Chapter 168: Territorial Di…
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Chapter 168<b>: </b>Territorial <b>Disys </b>and <b>Professional </b>Boundaries
Chapter 168: Territorial Disys and Professional Boundaries
(Olivia’s POV)
“Are you doing this on purpose?” My face flushed crimson with embarrassment as the realization hit me like a lightning bolt.
The kiss had been an ident–a mere brush of lips when I turned my head! But now Adrian Sinir would think we had been secretly intimate in my office.
It wasn’t that I feared Adrian would feel ufortable. I genuinely didn’t want anyone misunderstanding my rtionship with Connor Rivers, regardless of who that person might be.
My wolf bristled with the awkwardness of the situation. I knew how werewolf society viewed such disys of intimacy.
“Did you intentionally create that kiss?” I demanded, my amber eyes zing with usatio… ‘And then deliberately let Adrian see your lipstick mark to provoke his jealousy?”
Connor’s ice–blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he feigned innocence. “I did desire the kiss, I’ll admit that much.”
He paused, his expression bing almost boyish. “But I didn’t n anything regarding the lipstick mark or Adrian’s reaction.”
I remained unconvinced, my arms crossing defensively. “You’re putting on an act! I saw that satisfied nce you gave Adrian afterward.”
Connor’s lips curved into that infuriating smile that made my heart skip beats. “I couldn’t help but smile out of happiness after kissing my Luna.”
“Don’t call me Luna in the office!” I grabbed a crumpled tissue from my desk and threw it at him with exasperation.
Connor caught the tissue effortlessly,pletely unfazed by my irritation. “Alright, alright. I’ll leave now.”
He straightened his suit jacket with casual elegance. “But if you need any more errands handled around thew firm, I’m always avable.”
His casual dismissal of my embarrassment made my wolf want to growl in frustration. The Alpha was impossible!
<b>(</b>Connor’s POV)
As I exited Olivia’s office, I encountered Emma Thompson in <b>the </b>hallway<b>. </b>She greeted me <b>politely </b><b>with </b><b>a </b><b>respectful </b>bow <i>of </i>her head.
“Alpha Connor<b>,</b>” she said, her voice carrying the proper deference <b>expected </b>when <b>addressing </b><b>a </b><b>pack </b><b>leader</b><b>. </b>
Emma’s sharp eyes immediately noticed <b>the </b><b>lipstick </b><b>smear </b>on my <b>lips</b><b>. </b><b>She </b><b>paused </b><b>mid</b><b>–</b><b>step</b><b>, </b><b>her </b>eyes widening with dawning <b>realization</b>.
I <b>could </b>practically see <b>the </b>wheels <b>turning </b><b>in her </b><b>mind </b>as <b>she </b><b>processed </b><b>what </b><b>she </b><b>had </b><b>just </b><b>witnessed</b>. <b>Her </b>
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excitement was barely contained beneath her professional exterior.
I simply nodded in acknowledgment and continued toward the elevator. Behind me, I could sense Emma practically vibrating with excitement over the confirmation of her suspicions.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime. As I waited for the car to arrive, measured footsteps approached from behind.
Adrian Sinir appeared, his bodynguage making it clear he had something important he wanted <b>to </b>discuss. His usualposed demeanor carried an edge of tension.
“Your enthusiasm for performing menial tasks at thew firm is quite remarkable, Alpha Connor,” Adrian <b>said</b>,
his toneced with barely concealed sarcasm.
I retorted smoothly, my voice carrying confident amusement. “Olivia asking me to handle such chores must
indicate we have a very close rtionship.”
The elevator arrived with another soft chime. Both of us entered the confined space, and the tension between
two Alphas became palpable.
Our wolves circled each other metaphorically as the elevator descended. Adrian’s jaw was set in grim lines, while I maintained my rxed confidence.
“There’s a saying about matters of the heart,” Adrian said carefully. “Firste, first served.”
I countered with equal smoothness. “A smart wolf doesn’t hunt in his own territory. Workce romances are
inadvisable.”
Adrian’s gold–rimmed sses caught the elevator’s fluorescent lighting. “How can a heart heal after being deeply wounded?”
