Giovanni's Perspective
I sat in my spacious office, a mountain of papers piled in front of me. My fingers absentmindedly skimmed over the pages without truly registering their contents. Distracted, my gaze would often drift toward the window, where I imagined the bustle of the world outside. It had been a long time since I'd taken over the pack, and moments of inattention like this were rare for me.
Today's meeting had left me drained. The pack elders had engaged in a heated debate over my decision to choose a Luna, knowing full well that some of them didn't want me to make a rational choice. As a werewolf alpha, I understood the weight of my responsibility, yet I couldn't ignore the nagging desire for something more personal.
I wasn't sure exactly what I was hoping for. Maybe it was the anticipation of a meaningful change or the faint hope that a relationship lost years ago could be rekindled, rediscovering that familiar feeling. Whether it was my past self or the person I had become, the inner conflict never quite faded.
That's when my phone vibrated, pulling me back to reality.
"Alpha, it's time for the interview."
Tobias' reminder hit like a sharp alarm, snapping me out of my reverie. I took a deep breath, set the papers down, and stood up to make my way to the conference room. As usual, we were recruiting new employees today, and I had decided to personally interview a candidate—Diana.
The moment I entered the conference room, I was hit by a familiar sense of tension in the air. The woman in front of me, dressed in sharp professional attire, appeared calm and composed. She looked up, and the instant our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat. Those eyes—eyes I felt I had dreamed of countless times.
"Fern?"
My voice was low and hoarse. In that moment, time seemed to freeze. My heart raced as memories rushed over me like a tidal wave, but I forced myself to remain composed and keep my emotions in check.
"Hello, Mr. Giovanni," she said softly. Her tone was gentle yet confident, with an undercurrent of mysterious aloofness.
I froze once more.
I stood up, my eyes still fixed on her face—a face I knew all too well. It reminded me of Fern from six years ago—the gentle, intelligent, and vibrant woman I once knew. Yet, there was no sense of recognition from her, and even my deepest wolfish instincts had faded. I turned toward her, my gaze still intense.
"You..." I began, as if I wanted to ask something, but the words didn't come out.
"Yes, my name is Diana," the woman in front of me quickly interrupted.
"Diana," I repeated her name softly, my voice hesitant. It suddenly struck me that the woman in front of me seemed somehow connected to Fern, yet not quite like her. I took a deep breath and waved my hand. "Have a seat, Diana."
Her face, much like the woman I had known all those years ago, seemed to be an image of Fern—but not quite. Instead of the tenderness I remembered, her eyes held a coldness and an unfamiliarity, as though they belonged to someone from a completely different world. I felt a pang of loss, yet I couldn't tear my gaze away.
She looked so similar, yet subtly different. The feeling sent an inexplicable flutter through my chest, but I pushed the emotions down, trying to rid myself of thoughts I knew I shouldn't be having. I sat down slowly, taking a moment to compose myself and regain my usual poise.
"Diana, right?" I asked, glancing at her resume with feigned calm.
"Yes," she replied, nodding politely. "I'm very much looking forward to joining your company."
"Where did you hear about the interview at our company?" I continued, my gaze never leaving her face. There was something off about this interview, something that didn't sit right with me.
Diana answered succinctly, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Yet, I couldn't shake the strange feeling gnawing at the back of my mind. Her presence evoked a sense of unexplainable familiarity, as if this face belonged to someone I had known for a long time—but it didn't. Every time I tried to recall that familiar image, it felt as though an invisible barrier blocked all memories, leaving me with nothing but confusion.
Doubts began to rise in my mind, but I didn't dare show them. After all, Diana was a candidate for the position, and there was no way I was going to end this interview prematurely based on a fleeting hunch.
"Do you have any relevant work experience?" I asked, trying to keep my emotions in check.
"Yes." Diana's response was concise. "I held a secretarial position at another company where I was responsible for administrative duties."
Her answer wasn't surprising. In fact, it could be called a typical workplace resume—sensible and professional, just like anyone else I had interviewed. But instead of feeling reassured by this routine exchange, I felt an increasing sense of unease. The inner doubt and alarm that had been nagging at me only grew stronger.
Just as I was about to continue asking questions, an unfamiliar aura suddenly filled the room, as if an invisible force was emanating from her, heightening my sense of alertness.
It was a familiar sensation, and I couldn't help but be shocked. Even though reason told me this feeling couldn't be coming from Diana—after all, she and Fern were two entirely different people—my heart couldn't help but wonder.
"Are you… a werewolf?" I blurted out, my voice low, tinged with suppressed emotion.
Diana's eyes twitched slightly, then she smiled and nodded, as though she had expected the question.
"Yes, I'm a werewolf." Her tone remained calm, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
My heart raced, and the gut feeling at the back of my mind intensified. Her response didn't seem surprised, but almost expected. That aura, deep within me, seemed to draw me back to a long-forgotten past—the world that had once belonged to Fern.
"You…" My voice caught in my throat. I quickly realized the oddness of my words and forced myself to calm down. I cleared my throat. "Why are you here?"
"I saw the job ad and thought it would be a good fit for me." Diana maintained her smile, though there was something in her deep eyes that suggested an untold story.
Despite my disbelief and confusion, my heart still urged me to keep Diana as my secretary. Maybe it was an unspoken pull, or maybe it was the overwhelming sense of familiarity, but I couldn't reject her as I normally would. Even though reason told me she wasn't Fern, my intuition whispered that there was an unexplainable connection between Diana and Fern.
"Your resume is very impressive, Diana. You have a lot of management experience, and you seem like a good fit for this role," I nodded softly. "I'm glad you came in for the interview."
"Thank you." Diana responded quietly, managing to look both humble and confident.
"Diana, we'll let you know the results as soon as possible. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me." I said.
Diana stood up, nodded politely, and left.
As I watched her walk out of the office, I tightened my grip on the file in my hand. That vague aura still lingered in the air, as if some long-buried power within me was quietly beginning to revive.