Chapter 12

Aurora POV

I want to run after Thorne to explain, but I don’t have time. The icy glare on his face is quickly followed by the rev of his engine and the peeling screech of his car as he slams on the gas and drives away.

He’s angry, and I’m doomed.

I didn’t mean to make him upset, especially since my first day hasn’t even started yet. I sigh and elbow my way past Jackson’s shocked and frozen form to get inside the building. I’m not sure where I’m supposed to go, but I don’t have time to ask because a man in a suit stops in front of me and looks me over.

“Alpha Thorne wants you in his office,” he says stiffly, then points to the elevator. “Top floor. Don’t make him wait.”

Nodding, I scurry to the elevator, jump in when the doors open, and press the top floor button. If Thorne sent someone to get me the moment I entered the building, he’s angrier than I thought. I fiddle with the edge of my suit jacket and watch the floor numbers rise.

The closer I get to the top, the harder my heart pounds.

Maybe he’ll let me explain that nothing happened between me and Jackson. I’m not sure exactly how things looked from where Thorne was, but I realize now that Jackson and I were extremely close together.

But how long had Thorne watched us?

On shaky legs, I walk to his office. Before I can knock on the door, it flies open and an arm wraps around my waist, hauling me inside. My back hits the door, and fingers grab my chin, forcing my eyes up.

Thorne’s eyes burn bright gold, and I gasp.

“Why are you still in contact with your ex?” He growls. The sparks that zip through me from his fingers and the way he’s pressing me to the door cloud my mind.

“I-I… He stopped me when I was trying to come in, and then he wouldn’t let me pass,” I stutter. “I didn’t mean to see him.”

Thorne’s blazing anger doesn’t subside, but the narrowing of his eyes and fall to my still bruised neck, makes me curious as to what he’s thinking. A possessive, low growl vibrates his chest, sending a wave of desire through me. That single sound sets my nerves on fire, and I find myself wanting to hear it again.

“You are to stay away from Jackson, and you’re not to get any closer than three meters to him,” Thorne growls, and finally, he releases me. His fingers linger on my chin momentarily before they slowly brush down my neck to the handprints I tried to cover with makeup.

Those little sparks grow the longer he touches me.

Heat pools in my core as he stares down at me, and I can’t help it. I squeeze my thighs together and nod in agreement. If I’m honest, he’s the only man I want to be around right now, but I won’t tell him that. It’s too embarrassing, and he might see that as violating our contract- might see it as me catching feelings.

“Then you can go. Isla will show you what you need to know to be my assistant,” he says. Then, sadly, he pulls away and moves back to his desk to sit down.

A knock at the door makes me jump away and spin to open it. A woman stands there, smiling until she sees me. I glance over my shoulder where her eyes also go, and see Thorne already focused on something else.

“Come with me,” she says, before grumbling the last part under her breath, “Human.”

Biting my lip to keep from responding, I follow her out of Thorne’s office.

“Your desk will be right here,” she says, pointing to the empty desk right outside of Thorne’s office. “Your duties are simple. You are to help organize files, make coffee, keep Alpha Thorne’s office clean, keep your mouth shut, and not seduce the Alpha…”

Her eyes drag down then back up my body just before she chuckles humorlessly, “As if that would ever happen.”

I clench my hands together. I should’ve known I wouldn’t be treated any nicer here. Being a human in werewolf territory isn’t exactly easy, since they all see you as the biggest piece of trash around. It’s something I’ve had to deal with since our family moved to the Human Quarter, and it never gets easier to hear.

“If you try to seduce the Alpha, you will be fired immediately,” she says, gaining my attention again.

Right. If only she knew.

I nod dutifully, following her as she shows me the daily task list that’s on my desk, “Alpha Thorne is usually the first person here each day, so when you arrive, you should be ready to assist him immediately. Usually, there is a list like this one on your desk. They’re listed in order of importance, so do not skip around.”

Taking a moment, I scan the tasks, finding they’re simple enough or something I’ve done before as Jackson’s assistant. Phone calls, filing papers, making coffee, keeping things organized for Thorne, cleaning his office, scheduling meetings… all things a regular assistant does.

“You can go ahead and get started,” Isla says, making me look up at her. “Your first task is to organize these documents into alphabetical order, as the task list says.”

When she walks away, I get started on the stack of papers. I separate, organize, and then reorder the papers. Then I file them in alphabetical order, like I was told, and then put them away into the empty filing cabinet behind my desk.

My stomach clenches and turns over with a loud growl as I finish, reminding me that I need to eat something. So, I make my way to the break room to find a snack. However, as I dig through the drawers, I don’t expect to find something much less satisfying.

“So, you do work here,” Jackson says, making me whirl around. “Who gave you the job? Someone who is blind enough to ignore that you’re a human?”

I don’t answer, glancing at the door. My escape.

“Ah, I get it. Thorne wants to keep his new toy around a little longer,” he chuckles, moving toward me. I push away from the counter, hoping to get as far away from Jackson as possible as memories of his hands around my neck flash in my mind.

“Not all werewolves are as shameless as you,” I spit. I don’t take my eyes off Jackson, keeping the most distance between us as possible in the small room.

“Thorne’s just playing with you. You really think you’re his mate?”

Thinking about Thorne’s words from earlier, I scoot around the island, letting it separate me and Jackson. His words are full of hate and anger, which only make me angry.

“Does it matter?” I bark, clenching my fists. “I’m done with you, Jackson, so I don’t need your opinion or presence. He’s a god compared to someone like you. With Thorne, I had the best sex of my life, and I finally know what it feels like to live without your lies.”

“Human bitch,” he growls, and before I can blink, he’s in front of me, slamming me back against the wall. The air flies out of my body, and I gasp, fear rocketing through me.

“Not so brave now, are you?” Jackson growls, his hand at my neck pinning me to the wall. “No one here wants you, Aurora. Face it.”

With all my strength, I thrust my arms down on his arms, successfully breaking his hold on me.

“This isn’t your house, Jackson, so you have no right to act like this,” I hiss, turning to leave before he can grab me again.

That’s when I notice him.

Thorne is standing right outside of the break room’s door, watching everything.