Chapter 9

Estelle's POV

My heart skipped a beat, and I forced a smile onto my face.

"It's a work perk from my part-time boss—for product photography."

Logan stared at me for a long moment, something I couldn't decipher flickering in those cobalt blue eyes.

"Oh," he said, and didn't press further.

He came over and took my hand, his palm warm and dry against my cold fingertips—a stark contrast.

"I came to pick you up for dinner. You've been wanting to try that steakhouse, right?"

I breathed a sigh of relief and followed him to the car.

During dinner, Logan kept talking about next month's final assessments, saying he'd take me somewhere fun once they were over. I listened absentmindedly, my mind full of the way Alpha Bruce had given me the camera that morning.

"Estelle?"

Logan's voice pulled me back.

I looked up to find him frowning at me.

"Have you been going to my uncle's place a lot lately?"

I froze for a second.

"No, why?"

He smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Nothing, it's just that lately every time I call you, you're busy. I thought maybe you were sneaking over to see my uncle."

Panic fluttered in my chest. I quickly lowered my head and took a sip of water, only noticing my hand was shaking when the rim touched my lips.

"No, I barely know him. Besides, I've been busy with my part-time job."

"Oh," he said, and fell silent.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that he knew something.

When I went to the East Wing again that weekend, I told Alpha Bruce about Logan asking where the camera came from.

I stood in the study doorway, my fingertips picking at the camera strap.

"Maybe I should give the camera back. Logan's already starting to suspect something."

Alpha Bruce frowned and set down the document he'd been holding.

Those ice-gray eyes lifted to pin me in place. "What are you afraid of? Just tell him you saved up and bought it yourself. Is he going to check your bank statements?"

I kept my head down, my gaze fixed on my feet.

"What if he actually does check? I shouldn't have been hiding from him that I'm working here as your assistant in the first place."

Alpha Bruce suddenly reached out and caught my wrist.

The grip wasn't hard, but I couldn't pull free.

He stared into my eyes, emotions I couldn't read churning in those ice-gray pupils.

"What, already worried about upsetting him? You're his girlfriend—are you that afraid of him?"

His gaze made my face burn.

I tried to pull my hand away, but couldn't.

Alpha Bruce gripped my hand and rose from the wheelchair, moving toward me step by step, though his movements were somewhat stiff.

I couldn't help backing up until my waist hit the edge of the desk.

"You—" Before I could finish, Alpha Bruce closed in, bracing his hands on either side of me, locking me firmly in place.

"Shh..." His low, pleasant voice came from above my head. "I don't want to hear any words from that tempting little mouth of yours that would displease me."

I looked up at Alpha Bruce, my body already going weak from the cedarwood scent surrounding me.

The hand beside me slid around my waist, his warm fingertips brushing my side.

My whole body jerked violently. That touch felt like a thin current of electricity shooting from my waist straight to my lower abdomen.

His fingers didn't immediately leave my waist—they lingered for a full three seconds. During those three seconds, I could even feel the slight roughness of his fingertips, rubbing through my clothes against my trembling skin that I couldn't control.

I quickly dropped my head. I realized he must have felt my physical reaction.

The laughter above my head grew louder: "Well, it seems your body is more honest than your mouth. It apparently doesn't want to be Logan's girlfriend."

His warm breath swept across my neck, raising a layer of goosebumps. He was so close I could feel the heat radiating from his chest.

"I think you need to make a choice." His voice dropped low, full of control. "I haven't acknowledged you yet, so you can't possibly become Logan's girlfriend. Or, you could consider becoming mine."

I bit my lip hard, not daring to look up at all. The sound of servants moving in the hallway drifted in, yet here in this small corner of the world, I was completely imprisoned by this man's gaze and fingertips.

I closed my eyes. Clearly Alpha Bruce opposed my relationship with Logan. As for his feelings toward me, I didn't believe a plain Omega like me could make the Alpha of Black Moon fall head over heels.

Besides, I was just an ordinary wolf trying to establish myself in Silver Crown City. I had no interest whatsoever in getting involved in Alpha family affairs.

I opened my eyes and looked into Alpha Bruce's gray eyes, saying softly:

"We shouldn't have any entanglement in the first place. I'm Logan's girlfriend, you're his uncle. If there were rumors about us, it would damage your family's reputation."

Alpha Bruce's expression instantly turned cold.

He released my waist and stepped back to a socially appropriate distance.

"So you really do consider yourself Logan's girlfriend."

I bit my lip and said nothing.

His voice turned icy: "You'd better remember—your current job is something I gave you. Your grandfather's medical expenses are paid with the salary I give you. Without me, you're nothing."

I looked at his cold face, feeling wronged, my eyes immediately reddening.

"I know. I haven't forgotten. Once the two months are up, I definitely won't appear before you again."

With that, I turned and ran out of the study, tears falling uncontrollably.

I ran out of the East Wing and happened to run into Logan standing at the courtyard gate.

He saw my tear-streaked face and his expression changed instantly.

He rushed over and grabbed me.

"What happened? Why are you here? Did my uncle call you over to deliberately bully you?"

I quickly wiped my tears, but the faster I wiped, the more they fell.

"No, Alpha Bruce just called me to ask about your situation and help him organize some photos."

Logan clearly didn't believe me.

He frowned and turned to head toward the study.

I quickly grabbed him.

"Really, it's nothing. Don't go disturb Alpha Bruce's work."

Logan stared at me for a long moment but ultimately didn't go.

He pulled me into his arms, his palm gently patting my back.

"If anyone bullies you, just tell me. I'll definitely take your side."

I leaned against him, my heart in complete chaos.

On one side was Alpha Bruce's cold words just now, on the other Logan's warm embrace.

I felt like I was splitting apart.

That evening Logan took me back to the dorm. As soon as I got upstairs, I received a message from Alpha Bruce.

Just one line.

【You don't need to come tomorrow. I've arranged for someone else to organize the photos.】

I stared at that message for a long time, an inexplicable emptiness opening in my chest, as if I'd lost something important.

I tossed my phone onto the bed, buried myself under the covers, and tears fell again.

I thought my entanglement with Alpha Bruce had ended there.

Until three days later, when Logan suddenly came running to the dorm looking for me.

His face was deathly pale, even his sandy-gold hair disheveled.

He stood in the doorway, his chest heaving violently.

"Estelle, my uncle's old injury has relapsed. He's dying."