~Elara’s POV
It was eting after eting. Each departnt wanted its ti, and I made sure to give it. Marketing, sales, HR, finance, it was all essential, but nothing compared to the design team. That was where my heart was, where I felt alive, where I could really contribute.
"Good morning, everyone," I said, standing at the front of the room, my designs carefully laid out. "Today I’ll be presenting the seasonal line I’ve been working on. I hope we can discuss, adjust, and find what best fits our upcoming fashion gala with Alpha Darlon’s company."
Heads nodded, eyes focused. The air was tense but excited. I began explaining each design, the concept, the color palette, and the inspiration behind every stitch.
Theo leaned in, pointing at one of my sketches. "I really love how you incorporated the lunar thes here. It’s bold but elegant."
I smiled. "Thank you. I thought it could reflect our pack identity while staying sophisticated. I want every piece to tell a story."
Marcy raised an eyebrow, flipping through her own stack. "I’ve got so ideas too, based on client feedback and trending styles."
I gestured to her designs, encouraging her to present. She explained, we discussed, and then I showcased more of my work. Every ti I presented, I noticed the team nodding, taking notes, and occasionally looking at each other in quiet approval.
"Honestly," I said, holding up one of the sketches, "I think this piece can lead the line. The others are great, too, but this could be the centerpiece."
Theo smirked. "You really have a knack for this, Elara....sorry, Miss Elara. I’ll admit it, your designs stand out."
I laughed softly. "Well, that’s why we collaborate, right? I want to blend ideas, but if we’re honest... yes, I do hope the centerpiece shines."
Just as we were wrapping up, a soft buzz ca from the office intercom. "Miss Elara, a delivery has arrived for you," the receptionist’s voice announced.
I glanced up, curious. "For ?" I asked.
"Yes, ma’am. Please confirm your ID, and the delivery will be cleared for entry," she said.
I nodded quickly and called out, "Yes, this is Elara. You can let him through."
A few monts later, a well-dressed deliveryman appeared at the door, holding a neatly wrapped package. He handed over his ID and signed the digital log, following the proper protocol before stepping into the office. "Lunch for Miss Elara," he said politely, bowing his head slightly.
"Uh... thank you," I murmured, smiling. I accepted the package and set it on the table, careful not to interrupt the eting. I peeked inside, and my eyes widened. fresh sandwiches, a crisp salad, and a small chocolate tart, neatly arranged.
"Darlon..." I whispered under my breath, a small laugh escaping . I could practically hear his teasing voice in my head. I couldn’t resist; I quickly grabbed a sandwich, taking a small bite as I continued discussing the color palettes with the team. "Sorry, everyone, I need to eat a bit," I said, cheeks flushing slightly.
The deliveryman nodded respectfully, then retraced his steps back through the secured doors, the procedure complete, leaving with my little mont of surprise and delight. I looked at the food again, smiling fondly. It was these little gestures, these thoughtful details, that made my heart swell.
"No worries," Marcy laughed. "You work hard; you deserve it."
Hours passed, and I barely realized the ti. Every eting, every discussion, every suggestion, it all felt like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. By the ti the closing hours ca, my legs were sore, my head buzzed, and I could barely keep my eyes open.
"Fridolf," I called when the last eting ended, "I think it’s ti to head ho."
"Right away, your Majesty," he replied, bowing before leading out.
Back at the house, I changed into a comfortable nightie, the soft fabric brushing against my skin, then began my evening skincare routine. I smiled at the thought of Darlon, imagining him busy in his office, probably thinking about . As I reached for my favorite serum, one of my perfus fell off the shelf, rolling across the floor. I bent down to pick it up when I heard a faint creak behind .
I froze, glancing up. The door to the room was slowly opening, and I blinked in confusion. "How...?" I whispered. My eyes landed on the floor near my shelf, and I noticed a small, almost hidden button. Curiosity gnawed at , stronger than caution.
With a deep breath, I pressed it. A panel slid open, revealing a narrow, dimly lit tunnel. My heart thudded, a mix of fear and excitent. "Darlon... what is this?" I muttered, stepping in. The walls were lined with polished stone, cool against my fingers, and the tunnel seed to stretch on forever.
As I walked, unease settled in my stomach. "Why is there a tunnel under our room?" I whispered, each step echoing softly. But my curiosity pushed forward. Finally, the path opened into a small chamber, walls covered in frad photographs. My breath caught.
Every photo was of . Not just random pictures, but intimate monts, so from my childhood, so from work, so from walks I didn’t realize were captured, and even from our honeymoon at the beach. My hand trembled as I ran it over one of the fras. I saw photos of my younger self, candid shots that Darlon had clearly taken, and even images of soone I recognized from high school, my stalker. I rembered that I heard news about the stalker being arrested then.
"So, that ans Darlon was the one who got him arrested,"
I stepped closer to the wall of monitors. CCTV footage showed different angles, tracking my daily routine. A mix of shock, awe, and an odd sense of safety washed over . "He... he’s been watching over ?" I whispered, voice cracking. "All this ti?"
At that mont, a shadow fell across the room. I turned sharply. "Darlon?" I gasped.
He stepped in, his usual calm expression replaced by a rare flicker of worry. "Elara... I can explain," he said softly.
I ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck. "You don’t have to," I said, tears brimming. "I understand... I see now. You’ve been protecting ... all of it. Even from her." I pressed my face to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart, the warmth radiating from him.
"I... I wanted to keep you safe," he said, his voice rough. "I never wanted you to feel alone or unprotected. Every step, every mont... It’s been about you."
I pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide, teary eyes. "And now... now I know. And I... I can’t even describe how grateful I am. You’ve done everything, everything... for ."
His hands cupped my face, and I kissed him, long and heartfelt, tears mingling with our lips. "Thank you," I whispered against his mouth. "Thank you for loving , for protecting . I... I feel so safe with you."
"I will always protect you," he murmured, holding tightly.
I nodded, resting my forehead against his, and for a mont, the world outside the room ceased to exist.
"I... I just..." I paused, my voice trembling, "I want to thank you. For everything."
He smiled softly, pressing a kiss to my temple. "You don’t need to thank , Elara. I’m yours, and that’s all that matters."
I hugged him again, burying my face in his chest, my tears finally releasing. "I love you," I whispered, over and over, my voice muffled.
"And I love you," he replied, holding close. "Always."
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