“True love, once felt<b>, </b>can always be rekindled,” I asserted, my voice carrying absolute conviction. “Regardless
of past pain.”
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as both our wolves pushed against human restraint. I fell silent, my jaw clenching as territorial instincts red.
(Adrian’s POV)
The elevator reached the underground parking garage with a mechanical ding. Connor exited first <b>with </b>Alpha confidence, his broad shoulders carrying the arrogance of someone who believed he had already <b>won</b>. followed, my usuallyposed features set in grim lines. The territorial disy I had just witnessed in Olivia’s office yed repeatedly in my mind.
Friday evening approached with its usual bustle of departing employees. <b>I </b>waited <b>in </b>the lobby <b>as </b><b>Olivia </b>gathered her belongings and locked her office<b>. </b>
<b>She </b>emerged looking professionally elegant in her light coffee-colored suit. Her honey<b>–</b><b>brown </b>hair <b>had </b><be </b>slightly loose from its professional clip during <b>the </b>day’s <b>work</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Adrian</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>She noticed me waiting and <b>approached </b>with <b>curious </b><b>amber </b><b>eyes</b>. “<b>Is </b><b>everything </b><b>alright</b><b>? </b>
I straightened <b>my </b>gold<b>–</b><b>rimmed </b>sses<b>, </b><b>choosing </b><b>my </b><b>words </b><b>carefully</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>I </b><b>need </b><b>to </b><b>speak </b><b>with </b><b>you </b>privately
<b>Her </b><b>brow furrowed </b><b>slightly </b><b>with </b><b>concern</b>. <b>“</b><b>Of </b><b>course</b><b>, </b><b>What’s </b><b>on </b><b>your </b><b>mind</b><b>?” </b>
<b>“</b><b>Would </b><b>you </b><b>take </b><b>a </b><b>walk </b><b>with </b><b>me </b><b>in </b><b>Silverleaf </b><b>Park</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>I <b>gestured </b><b>toward </b><b>the </b><b>nearby </b><b>green </b><b>space </b><b>visible </b>throug
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the lobby’s floor–to–ceiling windows. “There’s an important matter I need to discuss.”
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“Adrian, what did you want to discuss with me?” Olivia asked as we walked side by side through the moonlit paths of Silverleaf Park.
The cool evening air helped clear both our heads after the awkward office encounter. Streetmps cast gentle pools of light along the winding walkways.
My expression was serious as I gathered my thoughts. “I need to address the situation regarding my aunt’s attempts to arrange a potential mating between us.”
Olivia’s steps slowed slightly, her amber eyes reflecting understanding. My wolf was clearly ufortable with the forced proximity our families had been pushing.
“I want to rify that I have no romantic intentions toward you,” I continued with careful honesty. <b>“</b>I view you strictly as a business partner and friend within our professional werewolfmunity.”
Relief flickered across her delicate features. “I appreciate your directness, Adrian.”
“I don’t want our working rtionship to be awkward because of my family’s meddling in pack alliance matters,” I exined further. “If my aunt attempts to arrange meetings between us again, you can reject the proposals directly.”
“Without concern for offending you,” I added with a slight smile. “Ipletely understand the position you’re
in.”
Olivia nodded readily, visibly relieved. “I’m grateful we’re on the same page regarding our tonic rtionship.”
“Pack politics shouldn’tplicate our professional partnership,” she agreed warmly.
I shifted the conversation to a lighter topic, my demeanor bing more rxed. “Do you have a younger sister around the same age as my young cousin?”
“Sophie Turner is turning seven soon,” I exined with genuine fondness. “I thought perhaps she and your half–sister could be ymates.”
Olivia’s expression softened with consideration. “Grace is about eight years old, so they’d be close in age.”
“However,” she continued more carefully, “Grace recently experienced some traumatic events during her k<b>********</b>g ordeal.”
Her amber eyes reflected protective concern for her young half–sister. “She needs time to recover emotionally before meeting new people.”
I nodded understandingly, respecting the need for the young pup to heal. “Of course. When she’s ready, perhaps we can arrange an introduction.”
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