Her Alpha's Heart (eBook)

A Second Chance Shifter Romance

Alpha Scott (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
239 Seiten
Publishdrive (Verlag)
978-0-00-093544-1 (ISBN)

Infos

Maya Hayes, a driven law student, is determined to carve her own path. Five years ago, a painful separation from her mate, Nicholas 'Nick' Thorne, left her heartbroken and questioning everything. Now, an internship at her Aunt Clara's prestigious law firm, Thorne Legal, throws her right back into the orbit of the man who shattered her world. The intensity of their mate bond, a primal connection that transcends time and distance, reignites the moment she steps into the office, turning her carefully constructed world upside down.

Nick, a dedicated and intensely private lawyer, has spent the last five years burying his feelings and embracing solitude. Maya's reappearance, stronger and more independent than ever, unravels his carefully constructed defenses. Her presence is a constant reminder of the past they share and the undeniable future their bond promises. He finds himself captivated by her newfound confidence and intrigued by the woman she has become, battling his own conflicting emotions

As Maya navigates the challenges of her internship and the complexities of reconnecting with Nick, a series of unsettling events begins to unfold. Mysterious notes, a stalker's obsession, and whispers of hunters targeting her former pack, the Crescent Moon Pack, cast shadows over their fragile truce. Nick, fiercely protective of Maya, can't ignore the growing danger even as he pushes her away.

Forced to confront their unresolved past and the undeniable pull of their bond, Maya and Nick must navigate a treacherous path. Can they overcome the hurt and betrayal that drove them apart? Or will the external threats and their internal struggles shatter any hope of a second chance? Their journey is fraught with peril, passion, and the enduring power of a love that refuses to be extinguished.

Textauszug

CHAPTER 1

Nick's senses are overwhelmed by a scent he hasn't encountered in years, yet would recognize anywhere. He freezes mid-stride. Sweet, floral, yet tinged with something primal that stirs his inner beast. Impossible. Maya. Here.

 

He forces himself to continue toward his office, his pulse doubling. The air suddenly feels thin, the hallway too narrow. Five years of meticulously constructed walls threaten to crumble.

 

"Whoa, someone had a wild night."

 

Nick barely registers Griffin as he turns. Despite the turmoil brewing inside him, the large man is grinning.

 

"I'm guessing you didn't check my emails?" Nick asks, struggling to keep his voice even. He glances toward the elevators, knowing she’ll appear any second.

 

Griffin rubs his neck. "My bad. Rowan and I wanted one last night before she leaves."

 

"She's gone for a week. You say it like you'll never see her again," Nick snaps, his irritation amplified by the impending disruption to his carefully ordered life.

 

"She's my mate," Griffin groans. "I can't stand to be apart from her."

 

Nick rolls his eyes, even as his own wolf claws within him, trying to pinpoint the source of that familiar scent. He’s told himself for years the mate bond is just instinct, biology—something that can be overridden with enough willpower. He can't afford to be wrong now.

 

"So, while I spent all night working, you were living it up?" He pushes the thought of her getting closer away. The scent is stronger now, more distinct.

 

At the end of the hall, the elevator doors open. Time seems to slow as she emerges, more stunning than he remembers. Gone are the flowing skirts, replaced by professional attire, her golden-brown hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. The clothes hug her curves perfectly, giving her a polished yet undeniably alluring appearance.

 

As their eyes meet across the distance, Nick feels the mate bond between them snap like a physical force. His wolf growls in recognition as he fights for control.

 

Her smile is polite, not the adoring, desperate expression he recalls. There's a new look in her eyes. Confidence. Calm.

 

The realization unsettles him more than her presence. She turns and continues down the hall. Why is Maya here? And why, after all this time, does she still have this effect on me?

 

Griffin, oblivious to Nick’s inner turmoil, claps him on the back. "Just try to get through the day, man."

 

Nick rolls his eyes. "Like I'm not going to."

 

As they step off the elevator, one person rushes forward to greet them. "Good morning, I'm Adrian," the man says.

 

Nick exchanges a bewildered look with Griffin. "Um, good morning, Adrian," he replies, trying to push Maya from his mind. "Can I help you with something? I can get you some coffee to get you started." His smile is bright.

 

Griffin chuckles. "Damn, you came to the wrong guys. You're one of the new interns applying, right?"

 

"That's right," Adrian confirms.

 

"I don't take interns," Nick informs him, his tone sharper than intended as his gaze drifts to where Maya disappeared. "You might have better luck with this guy, but he's already got someone working for him."

 

The intern's smile falters. "Maybe I—"

 

Nick holds up a hand to stop him before continuing down the hall. "Damn," Griffin says as they head toward their offices. "You could take an intern to take some of that workload off your plate. You're really grumpy today."

 

"Woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Nick mutters, knowing the real source of his irritation is on this very floor.

