Page 1 of Mated To My Boss

Chapter 1

NATE

I freeze mid-stride, my senses overwhelmed by a scent I haven't encountered in years but would recognize anywhere.

Sweet, floral, with an undercurrent of something primal that makes my wolf stir beneath my skin.

Madeline. Here. Impossible.

My heart rate doubles as I force myself to continue walking toward my office.

The hallway suddenly feels too small, the air too thin. Five years of carefully constructed barriers threaten to crumble in an instant.

"Whoa, someone had a wild night."

I turn to Graham, barely registering his presence. The large man is smiling, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

"I'm guessing you didn't go through my emails?" I ask, struggling to keep my voice steady. My eyes dart toward the elevator banks, knowing she would appear there any moment.

Graham rubs the back of his neck. "Sorry. Rose is traveling, and we wanted to spend our last night together."

"She'll be gone for one week. You say it like you're never going to see her again," I snap, my irritation sharpened by the approaching threat to my carefully ordered life.

"She’s my mate," Graham sighs. "I can't bear to be apart from her."

I roll my eyes, even as my own wolf claws inside me, desperate to seek out the source of that familiar scent.

I've spent years convincing myself the mate bond was just biology, just instinct—something that could be ignored with enough determination. I can't afford to be wrong now.

"So, while I spent the entire night working, you just had the time of your life?" I say, attempting to focus on anything but the fact that she's getting closer. The scent is stronger now, unmistakable.

The elevator doors open at the end of the hall. Time seems to slow as she steps out, more beautiful than I remember.

Her golden-brown hair is tied in a neat ponytail, business attire replacing the flowing dresses she once wore. The clothes hug her curves perfectly, making her appear both professional and utterly desirable.

Our eyes meet across the distance, and I feel the mate bond snap between us like a physical force. My wolf howls in recognition while I scramble for control.

She offers a polite smile—not the desperate, adoring look I remember. There's something different in her eyes now. Confidence. Composure.

The realization unsettles me more than her presence alone. She goes down the hallway and turns the corner.

What is Madeline doing here? And why, after all this time, does she still have this power over me?

If my tone is bothering him, Graham clearly misses it. "Just try to make it through the day," he says, giving me a friendly pat on the back.

I roll my eyes. "Like I'm not going to."

As soon as others get off the elevator, one person hurries forward to greet us. "Good morning, my name is Adrian," he says.

Graham and I exchange a confused look. "Um, good morning, Adrian," I answer, trying to keep my thoughts away from Madeline.

"Would you like me to help you with anything? I could grab some coffee to kickstart your morning." He flashes a dazzling smile.

"Damn, you came to the wrong people," Graham says with a laugh. "You're one of the new interns applying, aren't you?"

Adrian nods. "That's right."

"I don't take interns," I tell him, my tone sharper than intended as my eyes focused on where Madeline's disappeared. "You've got a better shot with this guy over here, but he's already got someone working for him."

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