Mia woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring in her ear. She groggily reached over to turn it off, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She sat up in bed, stretching her arms above her head and arching her back. After a moment, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and planted her feet firmly on the ground.
Mia stood up and shuffled to the bathroom, flipping on the light switch and squinting at the bright light. She began her morning routine, brushing her teeth and washing her face. She looked at herself in the mirror, taking in her reflection. Her hair was messy and tangled, and her eyes were still heavy with sleep.
After washing her face, Mia started getting ready for work. She put on a pair of dark-washed jeans and a white blouse, her uniform for her job at the coffee shop. She styled her hair in a ponytail and applied a light layer of makeup.
As she finished getting ready, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. She locked it behind her and took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill her lungs. She was ready to face the day, and she set off towards the coffee shop, ready to start her shift.
When Mia arrived at the coffee shop, she couldn't help but notice the flashy car parked outside in the parking lot. It was a sleek, black sports car with tinted windows, and it seemed completely out of place in the otherwise quiet morning. Two men leaned against the car, engaged in a conversation that seemed intense, their voices low and serious. They were dressed in sleek black suits, their presence seeming to draw attention to themselves like magnets.
Mia wondered what they were doing there, they looked rich and definitely shouldn't be at this part of the city. The atmosphere around the café seemed to give off a chilling vibe but she shrugged it off, attributing it to her own fatigue. Maybe she was just more sensitive to the atmosphere today, or maybe it was the gloomy weather that seemed to be casting a shadow over the entire area.
As she walked towards the entrance, she noticed the closed sign hasn't been changed to an open sign, Mia wondered what was going on. Nevertheless, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. She was met at the doorstep by her manager, Rachel. Rachel's face looked different from usual - her skin was pale, and her eyes were wide with fear. Mia's curiosity was piqued, and she felt a sense of unease wash over her.
"Mia, I'm glad you're here," Rachel said, her voice barely above a whisper. Mia's curiosity was piqued, and she felt a sense of unease wash over her. "What's going on?" she asked, her eyes locked onto Rachel's.
Rachel pulled Mia to a corner, away from the prying eyes of the other employees. "There's a man here," she said, her voice low and serious. "He rented the whole place for the day. I don't know what he wants, but...I don't like it."
Mia's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean he rented the whole place?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Rachel's expression turned grave. "He's rich, Mia. I can tell. He's got that aura about him that screams money. But there's something about him that doesn't feel right. The aura emitting from him is cold and scary. I don't know how to describe it."
Mia's unease grew. "What does he look like?" she asked, her mind racing with possibilities.
Rachel's eyes seemed to glaze over, as if she was reliving a memory. "He's tall, with piercing eyes. His hair is dark, and he's got a strong jawline. He's dressed in a suit that looks like it costs more than my car. But it's not just his looks that are intimidating. It's the way he carries himself. He's got an air of confidence that's almost arrogant."
Mia's eyes were wide with fear. "That sounds scary," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rachel nodded. "It is. And to make matters worse, he's specifically asked for you to attend to him. He wants you to be his server for the day."
Mia's heart sank. "Me? Why me?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion.
Rachel shook her head. "I don't know. He just said that he wanted you to take care of him today. And Mia, I don't like it. I don't like it at all."
Mia felt a sense of trepidation wash over her. She didn't know what to make of this mysterious man, but she knew that she didn't want to deal with him. But at the same time, she couldn't just refuse. She was a server, and it was her job to attend to customers.
"What am I supposed to do?" Mia asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Rachel's expression turned grim. "You'll have to go and take care of him, Mia. Just be careful, okay?" Mia nodded, feeling a sense of unease wash over her. She took a deep breath and steeled herself for what was to come. She would go and attend to the mysterious man, but she would be careful. She would make sure to keep her distance and not get too caught up in whatever game he was playing.
