The sound of the door slamming echoed through the large office, leaving a ringing silence in its wake.

Harrison didn’t move. He stood with his back to the room, his hands resting on the edge of the window frame. His knuckles were white. If he pressed any harder, the glass might crack.

He was shaking. It was a barely visible tremor that started in his fingers and moved up his arms.

He took a deep breath, trying to pull his power back in.

The air in the room was still heavy, thick with the dark, suffocating scent he had released when he pinned Julius to the desk. It was the scent of a predator that had finally caught its prey, and it was taking everything Harrison had to dampen it.

Behind him, he heard the soft sound of paper being moved.

Anna was moving around the office, picking up the folders and sheets that had been scattered across the floor. She worked in silence for a few minutes, stacking the documents back onto the desk.

Harrison could hear her movements.

"The board members are already talking, Harrison," Anna said. Her voice was flat, but he could hear the underlying concern. "They saw what happened in the meeting. And they definitely saw Julius leave just now. You’ve never let your personal life bleed into this office. Not once in ten years."

Harrison didn’t turn around.

"It isn’t a personal life, Anna. It’s a necessity."

"A necessity that makes you lose control?" Anna asked.

She stopped moving. He could feel her gaze on his back.

"I’ve been by your side since you started Nexus Global. I’ve seen you face down men who wanted to kill you without so much as a blink. But today? You look like you’re coming apart."

Harrison finally let go of the window frame.

He turned around slowly. His eyes were still dark, the black slowly receding to show the gold underneath.

He looked exhausted.

"He was the one who pushed," Harrison said.

"And you let him," Anna countered.

She walked closer, her eyes searching his face.

"Is he the one, Harrison? The one who makes you forget who you are? The one you’ve been protecting from the shadows all this time?"

Harrison didn’t answer.

He didn’t have to.

The silence in the room was heavy with the truth.

Anna sighed, her Alpha scent softening slightly.

"He doesn’t remember, does he? He looks at you and sees a rival. A boss. A man who is trying to own him. He has no idea that you are the only reason he’s still breathing."

"It’s better that way," Harrison muttered.

He walked over to his chair and sat down, rubbing his face with his hands.

"If he remembers, he’ll go after them. He’s an Alpha. He’s proud and stubborn. He’ll think he can fight the enemies, and they will tear him apart before he gets close."

"You can’t keep him in the dark forever," Anna said. "The enemies are starting to notice your distraction. If they see that Julius Vane is your weakness, they won’t go after you. They’ll go after him to get to you."

"Let them try," Harrison growled, his eyes flashing black for a second.

"Harrison, listen to me," Anna said, leaning over the desk. "You stopped just now. I saw his face when I walked in. He was ready to give you everything, and you turned him away. Why?"

Harrison looked at his hands.

He could still feel the heat of Julius’s skin. He could still taste him.

"Because I almost lost it," Harrison admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "The bond... it’s too strong. When I touch him, my power doesn’t just want to claim him, it wants to consume him."

"If I hadn’t stopped, I would have snapped. I would have hurt him, Anna. My pheromones were becoming unstable. I could feel the Enigma side taking over completely. He’s an Alpha, but he’s not ready for what I really am."

He looked at the desk, at the spot where Julius had been pinned.

"I won’t be the one to break him," Harrison said. "I’ve spent twenty-five years carrying his pain so he could have a life. I won’t ruin it now because I can’t control my own hunger."

Anna looked at him with pity.

It was a look Harrison hated, but he didn’t have the energy to fight it.

"You should go home," she said. "The signatures can wait until tomorrow. You need to get your head straight before the gala. Everyone who matters will be there, including Helen’s family. You can’t afford to look weak."

"I know," Harrison said. "Go home, Anna. I’ll be out in a minute."

Anna hesitated, then nodded. She gathered her tablet and walked toward the door.

"Just remember, Harrison. You can’t protect him from the truth and from yourself at the same time. Eventually, you’ll have to choose."

She left, closing the doors quietly.

Harrison sat in the dark office for a long time.

The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the floor. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He reached into the bottom drawer of his desk and pressed a hidden button. A small panel clicked open, revealing a heavy metal safe.

He punched in a code—a date from twenty-five years ago.

The safe opened.

Inside were several items that most people would think were junk. A charred watch. A silver cufflink. And a small, wooden toy car.

It was painted blue, the color faded and the edges worn smooth. It was the exact matching set to the red one Julius had when they were younger.

Harrison picked it up, his thumb tracing the wooden wheels.

He remembered the day they had played with these on the floor of his father’s office. He remembered the laughter, the smell of cigars, and the feeling of safety.

That safety had died.

He gripped the toy car tightly.

"I won’t let them touch you," Harrison whispered into the empty room. "Not again."

He put the toy back in the safe and locked it.

He stood up, adjusted his suit, and walked out.

He had work to do.