 

As they pass the cubicles, everyone seems busy. "See, you're not the only one stressed about work?" Nick says to Griffin, desperate to distract himself from the fact that he can still smell her scent lingering in the air.

 

"When you have a mate—" Griffin begins.

 

"Oh, brother," Nick mumbles, the word "mate" sending an unwelcome jolt through him.

 

"I'm serious," Griffin laughs. "That's probably the only thing that's ever stressed me out. We're good at what we do. We always get the job done."

 

"You're in love, which is basically the same thing as being delusional. I need to look over the financials for the quarter."

 

"Intern," Griffin says, giving him a pointed look.

 

"Nope. No way." Nick can't handle the idea of some inexperienced kid watching him while he struggles to maintain composure with Maya’s presence permeating the office.

 

Griffin stops at his office while Nick continues to his own. He opens the door and is met by a blast of cold air. He’d forgotten to turn the AC off before he left. He doesn't usually mind the cold AC, though he's not a huge fan.

 

But today, it’s just another irritant, and today is not the day. Fuck.

 

He walks over and nearly rips the plug out of the wall before taking a deep breath to calm himself. He opens the window to let some fresh air in, then heads to his desk and starts his computer.

 

"Intern," he mutters. "I don't need a fucking intern."

 

Working alone is nothing new. It's just how he prefers it. Unfortunately, he works for a company that has a million things happening at once. He’ll admit he gets overwhelmed sometimes, but he’s not going to let some clumsy fool screw things up for him.

 

The first thing he sees makes him chuckle—Griffin’s responses to his emails. When he’s not obsessing over his mate, the man is efficient.

 

"What would I do without Rowan?" Nick rolls his eyes as he types. "Please, a mate can't be that important."

 

Something grips him from the inside. A fist clenches around his heart.

 

It tightens further, then releases, bringing the most intense relief he’s ever felt. His wolf understands the meaning before his human mind catches up.

 

She’s close again. His feet move, guided by an unseen force. He stops at the cubicles, scanning for her.

 

A couple of interns try their luck, though he doesn’t find their interest particularly appealing. “Sir, do you need anything?”

 

“I can help. I’m really capable,” another one offers.

 

Nick dismisses them with a look. He sighs and turns to go back to his office. He's already losing his mind.

 

He passes Griffin’s door and it opens. "Wait up," Griffin calls, stopping him. Nick turns and the man thrusts a small stack of papers into his hands.

 

"The Watson file," he says. "I noticed a couple of things you should look at."

 

Nick takes the papers, glancing at them briefly. "Sure."

 

"Thanks," Griffin says, heading back into his office. As soon as his large frame is out of the way, she’s there, right in front of him.

 

Maya. Perhaps even more beautiful than he remembered. It’s almost hard to believe she’s actually standing before him.

 

The papers in his hands fall, scattering across the floor. Seeing this, she moves to help. She kneels gracefully, efficiently gathering the scattered sheets.

 

The gesture is unfamiliar, but helpful. When their fingers brush accidentally as they reach for the same document, a jolt passes between them, but she simply continues collecting the papers.

 

She hands the stack back to him, a warm but subtle smile on her face. "Hi, Nick. It's been a long time."

 

"What are you doing here?" Shock overrides any semblance of politeness, the words coming out harsher than he intended.

 

She doesn't flinch, doesn't acknowledge his tone if it bothers her. "I'm interning with Aunt Clara for the summer. I'm in law school now," she states matter-of-factly, not trying to impress him.

 

"Law school?" He can’t hide his surprise. He left behind a needy, desperate girl—nothing like this composed woman.

 

Genuine enthusiasm lights her eyes. "Yes. Turns out, I'm pretty good at it. I actually enjoy the challenge." She glances at her watch. "I should get back. I'm taking these files to Aunt Clara. It was good to see you, Nick."

 

She walks away with a quiet confidence, leaving Nick standing there, stunned. He watches her retreating figure, struggling to process what just happened. This isn’t the Maya he remembers—the Maya who would have thrown herself at him, or made grand pronouncements about their future together. Instead, she seems…centered. Independent and focused.

 

He picks up the files and walks back to his office, barely registering that the door doesn’t quite close behind him. He paces, his mind racing. That was Maya. My Maya. But she doesn’t seem to be mine anymore.

 

Her composure disturbs him more than any grand gesture would have. He expected drama, a confrontation, or at least, some acknowledgment of their shared past. Instead, she treated him like…an old acquaintance. Pleasant, but not particularly significant.

 

For some reason, that bothers him more than he wants to admit. He can't let it go, he needs answers. Stepping back into the hallway, he catches sight of her about to enter an office. "Maya," he calls out, his voice harsher...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 25.6.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen
• ISBN-10: 0-00-093544-1 / 0000935441
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-093544-1 / 9780000935441