Page 8 of Falling for My Shifter Boss

Tension crackles in the air, thick and suffocating. I don’t miss the way Ethan glances between them, clearly entertained by the alpha posturing. My wolf paces restlessly beneath my skin, responding to the charged atmosphere.

I clear my throat. “That’s why we need cooperation. Blackwell Corp has technology and reach. Theo’s security company has experience in supernatural combat. We’re not asking you to hand over control—we want to hire your team to provide security for the gala and, potentially, as consultants for the sanctuary project.”

Theo’s dark eyes study me for a long moment before flicking toward Adrian. “You want to bring us in long-term?”

Adrian exhales through his nose. “If this partnership works, yes.”

Theo leans back in his chair, arms crossing over his broad chest. “Fine. We’ll discuss logistics.”

I feel Adrian shift beside me, his shoulder brushing mine for just a moment. The contact sends electricity racing through my veins, sharp and unexpected. I swallow hard, forcing myself to focus on the discussion—but I don’t miss the way Adrian’s fingers flex slightly against the tabletop, as if he felt it, too.

Ethan grins, leaning toward me slightly. "I gotta say, Maya, I don't remember you being this persuasive back in the day. Maybe I should've taken you out for that drink when I had the chance."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "You would've embarrassed yourself, Maloney."

"Still might," he teases, flashing a grin that would make most women swoon.

Adrian shifts beside me, his muscles visibly tensing. His expression doesn't change, but I can feel the surge of something dark and possessive in his energy. His gaze flicks to Ethan, then to me, sharp and assessing. The temperature in the room seems to drop several degrees.

Interesting.

The meeting wraps up, agreements made, and plans set into motion. As Theo and Ethan leave, Ethan gives me one last wink before stepping out the door. I pretend not to notice how Adrian's hands clench at his sides.

I barely have time to exhale before Adrian's voice cuts through the lingering silence. "My office. Now." There's something raw in his tone, something that makes my wolf sit up and take notice.

I blink, heat crawling up my neck. "Excuse me?"

He turns, already walking away, expecting me to follow. His usual rigid control seems... different. Fractured around the edges.

I glare at his back but, with a sigh, grab my tablet and trail behind him. As I follow him down the hallway, I can't help but wonder what's cracked his perfect façade—and why the thought of finding out makes my pulse race.

Adrian closes the office door behind us with a deliberate click that makes my wolf instincts prickle. The air feels charged, heavy with something I can't—or won't—name. I've barely taken two steps into his sleek, modern office when he rounds on me, his presence filling the space like a gathering storm.

"Who is he?"

I blink, caught off guard by the raw edge in his voice. "What?"

Adrian's gray eyes narrow, and for the first time, I notice the flicker of gold in them—his wolf straining against his rigid control. "Ethan Maloney." He practically growls the name. "You seemed... comfortable with him."

Something inside me stills, the weight of his words settling over me in a way I don’t expect. My wolf stirs, restless, because I know the truth—Adrian is my mate. I’ve known it for a while now, felt it in every heated glance, in every unspoken moment of tension that crackles between us. But this? This is the first time I realizehedoesn’t know. Not fully. He’s in denial, refusing to see what’s right in front of him.

The thought is almost laughable.

A startled chuckle escapes me, and I shake my head, my curls brushing against my shoulders. "What? No." I arch a brow at him. "What kind of question is that?"

Instead of answering, Adrian steps closer. The temperature in the room seems to spike, his body heat rolling off him in waves, seeping into my skin. "He's interested in you."

His scent wraps around me, familiar and maddening all at once. He’s too close, too overwhelming, and my pulse betrays me by kicking up a notch. I smirk, using attitude to mask the way my heart pounds. "And why do you care?"

His jaw tightens. "I don't."

"Liar." The word slips out before I can stop it.

Something in his expression flickers—frustration, denial, something deeper he refuses to name. I take a step forward, closing the distance between us until I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. His breath hitches, barely perceptible, but I catch it. His eyes drop—to my lips, just for a fraction of a second—before snapping back up. His fists clench at his sides, as if he's fighting something he doesn’t want to acknowledge.

The air between us is electric. Unstable.

And for the first time, I realize that Adrian Blackwell is losing control.

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