Through the glass wall of his office, Nathan saw the receptionist lead Serena into the open-plan office where technical draftsmen and architects worked together. Of course she didn't have any coffee with her, he noted with amusement, and decided to let her get away with it today. The dreary coffee from the office kitchen would have to do. The lady from Human Resources showed her to a table that had belonged to the old assistant. Serena took off her scarf and coat and hung them over the chair while she looked around. She may no longer have the support of her wealthy parents, but you could still see that she was the daughter of a wealthy family. She wore a fine beige pencil skirt and a high-necked dark blue blouse with a staid pearl necklace that she had already worn in her application photo. A soft, elegantly braided blonde braid hung over her shoulder. Far too conspicuous and elegant for her colleagues.

Nathan ran his office without a dress code, not to mention that he wouldn't have been able to enforce one with his architects anyway. Instead, everyone had their own style, wore sweatpants or jeans, a T-shirt, shorts or skirts. As long as everyone did their job, it didn't matter to him. Nathan met with the investors. They expected the staid suit and tie and it didn't bother him. It was his daily uniform, even though he would swap jeans for trousers any time. Nevertheless, he insisted on wearing the colorful socks that his sister liked to give him for Christmas.

_She looks good,_ his wolf noted, but she smells even better. I can smell her scent from here._ Nathan snorted. "You've been trapped for too long and you have no idea," he muttered. "She's completely out of place. What was I thinking?" _Then let me out,_ the wolf replied,_ we'll have some fun. We could invite her..._ "No way. Not after last time. You have no control over yourself," Nathan hissed. For six full moons, Nathan himself had been holding back his transformation. It was getting harder and harder to keep the wolf happy, but he couldn't risk letting himself go again. "Besides, her wolf hasn't awakened. Already forgotten?" _I'm lonely_, growled the wolf, then more quietly: _You're lonely. What do you think will happen if your pack finds out that you - their alpha - are keeping your wolf captive._ Nathan shook his head. He didn't feel like having this discussion. It was the first one he had had with his wolf in weeks. He had assumed that his wolf had accepted his fate, but now he felt more restless. There were still 13 days until the full moon. So Nathan didn't need to worry. Wolves didn't have a hard time controlling their transformation. It was only at the full moon that the urge to transform got worse. But even then it was not impossible to control yourself. _She's lonely too, _whispered the wolf,_ I feel that. _ Nathan looked at Serena again.

Clarice - who headed his HR department, turned on the computer at Serena's desk and handed her a load of papers - presumably the employment contract that Nathan had adjusted after the disaster with the assistant - as well as devices that Serena would be working with. A cell phone, a notebook and the chip key to the shared office.

If he was honest with himself, Nathan wasn't sure how much he could trust her, but he wanted her to be near him. Without an awakened wolf, she was defenseless, and the renegade neighborhood was no place for this elf. She also knew the Fitzgeralds and other packs he was negotiating with. He would seize the opportunity and use her knowledge for his own ends.

☙

Clarice took Serena towards the kitchen. "Just to be safe, you should know how it works. Usually the interns make Mr. Harper's coffee, but every now and then the previous assistant has taken over. He always works late into the night. Be prepared for a few hours of overtime."

I'm not thinking of taking the night shift for this guy, Serena thought to herself. She had noticed him staring at her from his office. He had leaned back at his desk, arms folded, and had looked straight at her without hesitation. His gaze was dominant and arrogant, his posture confident, which reminded her to find out more about him and his rank. She could hardly ask the HR manager about it. Serena sensed that she was a wolf, while Clarice herself probably had no idea who was standing in front of her. Otherwise she wouldn't have been nearly as friendly to her.

"Have you seen the new one?" Serena heard a woman's voice speak from afar. She may not have been an active wolf, but her ears were as sensitive as anyone else's in her pack.

"I can imagine why he hired her," another voice whispered.

"His hormones probably played a role," laughed the first voice.

"That's nonsense," explained a third voice. "The pre-selection was made by Alex. Nathan didn't want to deal with it anymore after Susan betrayed the company."

"Oh, come on. Do you really think her skills counted? She looks like she hasn't had to lift a finger in her life. She hasn't even had a job interview..."

"And even if she's attractive, Nathan doesn't get involved with a person. Especially not if she works here." A giggle followed. "You tried to change his mind yourself."

A groan from the first voice. "I haven't given up yet. He's so hot in his suit... If I get him, I'll have achieved everything in life..."

An annoyed groan "Maybe you should aim higher instead of seducing your boss."

"Never."

Serena and Clarice entered the large kitchen. Three young women were standing at the counter and fell silent as soon as they spotted Serena. Serena made no attempt to smile at them, but also did nothing to indicate that she had heard the conversation. Clarice introduced the women and explained that they would now be working with Serena in the open-plan office. "Wherever you are going now." She gave them a meaningful look to make sure they did not continue to chat about new colleagues. She then went to the coffee machine and explained to Serena how to use it. She let the coffee run through.

"You must have questions. Let me know if I can help you." Clarice grabbed the coffee and handed it to Serena.

"Thank you, Clarice. I'll take over from here," Serena heard a voice say and felt someone take the coffee cup from her hand. Her knuckles touched Nathan Harper's skin. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt him near her. Her heartbeat quickened and she froze.

He could barely hold the cup, but the hot coffee sloshed over his hand. Small drops landed on his shirt, but he didn't seem to pay any attention.

"Oh no," Serena and Clarice cried in shock.

"It's okay," Nathan reassured her, "I shouldn't have sneaked up on you." He gestured to Clarice that everything was OK and that she could go. She raised her hands apologetically and quickly left.

"Are you okay?" he asked Serena, noticing that she was looking at him in confusion. She shook her head as if she was trying to shake off a thought.

"Yes, everything's fine. Did you burn yourself?" she asked worriedly. He looked at his hand and said no, not very convincingly, but she didn't interfere any further.