Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 23

-Maya's POV-

The familiar scent of stale beef and leather greeted me as I pushed open the door of The Rusty Compass. My eyes scanned the bar, immediately landing on Riley. She was hunched over, concentrating on pouring a drink, her hair cascading down her back like a fiery waterfall.

As she straightened, our eyes met. A jolt passed through her, and she flinched, taking a step back. "Hi," I greeted, my voice softer than usual.

Her response was a shaky, "Hey." Even from a distance, I could see the dark circles under her eyes, a stark contrast to the vibrancy I remembered.

Concern tugged at me. "Ar

1. me. "Are you okay? Can you

take a break so we can talk in the back?"

She hesitated, her gaze flickering around the room, before nodding slowly. She excused herself to a nearby coworker, who readily agreed to cover her duties.

As soon as the swinging door closed behind us, shutting out the bar's low murmur, I blurted out, "You look exhausted. Haven't been sleeping?"

She sighed, rubbing the circles beneath her eyes. "Yeah, not really. These past two days... I don't even know who to trust anymore. I mean, anyone could be like you, right? And all it takes is one bad mood for them to rip me to shreds.

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"Riley, interjected gently, placing a hand on her arm to stop her from spiraling. "Werewolves aren't bad people. And I'm so sorry I'm putting you through this but no one is going to hurt you."

Her eyes, wide and searching, locked onto mine. "How do you even ex st?" she whisper yelled, "Were you bitten by one? Do you, like, transform every full

moont

I chuckled, the sound offering a welcome break from the tension, "No, not at all, I was born this way. Being a werewolf is part of me, it's in my blood. And actually, werewolves can shift wheneverthey want, not just at full moons."

A shadow crossed my face. "Although, I haven't let my wolf out much lately."

she pressed, curiosity replacing some of the

sinking deeper into the worn leather barstool across

"So, this wolf... is it like a separate

my head. "Not exactly. It's more like... a primal part of me. Think of it as strong emotions and instincts; raw and untamed. It's the fight or flight response turned

"So, when you, uh, shifted a bit the

I can usually feel it coming on, a sort of simmering beneath the surface. That night

did control

them off and then... she hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper, "your eyes changed

blush crept up my cheeks. Her keen observation hadn't gone unnoticed. "Yeah, about that. Werewolves have

much of the wolf you let out?" Her

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Chapter 23

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without succumbing to its magn. It's

to train and control their woll natures.

complex one, with its own set of rules and secrets. Which is why

fell. "But... how can I just forget something like that? And what about the whole monster thing? Don't werewolves eat people?" She looked genuinely terrified at

hands in mock surrender. "Hold on a

We have

violence is a last resort. Mostly, we just try to live our lives

"This is

"It's a lot to process. But trust me, I wouldn't have told you any of this if I didn't think I could trust you. You soom... different. Stronger than you

"But you have a good

at me for a long moment, her gaze searching. Then, a small, hesitant smile touched her lips, "Alright, Mays. I'll try

bar and now it sounds really dumb after you just poured one for someone else, but I just got a job and

"Sounds good. Just promise me you won't turn into a giant wolf

echoing warmly in the dimly lit backroom. "No promises," I countered playfully, "but I'll

the swinging door, she called out, "Hey, Sarah! Can I take a ten-minute break? I just need to chat with

brown hair popped her head out from behind the bar. "Sure thing. Take all the time

a free table in the corner, the familiar creak of the floorboards a comforting