Chapter 10: Breaking the Mask

Elena felt an odd sense of dread building within her as she navigated the familiar halls of Knight Enterprises. It was her third week on the job, and while most would have started to settle in, for her, each day felt like she was walking on a razor's edge. With every sideways glance from other employees and every terse exchange with Alexander, she grew more convinced that something dark was simmering beneath the polished surface of this world.

She wanted to blend in, keep her head down, and avoid drawing attention. But fate seemed to have other plans.

The call to the executive floor came suddenly—a brusque message from Rhett instructing her to head to the top floor immediately. No explanation, no context. Just urgency.

The elevator ride up felt eternal, each floor passed only heightening her anxiety. What could they possibly want? She hadn't made any mistakes—or at least, not any that they'd caught her in. And Alexander… He'd been distant these past few days, colder than usual, yet with an intensity in his gaze that set her nerves on edge.

The doors opened with a soft chime, and she hesitated before stepping out. The air was different here. Heavier. Darker.

When she stepped into the main conference room, her breath caught in her throat. The sight before her was nothing like she had imagined.

The room was filled with Alexander's top lieutenants. Rhett stood to the right, his expression impassive, while several other high-ranking figures flanked him. But what truly made her blood freeze was the figure chained in the corner—disheveled, bruised, and half-mad. A man, if he could even still be called that. His wild eyes darted around the room, and when they landed on her, they widened in manic glee.

"Elena," he rasped, voice cracked and broken. The sound of her name twisted on his tongue like a dark promise.

She staggered back, confusion mixing with fear. "What…?"

Alexander moved forward, his presence a dominating force in the room. "Stay," he commanded, and though every instinct screamed at her to run, her feet remained rooted to the spot.

"He has information," Alexander murmured, his gaze never leaving her. "Information that concerns you."

The rogue's mouth twisted into a gruesome grin. "She doesn't even know, does she?" he crooned. "The poor little Luna, wandering blind among wolves. And here I thought Alexander would have kept a tighter leash on his mate."

The word reverberated through the room like a gunshot: mate. Elena's heart skipped a beat, a mixture of shock and disbelief flooding her. Mate? What the hell was he talking about?

"You're delusional," she spat, shaking her head violently. This couldn't be real. It was some kind of sick joke. But the rogue only laughed—a low, twisted sound.

"She doesn't even know what she is, does she?" he taunted, looking between her and Alexander. "Doesn't know the blood in her veins. The power… What a shame."

The room was deathly silent, and Elena's gaze snapped to Alexander. His expression was a mask of cold fury, but beneath that, she saw something raw. Something dangerous.

Enough," he growled, voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

But the rogue wasn't done. With a sudden, violent jerk, he strained against his chains, his eyes locking onto Elena's with manic intensity. "Run, little Luna," he hissed. "Run, before he traps you too."

And then he lunged.

Everything happened in a blur. There was a snarl—a flash of movement—and Alexander was on him, shifting faster than she could comprehend. In one brutal motion, he slammed the rogue back, a sickening crack reverberating through the room as the man's neck snapped like a twig.

Blood splattered, and Elena staggered back, heart hammering in her chest. The rogue's body slumped lifelessly to the ground, and Alexander stood over him, chest heaving, eyes glowing with a dangerous, golden light.

It was the first time she'd truly seen him for what he was. Not a man. Not even close. A beast—a predator—cloaked in the guise of civility.

The sight—the violence—it was too much. Something inside her snapped. There was a sudden, overwhelming surge of energy, a raw power that pulsed from deep within her. It exploded outward in a wave, knocking everyone back.

Alexander staggered, his eyes widening in shock as he struggled to maintain his footing. Rhett and the others were thrown against the walls, staring at her in stunned disbelief.

Elena collapsed, gasping for breath as the power receded just as quickly as it had come. Her vision swam, darkness edging in, but not before she caught sight of the look on Alexander's face.

It wasn't anger. It wasn't even fear.

It was hunger.

"Elena," he whispered, voice tight. He stepped forward cautiously, as if she were some wild creature that might bolt at any moment. "You need to listen to me."

But she couldn't. Everything hurt. Her body, her mind, her very soul felt like it was being torn apart. What was happening to her? What had she done?

"Elena," he repeated, more firmly this time, his eyes boring into hers. "You're not just my mate. You're the Luna. My Luna."

The words didn't make sense, but there was no time to process them. Alarms blared suddenly, red lights flashing around the room. Panic surged through the building—a stark contrast to the tension that had been suffocating them moments ago.

"We're under attack!" someone shouted, and chaos erupted.

Alexander was at her side in an instant, pulling her up, his grip unyielding. "We need to go," he growled, eyes darting to the door as shadows moved outside. Rogues. Dozens of them.

"No!" she protested, still reeling from everything. But he didn't give her a choice.

With a snarl, he hauled her against him, forcing her to move. The room exploded into action around them, shouts and snarls filling the air as his subordinates engaged the intruders. But Alexander didn't look back. His focus was solely on her, on getting her out.

"You're mine, Elena," he murmured fiercely as they broke through the door, his voice low and dangerous. "You're fucking mine, and I'll kill anyone who tries to take you."

The building was a war zone, but Alexander tore through it like a beast unleashed, his only goal to get her to safety.

They burst out onto the rooftop, the cool night air hitting her like a slap to the face. Elena struggled against him, but he held her tight, his gaze fierce and unrelenting.

"You can't keep me," she gasped, desperate and terrified. "I'm not—"

"Yes, you are," he snarled, cutting her off. "And you'll understand soon enough."

With that, he pulled her closer, the world spinning around them as darkness swallowed them whole.