Page 14 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer

"Krista," I said, stopping her before she could open the door.She turned, her eyebrow raised in question."Be careful."

She gave me a small, knowing smile."Always am."

We returned to the party, slipping back into our roles effortlessly.The night dragged on, the clinking of glasses and hum of conversation a constant backdrop.I kept one eye on Krista, even as I engaged in meaningless small talk with industry insiders.She was in her element, effortlessly charming those who approached her, her laugh ringing out like music over the noise.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.My instincts kept screaming that danger was near and throughout the rest of the party, I scanned the room, my gaze always landing on Dante.He was deep in conversation with a group of executives, but his eyes flicked toward Krista more than once.A low growl built in my throat, but I forced it down, keeping my composure.

The evening wore on, and finally, the crowd began to thin.Krista caught my eye across the room, nodding toward the exit.I followed her out, the cool night air a welcome relief after the stifling atmosphere inside.

"Ready to leave?"she asked, her voice light but her eyes serious.

"More than ready," I replied, offering her my arm out of habit.She took it without hesitation, her fingers brushing against mine as we made our way to the car.

The ride back to the mansion was quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound between us.Krista leaned her head against the window.She looked tired, the weight of the evening showing in the way her shoulders slumped.I fought the urge to reach out, to pull her close and shield her from everything.

When we arrived back at the mansion, it was dark and quiet inside, Garrett and the rest of the team had already retired to their rooms.We stopped inside the foyer and the silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words and emotions neither of us was ready to acknowledge.

"Levi," Krista said softly, breaking the silence."Thank you.For tonight."

I frowned."For what?"

"For being there," she said, her voice barely above a whisper."I know this isn't easy for you, but you handled it well."

I shook my head, my chest tightening."I didn't do anything.You're the one who kept things together."

She smiled faintly."Maybe.But we make a good team."

Her words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I couldn't find my voice.My wolf purred in contentment, and I knew it was right.Mate.Krista and I were more than colleagues, more than allies.But what that meant, I wasn't ready to admit out loud.Not yet.

"We do," I finally managed."But don't let it go to your head."

Her laugh was quiet, almost relieved."Wouldn't dream of it."

We stood there for a moment longer, the weight of the night pressing down on us.Then she stepped back, breaking the spell."I should get some sleep.Big day tomorrow."

I nodded, though the thought of her walking away made my chest ache."Yeah.Me too."

She hesitated, her gaze lingering on mine.Then, without a word, she turned and headed upstairs, her footsteps echoing softly in the quiet house.I watched her go, my wolf howling in protest, but I forced myself to stay rooted in place.

When her figure disappeared around the corner, I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.

Whatever this was between us was complicating things in ways I hadn't anticipated.Krista was a distraction I couldn't afford, not with Dante circling like a shark and the media ready to pounce on the slightest misstep.And yet, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, I couldn't shake the feeling that she'd become more than just a means to an end.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts.It was Dean.

"Levi," he said, his voice urgent."I've got something.Meet me at my office in an hour."

I frowned, glancing toward the stairs."Now?"

"It's about Selene."

I hesitated, torn between the need to follow this lead and the desire to stay close to Krista.But duty won out."I'm on my way."

I ended the call and took one last look at the staircase before heading out into the night.The cool air hit me like a slap.I climbed into the car, the engine roaring to life beneath me.As I pulled away from the mansion, my thoughts lingered on Krista.I'd left her alone in a house that felt too big, too empty, and I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I'd made the wrong choice.

But there was no turning back now.The storm was coming, and I had to be ready.

When I arrived at Dean's office, the lights were still on, casting a warm glow through the windows.Dean was at his desk, his glasses perched on his nose as he scrolled through lines of code on his monitor.

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