Nathan’s POV
I was in my office at Hemsworth Group, listening to Collins my beta speak. He said sothing that caused my wolf to stir.
"So, a janitor stole my grandmother’s ring?" My voice ca out low and calm.
My grandmother ca back few days ago after spending several years abroad. She left after my mother and her daughter passed away. She was too heartbroken to stay here.
When I got married to Aria five years ago, she sent her goodwill to and has since been disturbing for grandchildren.
Now she is finally back to taunt as much as she can.
Collins straightened, nerves shining in his voice. "Alpha Nathan, be rest assured. Since it involves Luna Jennifer, the police have assigned an officer to handle it specially. According to Luna Jennifer’s maid, Lucy, the ring has been recovered."
Recovered? My instincts pricked.
"But," Collins continued, rubbing at his nose, "it wasn’t the police who found it. Another janitor did."
Collins’s rushed through the rest. "That janitor set a trap to catch the thief and got Luna Jennifer’s ring back. Luna Jennifer took a liking to her because of it. And... well, funny enough, sir, you know her. She’s the one you sponsored after your car splashed her with dirty water, the janitor who brings her baby to work."
Recognition slamd into .
"Oh, it was her," I murmured.
I turned to the floor-to-ceiling window, the city sprawling beneath like prey under a hunter’s watch. My tall and lean reflection looked back at . But behind my own eyes, my wolf paced, it was restless.
I rembered that day, outside the prison when I had caught a glimpse of her in that bus. She had been holding a baby and whispering sothing soft against its tiny ear.
When my car had splashed her later, she hadn’t flinched for herself. She’d twisted, fast and in a protective manner, every movent screaming instinct. She was a picture of a mother guarding her cub.
I’d seen hundreds of won. But her? There was sothing raw about her. Sothing untad. It unsettled then, and it unsettled now.
Why though? There are thousands of sad stories in this city. People groveling, breaking and surviving. I’d built an empire by learning to tune them out. Yet I couldn’t tune her out.
I’d told myself my donation had been an act of fairness. A small correction. But I knew the truth, it had been instinct. For so reason, I wanted her safe.
And now, hearing about her again, that sa feeling burned in my chest.
"What’s her na?" I asked, then I shook my head. "Never mind. She’s just a single-mother janitor. Since she helped my grandmother, call her supervisor. Make sure she and her pub aren’t bullied. That’s the least she deserves."
"Yes, Alpha," Collins replied. He hesitated before adding, "About the donation you made last ti — the Community Board supervisor said the janitor recorded a thank-you video. It’s in your email. The PR team asked if we should feature it publicly."
I clenched my jaw.
"No need," I said curtly. I didn’t need her face paraded for clicks and gossip.
My finger hovered over the mouse, the cursor gliding over the email marked "Thank You." Then I clicked delete. The ssage vanished into the trash.
I stood, straightening my jacket and walked out of my office. Collins closed the office door behind and together, we headee towards the eting room.
*****
The eting soon ended.
From the corner of my eye, I watched Collins step aside to make a call, his voice was low but efficient as he relayed my orders to soone. A woman nad Frances. He instructed her that the janitor and her daughter were to be treated with respect. No bullying and no exploitation.
Collins made yet another call to soone nad Kevin.
For so reason I couldn’t quite na, I listened in on his call with my sharp ears. I could hear the man’s tone on the other end of the call, It sounded too eager, too oily. It was the kind of voice that smiled before you even saw the face. I’d known n like him all my life. They are weak, and opportunistic, loyal only to the scent of power.
"Mr. Collins! Sothing up? Does Alpha Nathan have special orders?"
I leaned back in my chair, my fingers wrapped loosely around my coffee cup. Steam curled up, faintly carrying the aroma of roasted beans and porcelain. My wolf didn’t care for caffeine, but the ritual of it kept the beast still.
Collins’s voice took on a firm professional tone unique among my staff. "Kevin, Alpha Nathan does have instructions. That janitor and her kid are under your managent. Alpha Nathan wants you to look out for them.
"Don’t let anyone bully that single mom or her child. Help them when you can. Do it well, and if Alpha Nathan is pleased, a good word from him might an another promotion before you retire. Understood?"
There was a pause. The sound of stunned silence on the other end. Then Kevin stamred sothing about family and loyalty, his tone practically dripping submission.
Collins ended the call, satisfaction rolling off him like heat.
When he glanced at , I was already watching him.
He froze for a mont, unsure of my mood.
I took a slow sip of coffee, the warmth steadying , masking the faint growl rising in my throat.
He’d done as I’d asked. Perfectly, even.
But part of still bristled. There was sothing about that man Kevin that rubbed the wrong way. My instincts didn’t like him.
Collins rubbed the bridge of his nose, shifting nervously. I’ve done everything right, I could almost hear him thinking.
I looked away. "Relax, Collins," I thought silently. "If I wanted your head, you’d already know."
Instead of saying those words, I gave him a nod and he instantly relaxed.
"What about the person I asked you to find?" I asked sternly, setting the cup down.
Collins straightened.
He knew I was talking about my Luna, Aria and was about to say sothing when suddenly, his phone rang.
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