Page 10 of Falling for My Shifter Boss

"You didn't have to do this," I say as I dig in, the warm, savory flavors immediately melting away some of my tension.

Adrian, who has taken the seat across from me, leans back slightly. "I know." His eyes track my movements with an intensity that makes my skin warm. "You remind me of someone I used to know. Always putting everyone else first, forgetting to take care of yourself."

The admission catches me off guard. Adrian rarely offers personal information voluntarily.

"Who?" I ask softly.

He's quiet for so long I think he won't answer. When he does, his voice is low, careful. "My sister. She was the heart of our pack before..." He trails off, jaw tightening.

I set down my fork. "Before what?"

Adrian's eyes meet mine, and the raw pain I see there makes my chest ache. "Before the hunters found us."

The words hang heavy in the air between us. I want to reach across the table, to offer comfort, but something tells me he's not ready for that. Instead, I share a piece of myself.

"My dad was killed by hunters when I was twelve," I say quietly. "That's why Theo's so protective of the pack now. Why we all are."

Adrian's expression shifts, something fierce and protective flashing in his eyes. His hand moves across the table, not quite touching mine but close enough that I can feel the heat of his skin.

"Is that why you work so hard?" he asks. "To protect them?"

I nod. "Partly. But also because I want more than what the pack can offer. I love them, but sometimes it feels like they're holding on too tight." I meet his gaze. "You understand that, don't you? Wanting something different?"

His fingers brush against mine, just barely, sending electricity skittering up my arm. "More than you know."

The conversation shifts as we eat. I tell him about growing up in Howling Pines, about being the eldest sibling and always feeling like I had to have everything under control. He listens with an intensity that makes me feel seen in a way I haven't experienced before.

When I flip the question back on him, Adrian hesitates, but this time he doesn't completely shut down. He tells me about his old pack, about the weight of expectations and the guilt of surviving when others didn't. Each word seems carefully chosen, measured, but I can hear the pain underneath.

"Since you're so invested in making this gala a success," I say, lightening the mood, "you should come to the next pack run. You and Eli."

Adrian gives me a measured look. "You think that's a good idea?"

I shrug, offering a small smile. "It wouldn't hurt for you to show your face outside of this office. Maybe remind people you're not just some corporate overlord trying to buy up their town."

A muscle in his jaw ticks. "That's not what I'm doing."

"I know," I say softly. "But not everyone else does. And maybe..." I hesitate, then push forward. "Maybe it's time to stop running from what happened. To let yourself be part of something again."

His eyes lock with mine, intense and searching. After a long moment, he gives a slow nod. "I'll think about it."

For Adrian Blackwell, that's practically a yes.

I get up to refill our water glasses, but the moment I stand, a sharp cramp lances through my leg. The pain hits like lightning, making me yelp as my knee buckles. The glass slips from my fingers as I pitch forward.

My wolf instincts kick in, but before I can catch myself, a powerful arm wraps around my waist.

Adrian.

He moves so fast I barely register it happening—one second I'm falling, the next I'm pressed against his chest, his heart thundering beneath my palm.

"I'm fine," I manage, trying to ignore how perfectly I fit against him. "Just a cramp, I can—"

"Stop talking." His voice is rough, almost a growl.

Before I can protest, he lifts me like I weigh nothing, carrying me into his office. My breath catches as his arms tighten, just slightly, before he sets me down on the sleek black couch.

He kneels in front of me, and something in my chest constricts at the sight of Adrian Blackwell—feared CEO, notorious control freak—on his knees.

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