Trapped in His Gaze
Amber sat stiffly in Alpha Donald’s chambers, her fingers gripping her notepad as she waited. The air felt heavier here, charged with an energy she couldn’t quite describe. She wasn’t nervous—no, she was simply here to do her job.
But that didn’t explain why her heartbeat was slightly irregular.
The door swung open, and Alpha Damon strode in with the confidence only an Alpha possessed. His presence dominated the room, making everything else feel insignificant.
Amber quickly stood up and bowed in courtesy.
The Alpha let out a snicker. “Why are you always so formal with me, Amber? Do I look like I enjoy all that?”
She didn’t reply, simply straightening her posture and gripping her pen tighter.
He raised a brow. “Still not answering, huh? You’re an interesting one.”
Amber cleared her throat. “I came to discuss the matchmaking situation.”
Damon’s amusement faded slightly as he took a seat, stretching out his legs like he had all the time in the world. “Go on, then.”
Amber opened her notepad. “The situation has become… complicated.”
Damon tilted his head. “How so?”
Amber let out a slow breath. “Rumors have spread throughout the entire pack. Every single unmated she-wolf seems to think she has a chance with you. My home has turned into a marketplace—girls show up daily with gifts, practically begging to be considered.”
A slow smirk spread across the Alpha’s face. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”
Amber narrowed her eyes. “I assumed as much. But that makes my job difficult. I can’t properly match you with a mate when half the pack is throwing themselves at the opportunity.”
Damon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Well, you can cross all of them off your list.”
Amber blinked. “What?”
“I don’t want a mate who wants to be my Luna,” he said simply.
Amber stared at him like he had just spoken another language. “That makes absolutely no sense.”
Damon chuckled. “To you, maybe.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Whoever is to be matched with you needs to know who you are. They need to be prepared for the responsibilities that come with being the Luna.”
“I have my reasons,” he said vaguely.
Amber frowned. “Would you care to share them?”
He merely smirked, refusing to elaborate.
Amber let out a quiet huff and scribbled something in her notepad. She needed to be patient, but the Alpha was not making this easy.
She tapped her pen against the page. “Fine. Then let’s go over your preferences again.”
He gestured lazily. “Go ahead.”
Amber glanced at her notes. “You mentioned before that you want someone strong, kind, and a natural leader.”
He nodded.
She jotted something down. “What about beauty?”
Donald leaned back, crossing his arms. “You already know my answer to that.”
Amber looked up. “You said you wanted someone as beautiful as me.”
The Alpha smirked. “Glad to know you remember.”
Amber cleared her throat and ignored the way her pulse quickened. “Moving on.”
She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do you have anyone specific in mind?”
Damon’s smirk didn’t falter, but he didn’t answer either.
Amber tilted her head. “What about Cecilia?”
The Alpha’s expression remained unreadable.
Amber pressed further. “Is there something between you and Cecilia?”
Damon’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. “What do you think?”
Amber’s grip on her pen tightened. “I wouldn’t know. You’re not exactly an open book.”
The Alpha stood up.
Amber stiffened.
He took a slow step toward her.
She instinctively stepped back.
He took another step.
She backed away again.
Amber suddenly realized he wasn’t stopping. Her heart pounded for reasons she refused to acknowledge. “What are you doing?”
Damon didn’t answer.
Another step.
Amber’s back hit the wall.
She was caged.
Her breath hitched as the Alpha loomed over her, his presence overwhelming.
Amber’s mind screamed at her to move—to get away before this situation became something—but before she could react, she miscalculated her footing.
Her balance slipped.
The world tilted.
But before she could fall, strong arms wrapped around her.
Amber gasped softly as she found herself held firmly in place, her face mere inches from his.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she met his gaze—dark, unreadable, and far too intense.
For a brief, breathless moment, everything stilled.
And suddenly, he turned his back to her and left.