FALLING FOR THE ALPHA’S BETA

9

Nia’s Pov

“Coordinator?” I said under my breath. “That sounds… significant.”

Celene’s lips twitched, a trace of amusement breaking through her cool professionalism. “It is. You’ll oversee interdepartmental coordination, manage the Alpha’s schedule, and review all strategic proposals before they reach him.”

I turned toward her slowly, my pulse quickening. “That sounds… like a lot.”

“It is,” she agreed. “It’s a senior position. And it’s rare for a human to hold one, so, expect questions.” Her gaze flicked to the end of the corridor, where a few employees were still pretending not to stare. “And whispers.”

My throat went dry. I’d known walking into a wolf-dominated workplace wouldn’t be easy, but hearing it out loud, the quiet prejudice, the scrutiny, made my chest tighten.

“I’ll manage,” I said, trying to sound steadier than I felt.

Celene studied me for a moment longer before her expression softened, the faintest trace of empathy appearing in her eyes. “Don’t let them get to you, Nia. You’ll need thick skin here. And if anyone asks how you got this role…”

I forced a small smile. “Let me guess. Don’t answer?”

Her lips curved faintly. “Exactly.”

She pushed the office door open, and I stepped inside.

I placed my bag down on the desk and brushed my fingers over its smooth surface. The computer was already set up. Files stacked neatly to one side, pens aligned with unnerving precision. It felt like a stage waiting for a performance I wasn’t sure I could deliver.

For a moment, I just stood there, breathing in the unfamiliar air. The silence pressed around me like a weight, thick with the knowledge that I didn’t belong.

This was it. My new beginning. Or maybe my first mistake.

Celene lingered by the door, watching me quietly. “Settle in,” she said after a moment. “I’ll have your system login sent shortly.” She paused, her eyes meeting mine. “And Nia…whatever brought you here… make sure it’s worth it.”

Then she was gone, the door closing softly behind her.

I stood alone in the room, the hum of the office beyond my walls fading into nothing.

Exhaling, I sank into the chair, tracing my fingers along the nameplate again.

Nia Rivers, Strategic Operations Coordinator.

The title still didn’t sound real.

My phone buzzed suddenly, startling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. Ashera.

I quickly picked up. “Hey.”

Her voice came through warm and cheerful, carrying that familiar, effortless energy. “Nia! Finally. I’ve been trying to call you since morning. How’s the first day going, Miss Coordinator?”

I laughed softly, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s… going. The office looks like something out of a magazine. Everyone, however, looks at me like I wandered in by mistake.”

“I can imagine,” Ashera said with a little chuckle. “You’re probably the first human in decades to hold such a position there. They’ll come around.”

I sighed. “You sound more confident about that than I do. Some of them looked at me like I’d stolen the job right out of a wolf’s claws.”

“Oh, please.” Her tone softened with that mix of affection and quiet protectiveness I’d grown used to. “You earned it. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise. Darius wouldn’t have approved it if he didn’t believe you could handle it.”

I paused at that, the mention of Darius stirring something I couldn’t quite name. “Still feels… unreal,” I admitted. “Like any second now, someone’s going to walk in and tell me there’s been a mistake.”

“That’s imposter syndrome,” Ashera teased gently. “You’ll get over it once they see how competent you are.”

I chuckled. “Hopefully before they eat me alive.”

She laughed softly, the sound rich and unbothered. “You’ll be fine, I promise. You always find your footing, even when you think you won’t.”

Her reassurance warmed me, but a small part of me couldn’t help noticing how different her voice sounded, lighter, happier. “Alright, enough about me. How’s the honeymoon?”

There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a quiet hum. “It’s been… nice,” she said finally, a soft smile colouring her words. “Peaceful, actually. Darius has been trying to make me relax, but you know me…I keep checking in on things back home.”

I laughed. “You? Relaxing? I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“I’m working on it,” she replied, amused. “The place is beautiful, though. The coastlines here stretch forever, and the moon looks enormous at night. I wish you could see it.”

Her tone softened, and for a second, I could almost picture it, the dark waves glistening under silver light, her and Darius walking along the shore. “You sound happy,” I said quietly.

“I am,” she admitted. “But I still worry about you. It’s strange being this far away and knowing you’re surrounded by wolves.”

“I’m managing,” I said lightly, even though deep down I still felt like I was walking on thin ice. “Besides, I met someone interesting, Celene, the Head of Administration. She’s… human too.”

“Really?” Ashera sounded surprised. “That’s rare. Did she seem nice?”

“Nice enough. Professional, a bit guarded, but she’s been around long enough to know how to survive here.” I hesitated before adding, “She said I should learn to mask my scent.”

There was a small pause. “She’s right,” Ashera said finally. “Some wolves might not take kindly to your scent lingering in their space. Especially those who think humans shouldn’t be part of pack affairs.”

“Yeah,” I murmured. “I got that impression.”

“Nia…” Her voice softened with quiet worry. “You don’t have to prove anything to them, okay? You’re there to work, not to fight for approval.”

“I know.” I exhaled slowly, leaning back in my chair again. “Still, it’s hard not to feel like I’m being tested every time someone looks at me.”

“That’s how it starts,” Ashera said knowingly. “But give it time. You’ll find your rhythm.”

“Thanks, Luna,” I teased.

“You’re welcome, Coordinator.” She chuckled. “Now, go be brilliant. I’ll check in again soon.”

“Alright. And Ashera?”

“Yeah?”

“Enjoy the honeymoon. Don’t spend it worrying about me. You deserve this.”

There was a small laugh on the other end. “I’ll try. Take care, love.”

The line clicked, leaving me in silence once again.

I placed my phone down and stared out the wide window, watching as a group of wolves crossed the training field below, their movements sharp and coordinated. My reflection overlapped theirs in the glass, one human woman surrounded by a world that didn’t quite want her there.

But this was my chance to change that.

I straightened in my chair, the earlier anxiety giving way to quiet determination.

“Alright,” I whispered to myself. “Let’s get to work.”