Willow

Chapter 1: An Unknown Call

Present time...

"Ms. Carter? There's a call from the Henderson brothers regarding a deal you made last week. Should I put them through?" my assistant Maddy, a lean woman in her mid-twenties with pin straight blonde hair and bottle green eyes, asked poking her head through the glass doors of my office.

"No Maddy, tell them I'm unavailable. I'll mail them later." I dismissed not wanting to deal with the flirtatious pair. "Besides they'll turn it into an excuse to have another business dinner and I don't have time for that."

Maddy snorted at that before muttering something apologetic into the phone at her ear. Once done she turned towards me again. "And what time are you planning on leaving the office at Miss? You've been overworking yourself and it isn't good for your health." She chided pointing at the slight dark circles under my eyes.

I lifted my eyes off the computer screen to give her an exasperated look with a pout, which she returned with a playful glare. I actually had been overworking myself, but seriously my metabolism could handle. Still I gave in. "Alright alright, I'll leave as soon as I'm done with this last e-mail, I promise. You can head home Maddy," I said smiling tiredly. Maddy nodded satisfied before waving me goodbye and leaving me with my unfinished workload on top of one of the highest skyscrapers in Browning.

I turned back to my screen and quickly finished typing out my last email of the day as promised. My eyes skimmed through it carefully making sure that no typos were present. Women in my position were always criticized for the slightest mistake so it was always better to be cautious.

You spelled violation wrong, you switched the I and o, my wolf's voice echoed in my mind.

Thank you, Violet, I thanked correcting the mistake and silently cheering at the fact that my wolf was interacting with me more. I could feel her smiling at my simple joy and shaking her big silver head.

Looking back at my desk, I shut my computer and gathered my belongings throwing them haphazardly into a Charles and Keith bag. I stood up adjusting my blue dress before grabbing my heavy bag with ease and heading out.

Outside my car waited for me, the sterling silver car door swinging open at the press of a button. I slid in and buckled up, and took off towards my home.

Ever since what happened four years ago, I'd spent my time either at work or doing some sort of physical activity or other. Anything to keep my mind off the past. Anything to forget. It wasn't too hard in Browning which was a busy city but it had its fair share of neighboring woods and forests and in them dwelled the pack I'd left. A pack I supported from afar but hid away from. Just thinking about it riddled me with guilt and caused my wolf to let out a low whine. If only... 

I want to break free by Queen started blaring through my car's Bluetooth system interrupting my thoughts. I frowned at the unfamiliar number stared at me through the display screen. It wasn't uncommon for me to get at least twenty different calls from Selene knows where but usually none of them were to my personal number. I decided to let it pass because I was tired and looking forward to a warm bubble bath, and was most definitely not in the mood deal with anything related to work.

The tall black gates to my mansion swung open as I neared them, gaining me entry on the soft gravel path. The old family mansion that was rarely ever used had become my companion along with its occupants. It was at least three thousand years old, undergoing a few changes through the centuries, but nothing major enough for it to lose its regal appearance. It still stood tall and proud in all its golden and marble white glory with acres of gardens stretching behind.