Chapter 17

Arya. The office buzzed with an undercurrent of tension, a palpable discomfort that seemed to follow me wherever I went. Whispers and sidelong glances painted a portrait of mistrust, and it was all thanks to Lauren. Day by day, the atmosphere grew colder, my colleagues more distant, as a shadow of suspicion cast itself over my every move. I couldn’t move an inch without hearing some stupid made-up story about me and it had even gotten to the point where I’d given up on giving explanations because it was of no use. Ever since the morning of the hunt, Lauren had increased strength in both her vices and Lauren had weaved a web so intricate, that it would take forever to untangle it. The tales were as unfounded as they were cruel, weaving a narrative of incompetence, deceit, and dubious intentions. I became the target of disdain, a pariah in a place I’d thought would be my new life. As she owned a bakery on the other side of town, Natalie didn’t work at the company so I didn’t have her to fight for me and Lauren knew that. Natalie and I still saw each other from time to time and I thoroughly enjoyed her company. She was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stuffy world. All this while, I kept Lauren’s terrible attitude to myself. I couldn’t confront her personally but it didn’t mean I would run to Tyler with tears in my eyes as a knight in shining armor. Mostly because Lauren expected me to do just that. She already saw me as weak. Going to Tyler would only prove that. However, after I finally heard a rumor that Tyler was keeping me hostage and threatening me to stay with him or he would kill me, I lost it. Marching out of my office, I found her in the employee’s lounge, laughing and chatting with her group of minions like she hadn’t just started a terrible about me, this time drawing Tyler into it. “What the hell’s wrong with you?” was the first thing I said when I reached her. “Don’t you think you’ve taken this stupid grudge of yours too far?” Her eyes narrowed as she turned to face me. “What are you talking about?” I pursed my lips angrily as the room fell silent. “Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Tyler’s threatening to kill me if I don’t stay with him? What is wrong with you? You’d think for someone who considers herself so smart, you would actually come up with a reasonable story.” Someone gasped. Lauren blinked, then her eyes darkened with anger. “I dare you to say that again.” For some reason, I was not deterred. I took a step forward until our foreheads were almost touching. “I said, for someone who thinks she’s smart, you are pretty dumb.” It happened so quickly. One minute, she was standing there, chest heaving in anger, the next her eyes turned yellow, her fangs popped out and she had a hand raised in the air to strike me. And then Tyler was right next to her, holding that hand. I hadn’t heard him come in. “I can assure you, Lauren,” his voice, usually reassuring, now seemed tinged with an underlying tension. “That is the last thing you want to do.” He looked at me. “Tell me everything.” Even though I didn’t want to, there were so many people present and I didn’t want to disobey him so blatantly. Besides, Lauren deserved everything that was coming to her. I opened my mouth, letting pouring out every single thread of rumor Lauren had started that I’d heard, and every bitter thing she’d said to me. Tyler listened, his expression growing darker with every revelation. When I finished, a weighty silence lingered, pregnant with unspoken disapproval. Then, with a firm resolve, Tyler spoke. “This is all my fault. I had hoped my decision to claim you as my Fated would put an end to this unnecessary hostility. That said, I will not tolerate baseless rumors tarnishing the reputation of my mate or disrupting the harmony of this company.” A spark of hope kindled within me as Tyler released his hold, letting Lauren’s hand fall to her side. office. Every eye was cast downward in fear, even Lauren. The Alpha's authority cut through the tension as he turned to look around the room, commanding attention from everyone within. My heart pounded in anticipation. “Let me repeat myself. The next person who says shit about my mate will not use their tongue ever again.” Then his gaze fixed on Lauren. “I have tolerated you for too long and only because of your father. Whatever aspirations you have toward getting married to me, perish it. If you even as much as say one derogatory word against Arya again, I will have you removed from the premises. This ends now.” The air was thick with discomfort. Lauren, visibly flustered, attempted to explain herself. “But Tyler—” His unwavering gaze silenced her. “Your personal feelings should not interfere with the well-being of this company or its employees. Consider this your final warning.” “All of you, back to work,” he ordered and the room dispersed. Even Lauren stuttered out, but not without giving me a deadly look first. I’d just realized she was terrified of Tyler and frankly, I could see why. While he was a kind man, he was also scary when he wanted to be. “Are you okay?’ His voice had gone from a hardened tension to a deep, calm baritone. I nodded, overwhelmed. “I think maybe I should resign.” “You’ll do no such thing.” He walked forward to kiss my forehead and I breathed in his musky scent. “Nobody wants me here,” I whispered. “I do,” he said. “And I’m the only one that matters.” Was it normal to be completely enamored by a man I met less than three weeks ago? Because somehow, Tyler had managed to worm his way into my heart and now all I could think of was him. Ever since I could remember, there had been a lump in my throat the size of a strawberry and I hadn’t been able to swallow. My childhood memories were like a play where I always had to stand at the back. Even during school, Alison had been the one to receive all the male attention and the few times boys had spoken to me were to ask after her whereabouts. It had been difficult but I’d learned to come to terms with it. Instead, I’d surrounded myself with books and read like my waking up every day depended on it. Life went on. But now there was a handsome man fighting for me. He was kind to me and when he was near, my body seemed to come alive. I’d never thought it possible. An Omega without a wolf, fated to a powerful Alpha who seemed to care about her. If it was a dream, then I did not want to wake up.