Chapter 34
Chapter 34
“Hazel, Chloe,” their superior called, her voice interrupting their thoughts.
Both women turned their attention to her, ready to receive their next set of instructions.
“You will be working with Tesco’s design team starting next week,” the woman explained, her tone
carrying an air of finality. “You can go over there to meet them and familiarize yourself with how they
work.”
Hazel couldn’t help but feel perplexed by this sudden change in their work arrangement. She
approached their superior, trying to gain some clarity. “Wait, ma’am,” she began, her brows furrowing in
confusion. “We already have a team here at Starlight. Why do we need to become part of Tesco’s
design team?”
The superior offered a succinct response, leaving no room for further questioning. “Well, that’s part
of the offer. Listen, Tesco isn’t like other companies we’ve worked with. We’ll accommodate their
demands. Understand?”
Hazel reluctantly sank back into her seat, her face paling as the implications of this change. began to
sink in. Working at Tesco meant bumping into her husband, Ethan, practically every day. The thought Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
filled her with a mix of anxiety and apprehension.
Chloe walked into the room, dropping some files on Hazel’s desk. “We need to review these designs
and styles. They were sent by Tesco.”
Hazel, still processing the news, looked up in disbelief. “I thought we were supposed to handle the
designs ourselves. Why are they sending us their choices? What was the point of winning the bid?”
She fumed inwardly.
Chloe tried to calm her colleague down. “Let’s just check them out first. Examining Tesco’s choices
might inspire us to come up with a better design that suits their needs.”
Hazel reluctantly agreed with a sigh, and the two of them delved into their work. The rest of the day
passed uneventfully, with Chloe working overtime while Hazel had to leave early to pick up her twins
from school.
As Hazel left the company building, she decided to take a stroll to clear her mind. She walked through
a pedestrian walkway, the gentle breeze rustling through her hair, and flower petals sca t t e r e d
around her, creating a serene atmosphere. She paused for a moment, reflecting on the past.
Hazel remembered walking along a similar path during her teenage years, with Ethan by her side. She
had been deeply in love, convinced that the intense attraction she felt toward him was their destined
mate bond. Back then, she had hoped that they would discover their bond when she came of age. But
Ethan’s demeanor had changed drastically. His once warm gaze now appeared cold and emotionless.
He had transformed from the Ethan Wild she had known into a powerful and feared figure in the city.
Hazel couldn’t help but wonder about his intentions in offering them the contract, especially given her
connection to Starlight. When she had seen him that day, she had already accepted the likelihood that
they wouldn’t secure the contract, making the Midden offer a shock.
Her trip down memory lane was interrupted by the vibrating of her phone. She answered the call with a
somewhat distracted tone.
Hello!” she greeted.
“Good day, ma’am. Calling from Tiny Tots,” the voice on the other end responded. “The kids’ school
closed a while ago, but you haven’t shown up. It’s very unlike you.”
Hazel immediately felt a pang of guilt. “Oh, I’m very sorry. I got caught up at work,” she admitted,
facepalming herself for losing track of time.
“It’s okay. If you’re busy, we could drop the kids off at home for you or something,” the kind voice on the
line offered.
Hazel appreciated the gesture but declined politely. “Oh no, please don’t bother. I’m on my way there
already.”
With that, she quickly hailed a cab and settled into it, realizing how much time she had unintentionally
spent standing on that pathway, lost in thought. As the car approached her kids’ school, she pushed
thoughts of Ethan and his company from her mind, mustering a smile. But one thing was sure, she
would meet with and talk to Ethan, her time at his
would be strictly business; there was no need to dredge up company
their complicated history and relationship. It wouldn’t be easy but she would try.
Hazel reached the school, where her twins were waiting by the slide, looking a bit bored. “Mommy!”
Liam squealed with excitement, running toward her immediately.
After apologizing to the school staff for the delay and time wasted, Hazel led her cubs back to the taxi,
and they headed home.
Ethan’s car glided smoothly into the driveway, but as he stepped out, an overwhelming restlessness
coursed through him, urging his inner wolf to break free from its dormant state. It had been a while
since he’d allowed his wolf to take control.
