully up to the restaurant, interrupted only by the faint crunch of tires on the rocky driveway. Serena glanced up briefly, her eyes catching the gleam of the car in the dim light of the street lamps. "You don't have to drive me," she said, a hint of stubbornness in her voice, "I can call a cab."

He sighed and opened the door for her. "Spare me the argument. I'll take you home," he said wearily.

"Get in," he ordered curtly, a gentle directness in his voice that brooked no argument. Reluctantly, but without further objection, Serena slid into the car and gave him her address.

The journey was in deep silence, a silence broken only by the quiet hum of the engine and the occasional flash of the street lamps.

When they finally arrived in front of Serena's apartment, the modest neighborhood she lived in was revealed. The buildings were older, the street lighting more sparse. "Not exactly the safest neighborhood..." he noted.

Serena smiled slightly, trying to dispel the worries. "Vancouver is relatively safe, Mr. Harper. I haven't had any bad experiences so far."

"Nathan," he corrected wearily. "My father was Mr. Harper."

"Mr. Harper, I would find it really inappropriate for you to..."

"I decide what I want to be called," he said firmly, unbuckled his seatbelt, got out and opened the door for her. He led her to the entrance of her house. "I'm sorry that the entry was a bit rough. A lot of things have been left behind since my last assistant left us. You should rest."

Serena looked at Nathan for a moment, a slight smile playing on her lips. "You're telling me to rest?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "And you look like you haven't slept for days."

He returned her smile and ran a hand through his brown hair. "I'll take that as a compliment," he replied with a crooked grin. He was silent for a moment, as if searching for the right words, but decided not to say anything. He wanted to tell her to stay away from his beta, but he felt that now was not the right time to bring it up. I didn't want her to end up disappointed if she decided to respond to Alex's advances. He could be very charming, but Nathan had known him forever. He had never been serious with any woman. The last thing Nathan needed was a lovesick assistant who was unable to work.

"Good night, Nathan," she unlocked the door and entered the house.