Matilda's POV
I stood outside Marco's office, hesitating for a moment before taking a deep breath and knocking.
"Come in," his deep voice called from inside.
Slowly, I pushed the door open and stepped in. Marco was behind his desk, his golden eyes instantly locking onto mine. His presence always filled the room, commanding and intense, yet something in his gaze softened when he saw me.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
He nodded, gesturing for me to come closer. "Sit."
I did as he said, folding my hands in my lap as I waited for him to speak. He leaned back in his chair, studying me for a moment before finally saying, "In a month's time, we'll be attending an event."
I blinked. "An event?"
"Yes. An Alpha from another pack recently found his mate, and he's invited all the ruling Alphas to a gathering to formally introduce her."
I nodded slowly, not sure where this was going. "And.what does that have to do with me?"
Marco's jaw tensed slightly. "You'll be coming with me."
I stiffened. "I what?"
He leaned forward, his gaze never wavering. "You're my mate, Matilda. This is an opportunity to introduce you to the other packs, to show them that you are under my protection."
I swallowed hard. "But I… I'm not like them, Marco. I'm not a wolf."
His eyes darkened slightly. "That doesn't matter. You're mine. That alone makes you important."
His words sent a strange warmth through me, but the thought of being introduced to an entire gathering of Alphas made my stomach twist with nerves.
Marco must have noticed because he sighed, reaching across the desk to take my hand. His warmth instantly soothed me, grounding me in a way I didn't expect.
"I know this is a lot," he murmured. "But you won't be alone. I'll be with you every second."
I looked down at our hands, his large, strong one completely covering mine. The way he spoke, the way he looked at me, made it so hard to remember why I should be afraid.
"I… I'll think about it," I whispered.
His thumb brushed over my skin. "That's all I ask."
A knock at the door broke the moment. Marco's eyes flickered with irritation before he called out, "Enter."
Darius stepped in, giving me a brief nod before turning to Marco. "We've received a response from the scouts. They've tracked where the rogues came from."
Marco's expression hardened instantly. "Good. I'll handle it later."
Darius arched an eyebrow. "You don't want to deal with it now?"
Marco's grip on my hand tightened slightly. "No. Right now, I have something more important to take care of."
Darius smirked knowingly but didn't comment. Instead, he gave a short nod. "Understood. I'll leave you to it."
As he left, I looked back at Marco, my heart racing at his.
Marco must have sensed my tension because he suddenly shifted the conversation. "Tell me, little one," he said, leaning back in his chair, "have you ever seen a pack in action?"
I blinked at him, caught off guard by the change in topic. "No, I… I don't think so."
He smirked. "Then let me show you."
He stood and held out his hand. I hesitated before placing mine in his, and just like that, he guided me around his office, showing me everything,from maps of territories to the warriors' schedules. He explained how the pack functioned, how decisions were made, and what his role as Alpha truly meant.
As he spoke, his voice deep and steady, I found myself relaxing. The tension in my shoulders eased, and the nerves that had coiled in my stomach slowly faded. Marco wasn't just a warrior,he was a leader, a protector, someone who carried the weight of his people on his shoulders. And yet, here he was, taking the time to share all of this with me.
At some point, I realized just how close we had gotten. His scent wrapped around me, warm and intoxicating, and when I turned my head, our lips were barely an inch apart.
I held my breath.
His golden eyes darkened as he leaned in ever so slightly. My heart pounded, my fingers gripping the edge of the desk behind me.
Then
The door burst open.
"Alpha"
I jerked back, pushing against Marco's chest, but it was too late.
Darius stood in the corridor, and behind him, a warrior stared wide-eyed at us.
Marco's head snapped toward them, his expression dark with fury. "Can't you knock?!" he growled.
The warrior paled. "We—we're sorry, Alpha, but it's important."
Marco exhaled sharply, his jaw ticking. I could still feel the heat of his body so close to mine, my pulse still racing.
Darius smirked slightly. "Bad timing?"
Marco shot him a murderous glare before stepping away from me. "Speak."
I turned my face away, my cheeks burning.
My face felt like it was on fire. Without thinking, I quickly turned and walked out of the office, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely hear whatever the warrior was saying.
I didn't stop,I just kept walking, desperate to escape the weight of Marco's intense gaze and Darius's knowing smirk. I had almost kissed him. Almost. And they saw.
The cool air outside the office did little to soothe my embarrassment. I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my breathing. Why did being around Marco make me feel like this? One second, I was cautious, unsure of what to make of my feelings for him, and the next… I was so close to letting him consume me.
"Goddess," I whispered under my breath, pacing slightly.
I needed to calm down