I let out a shaky breath, thrusting the package back into his hands. "Take this back to Kieran," I said, my voice tight. "I don't want it."
Tristan hesitated, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Selena, are you sure? Alpha Kieran seemed quite insistent-"
"I don't care what Kieran wants," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "This dress is not for me, and I will not be his bride. Now, please, take it and get out."
Tristan opened his mouth to protest, but I didn't give him the chance. Stepping back, I slammed the door in his face, cutting off any further discussion.
The next evening, a new email notification pulled my gaze away from my laptop screen, where I had been reviewing my cover letter one last time before hitting send. My heart raced as I saw that the sender of the email was the prestigious tech company I had applied to just a week ago. I had already resigned from Kieran’s company and I knew I had to get a job elsewhere and fast. So I decided to apply in all the big companies hoping to get a chance to shine.
With a deep, steadying breath, I clicked on the message, my fingers trembling slightly.
"Dear Selena,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for an interview with our firm. We were impressed by your impressive credentials and believe you would be an excellent addition to our team.
Please come to our office at 8 AM sharp tomorrow morning for a formal interview. We look forward to meeting with you in person.
Sincerely,
The Hiring Team"
I stared at the words, barely able to process the surge of emotions that hit me. Excitement, relief, and a touch of nervous anticipation all mingled together in a dizzying swirl. Oh thank the moon goddess for such an opportunity!
For years, I had lived in Kieran's shadow, following his lead and bending to his will. But not anymore. This job, this opportunity, it was my ticket to independence. No more would I be seen as just the Alpha's mate, destined to serve at his beck and call. I was Selena, a capable and driven woman, and I was about to take the city by storm.
Pushing away from my desk, I strode to the kitchen to go grab a bottle of wine. I rarely drank anything because Kieran forbade it but tonight I was going to celebrate it all by myself.
My gaze landed on the bottle of merlot sitting in the bar nearby, and without a second thought, I snatched it up, twisting the cap open.