Shedding his jacket and suit, he surrendered to the transformation, and within moments, a magnificent
grey wolf stood where Ethan had been. With a surge of energy, he sprinted into the woods surrounding
their pack’s vast estate. This secluded haven was nestled on the outskirts, cocooned by nature’s
embrace-a sanctuary free from intruders and prying eyes.
The wind whistled through his fur as he raced across the grassy expanse, his powerful paws devouring
the terrain. Suddenly, a foreign scent wafted into his nostrils, intruding upon his territory. It was a smell
unfamiliar, one that did not belong to any of his pack members. Instinctively, he emitted a low growl and
accelerated toward the lingering scent.
His keen senses guided him to a sight that puzzled him-an unfamiliar brown wolf up ahead. Determined
to confront the potential threat, he accelerated, closing the gap swiftly. Yet, before he could apprehend
the intruder, Bella, appeared seemingly out of thin air. The suddenness of her presence nearly caused
a collision between them.
“Bella?” Ethan questioned, shifting back into human form. Confusion etched across his face, mingling
with concern. “Why are you out here?”
The stranger wolf had vanished from his sight, its scent growing fainter by the second. Bella looked
flustered and perspiring, an uncharacteristic state for her.
“I was just taking a stroll,” she replied with an uneasy demeanor.
Ethan’s gaze scrutinized her, and her clothing appeared undisturbed. “In this form?” he inquired
skeptically, raising an eyebrow,
She nodded hesitantly, her actions contradicting her words. Something was amiss, but he couldn’t
pinpoint what she was hiding.
You must be tired. Bella suggested, eager to change the topic. “Let’s go back.
Ethan hesitated but finally consented. “You go on ahead. There’s something I must check.” With that,
he shifted back into his wolf form and dashed off, determined to trace the origin of the lingering scent.
Bella proceeded alone to their opulent mansion, her heart racing. Ethan had nearly caught her today,
and that was a risk she couldn’t afford. He rarely traversed these woods, hadn’t shifted in years, yet he
had an uncanny knack for appearing wherever he pleased. She kept glancing over her shoulder as she
approached the house.
You’d better not get caught,” she muttered to herself irritably. Once inside, she breathed a sigh of relief
but remained anxious.
“Get the Alpha some clothes to change into,” she instructed a pack member, her voice composed
despite her inner turmoil. She then headed upstairs, desperately needing a shower to wash away not
just the scent of the forest but the smell of that man as well
Ethan halted his pursuit at the very spot where the unfamiliar scent had inexplicably dissipated into
nothingness. He couldn’t fathom how it could have vanished so abruptly. After a moment of frustration,
he decided to return home. Shifting back into his human. form, he stood stark n*ked, seemingly
unconcerned about his nudity as the butler promptly provided him with clothing.
Ignoring the offered attire, Ethan ascended the stairs, his purpose clear in his determined. stride. His
wife, Bella, stood apprehensively at the bedroom door, awaiting his return. The doors slammed shut
behind him as he advanced toward her, a palpable tension in the air.
“Is something wrong?” she inquired with feigned innocence, her voice trembling slightly.
Ethan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he loomed over her, scrutinizing her intently, as if trying to
extract the truth from her very skin and hair.
“Did you meet anyone in the woods?” he finally questioned, his voice a low rumble.
Bella vehemently denied having encountered anyone or anything unusual, her eyes wide and guileless.
However, Ethan remained unconvinced, a persistent suspicion lingering in his
gaze.
“Okay,” he conceded at last, breaking the intense scrutiny. He turned away, leaving Bella to sink onto
the bed, her b*dy trembling with fear and relief. The encounter had left her shaken to the core.
In the aftermath, Bella reached for her phone and composed a terse text message, her fingers
trembling as she typed.
“Don’t ever come to my home. If you need anything, meet me at the office.”
It was a stark warning, a measure she couldn’t afford to overlook. The walls were closing in, and Bella
knew she could take no more chances, next time she may not be that lucky.