New York City, penthouse on the 68th floor, Manhattan.
The morning sun poured through floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Hudson River glittered gold below.
I stood in front of the mirror, putting on red lipstick (blood red).
Black silk blouse. White high-waist pants. Diamond earrings I designed myself.
My long brown hair fell straight and perfect.
No more shy little Aria from the forest.
Now the world called me Eva Voss, the queen of custom jewelry.
Magazines said my waiting list was two years long.
Celebrities cried if I said no.
"Mommy!"
A small tornado ran in and hugged my legs.
Leo.
Five years old. Black curly hair. Ice-blue eyes.
Exactly like his father.
I knelt down and kissed his forehead.
"Good morning, little wolf."
Leo looked up, serious.
"Mommy, today at kindergarten, Tommy said everyone has a daddy.
Do I have a daddy?"
My heart stopped for half a second.
I smiled, soft but cold.
"Yes, baby. You had a daddy."
"Is he dead?" Leo asked, big eyes wide.
I brushed his hair with my fingers.
"Very dead. He was a big jerk.
The grass on his grave is already two meters tall."
Leo giggled. "Two meters! That's taller than me!"
"Much taller," I said. "Now go eat breakfast. Maria made pancakes."
Leo ran to the kitchen, shouting, "Maria! Pancakes with smiley faces!"
I stood up and looked back at the mirror.
Eva Voss never cries.
The intercom buzzed.
"Ms. Voss, your nine o'clock is here," my assistant Claire said.
"Send her in."
Claire walked in, tablet in hand, eyes nervous.
"Eva… we have a new request. Private client. Very, very big money."
I raised an eyebrow. "How big?"
"He's willing to pay triple your usual fee. Plus a bonus if you finish in two weeks."
I laughed. "People always say that. Who is he?"
Claire swallowed.
"His name is Alpha Ryan Blackwood.
He says he wants a custom engagement ring.
And he will only work with you. He saw your Wolf Moon collection last month in Paris."
The lipstick in my hand stopped moving.
Ryan.
After five years.
Alpha Ryan Blackwood.
I put the lipstick down slowly.
Claire watched me. "Do you… know him?"
I smiled. Slow. Sharp. Dangerous.
"Know him? Claire, I used to know him very well."
Claire looked scared. "So… do we say no? We can say the schedule is full."
I walked to the window and looked down at the tiny cars far below.
Five years ago, he crushed me in front of the whole pack.
Five years ago, I ran away pregnant and crying in the rain.
Now he wants me to design an engagement ring?
For who? Scarlett? Some new girl?
Perfect.
I turned around.
"Tell Alpha Ryan Blackwood that Eva Voss accepts.
Tell him I'm very excited to see him again."
Claire's mouth opened. "You're… excited?"
"Very." I touched the diamond wolf pendant on my neck (the first piece I ever made, the night Leo was born).
"Book the big studio. Clear my afternoon tomorrow.
He can come here. To my territory."
Claire typed fast. "Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, and Claire?"
"Yes?"
"Make sure security knows his name.
I want him to feel… welcome."
Claire left.
I walked to the kitchen.
Leo was covered in syrup, laughing with Maria.
I picked him up and kissed his sticky cheek.
"Mommy has a new client tomorrow," I said.
"Is he nice?" Leo asked.
I smiled, showing teeth.
"No, baby. He's the meanest wolf in the world.
But Mommy is meaner now."
Leo clapped. "Mommy is the strongest!"
Yes, little wolf.
Mommy is.
Tomorrow, Ryan walks into my city.
Into my building.
Into my game.
I looked out at New York (my kingdom).
"Let's see how the big bad Alpha likes being rejected this time," I whispered.
The diamond wolf on my neck caught the sunlight and flashed like fire.
Tomorrow.
Ryan Blackwood is going to learn:
Hell hath no fury like a she-wolf who grew up.