As Mia stood up to go and attend to the man, Rachel grabbed her arm. "Mia, be careful," she said, her voice filled with warning. "I don't know what he's capable of." Mia nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine. She knew that she would have to be careful, but she also knew that she couldn't back down. She would face whatever challenges came her way, head-on.
Mia put on her apron, smoothing out the fabric as she prepared to attend to the mysterious man. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the encounter. With a sense of determination, she walked towards the VIP room, her footsteps quiet on the floor.
As she approached the room, she could feel a strange energy emanating from within. She pushed open the door and stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room for the man.
He was seated in a chair, his legs crossed in a relaxed pose. But despite his seemingly casual demeanor, Mia could sense an aura of power and dominance surrounding him. His face was serious, with no hint of a smile, and his eyes seemed to bore into her very soul.
Mia felt a shiver run down her spine as she met his gaze, but she refused to back down. She stood tall, her shoulders squared, and greeted him with a professional smile.
Karl's wolf stirred within him, its presence a low hum in the back of his mind. As Mia entered the room, the wolf's instincts flared to life, and it whispered to Karl in a primal, urgent tone: "Mate."
The wolf's senses were on high alert, its awareness of Mia's presence almost palpable. It could smell her scent, a mix of sweet and earthy notes.
Karl's eyes locked onto Mia's, and he felt his wolf's primal instincts surge to the forefront of his mind. The wolf's urgent whisper echoed through his thoughts, "Mate, mate, claim her." Karl's body tensed, his muscles coiled with restraint, as he struggled to maintain control.
It took all his self-control to force himself to remain seated and composed. He couldn't let his wolf's primal nature scare Mia away. Not yet. Not when he had just found her.
If he had his way, Karl would have marked Mia right there, claiming her as his own. He would have wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, and let his scent claim her as his territory. But he knew that would be a mistake. Mia was human, and she wouldn't understand the depth of his connection to her. Not yet, anyway.
Karl took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slowly, as he tried to calm his racing heart. He kept his eyes on Mia, his gaze piercing, but his expression neutral. He wouldn't scare her. Not now. Not ever.
Mia's professional demeanor took over, and she asked, "What can I help you with, sir?" Her voice was smooth and polite, but Karl could sense a hint of wariness beneath the surface.
Karl shook his head, his expression serious. "I'm fine, thank you," he said, his deep voice low and smooth. "I want to talk to you. Sit."
Mia's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she hesitated. "I'm afraid I can't sit, sir," she said, her voice firm but respectful. "I'm here to serve you, not to socialize."
Karl's eyes locked onto hers. Bold. Very bold. "I know," he said, his voice neutral. "But this is how you can serve me. So sit."
Mia scanned him, unsure of his intentions. Despite his intimidating presence, she noticed that she wasn't scared of him.
"I'll stand, sir," she said finally, her voice firm. "I don't think it's necessary for me to sit." Karl's eyes widened slightly, and he felt a surge of amazement at Mia's assertiveness. He studied her personality, intrigued by her confidence and determination. Despite being in a situation that could be perceived as intimidating, Mia stood her ground, refusing to back down.
His expression didn't change anyways, but deep down, he was thrilled that Mia was standing in front of him. He badly wanted to reach out and touch her, to feel her soft skin beneath his fingers. But he restrained himself, knowing that would be a mistake.
"Very well," he said, his voice serious. "We can talk like this."
Karl's eyes never left Mia's face as he mind-linked Ian, who stood outside the café. 'Ian. The contract.' he said, his voice clear in his mind.
Ian's response was immediate. 'Yes, alpha.' he replied, his mental voice crisp and obedient.
Karl's gaze remained fixed on Mia who looked at him like a sick man. A moment later, the door opened, and Ian stepped inside, a sleek black folder in his hand.
"Hand it over to her," Karl commanded, his voice low and commanding.
Ian approached Mia, the black folder held out in front of him. Mia's eyes widened slightly as she took the folder, her hands touching the cool leather.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of wariness.
Karl's expression remained neutral, his eyes locked onto hers. "A contract," he said simply.