Derek could feel his wolf howling with happiness at his mate’s reply. And he wasn’t far behind—he was more than happy.

  Snaking his right hand around her neck, he drew her face closer, his gaze lingering on the forest green of her eyes. Then she kissed him.

  She kissed him like no one ever had—soft, warm, and breathy. Not a battle, but a union, a merging of one breath, one heartbeat, one timeless, passionate moment.

  Heat surged through him as her tongue met his—quick, electric, thrilling—then deeper, more insistent, probing the fire that blazed between them.

  Rrrriiingggg!!

  A phone rang.

  Derek cursed as his little witch reluctantly pulled back. She hadn’t wanted to stop. He leaned in to reclaim her, but the phone rang again.

  Rrrriiingggg!!

  “Damn!” he muttered as Emma sat up straight on his lap.

  “Won’t you check who’s calling?” she asked, smirking, fully aware of the effect her kiss had on him. She’d felt it too—that stirring, that heat.

  Fumbling, Derek retrieved her phone from his shirt pocket.

  “Here,” he said, handing it to her.

  “Thanks,” she replied, taking it—but then she snorted. “It wasn’t mine that was ringing.”

  Derek furrowed his brow in confusion. He’d thought it was hers. He tried to locate the source, but the lingering kiss had left his mind scrambled.

  “Stop thinking. Just check your phone,” she teased.

  His phone was tucked in the back pocket of his jeans. He frowned—he’d have to let her slide off his lap for a moment. Carrying her and retrieving his phone simultaneously might upset her, and he wasn’t ready for that confrontation yet.

  “Emma… could you…” he stuttered, indicating with his eyes that she should move.

  “Sure,” she said, slipping off his lap and settling back onto the seat.

  He watched her fidget with her fingers, then scroll through her phone with a faint smile tugging at his lips. He lifted himself slightly and retrieved his own phone.

  It was the cleaning company. What now? he wondered, redialing the number.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  It rang a few times before a chirpy voice answered.

  “Hello, Derek! It’s me!”

  Derek swore silently. Cassey. That human girl who had been a thorn in his side since he started at the company weeks ago. What did she want now?

  “Cassey, why are you calling?” His tone was cold, sharp with irritation.

  “Well… I was wondering if you could come to my birthday party this Friday,” she chirped.

  “No. I can’t,” he said firmly.

  “Why not?” she whined.

  “Because I’m busy,” he snapped, lifting the phone to cut her off—but she spoke again.

  “If you don’t come, I’ll tell your father what you did last Wednesday,” she threatened, her voice hardened.

  Derek cursed, frustrated at the cunning human—and at his father for showing up at his workplace that day. If he hadn’t, this ridiculous threat wouldn’t exist.

  “De… re… k,” Cassey drawled over the line.

  “I’ll be there,” Derek finally said, biting the inside of his cheek.

  “Good. I’ll send you the details after this call.” She hung up.

  “Are you done?” he heard his little witch ask.

  She frowned, obviously aware that he had been speaking to another girl. He resisted the urge to laugh at her expression, knowing better than to show it.

  “Yes,” he replied, still studying her reaction.

  “Oh, okay. Get going then. I have to get home; I’m tired and hungry,” she muttered, a thread of irritation in her voice.

  “Alright,” he said, not bothering to explain, not finding it necessary. It’s nothing, he thought.

  He turned the ignition on his father’s Mercedes-Benz and eased the car onto the road.

  Silence fell between them like a thick curtain, stretching into moments later. Derek wondered what had gone wrong.

  He had expected the drive to be smooth, calm—yet his little witch had been mute, looking lost in thought.

  Glancing at her, he saw her head tilted back, eyes closed. She must be really tired, he thought, a small smile playing on his lips. She was simply worn out, not upset.

  He returned his focus to the road, humming softly.

  “Who’s she?”

  Derek’s head snapped to her in surprise. Her eyes were open, staring ahead with intensity.

  “She’s my colleague at work,” he said, wondering if that explained the sudden silence. He wished he had clarified immediately after the call.

  “Just a colleague?” Her emphasis on colleague made him smirk.

  “Yes. Just a colleague,” he reassured her, secretly pleased at her tiny bout of jealousy.

  “Okay.” She closed her eyes again.

  Derek exhaled, focusing on the road.

  “Why was she calling?” she asked, two minutes later, eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. He caught the softness in her voice and thought she looked adorable.

  “She invited me to her birthday party,” he said. “I couldn’t say no—I owe her a favor.”

  “Okay. I’ll go with you then,” she said, her voice threaded with unshakable resolve.

  Derek couldn’t help but smile. He would have taken her anyway, but her insistence delighted him.