Chapter 1 clip - second draft - Lyric & Michael - Enjoy

She flopped down on the couch with a loud huff, turning the television on flipping thru the channels idly wondering how much her life had changed in just a few short weeks. She felt as though she had just graduated college, when in actuality it had been 2 months since graduation.

She just started a new job as a director of operations for an up and coming law firm. She was working hard getting the books and personnel files all in order and learning everyone's names. The two attorneys Ethan and Michael Mainwaring were very nice and of course very good looking.

When she had gone for the interview at the law firm she interviewed with Ethan, she was originally to interview with Michael, but he had been called away unexpectedly. While she sat quietly in his office Ethan looked over her resume asking her questions to which she was able to answer with ease. Ethan told her that he was pretty sure she was a perfect fit for the position but he would have to speak with Michael and get back to her.

Before she left, he’d apologized for the change in who was interviewing her explaining that Michael had to go home to see their parents. He thanked her for coming in and said that he was very sure they would be offering her the job and that he would have offered on the spot if Michael had been here.

Ethan called her later that afternoon and asked her to start two weeks from then, that way Michael would be back in the office.

She  had known the interview had gone well and of course she thought Ethan was amazingly good looking with his piercing dark blue eyes, wavy light brown hair, perfectly tanned and muscles that go on and on. She had wondered if Michael was just as good looking as his brother Ethan. She truly did not think it was possible for anyone to be as devastatingly handsome as him. She laughed at herself for even wondering that in the first place. 

When she arrived on her first day, sitting on the sofa in the waiting area was a man that when she saw his face, her breath caught in her throat and a warming sensation that made her, without thought, clamp her thighs causing all her muscles to tighten.

She wondered if he tasted as good as he looked. She wondered silently who he might be, as she moved to the receptionist desk to let Ethan know that she was there so he could show her to her office. She could feel his eyes watching her as she moved across the open space to the desk. 

She introduced herself to the woman, "Good morning, I'm Lyric Garr the new director of operations, could you please let Ethan know that I am here."

Before the receptionist could speak she heard a low rumble behind her that sounded strangely like a growl. She thought for sure she had imagined it.

From behind the desk the woman jumped up quickly with a squeak of joy moving around the desk to offer her hand and introducing herself as Sara, smiling warmly, "Good morning and welcome, I'm Sara." extending her hand to Lyric, "I will show you to your office Ms. Garr."

Lyric shook Sara's hand returning the infectious smile. “Please call me Lyric, I can’t get used to people calling me Ms. Garr.” 

Sara agreed and they talked quietly as Sara led her through the office pointing out different desks and who they belonged to, not that she would remember all the names without faces to go with them, but she had plenty of time to learn them all.

 Sara led her to her office, and there on the door, staring back at her, was her own name in bold type with her title below it, LYRIC M. GARR Director of Operations, she smiled inwardly to herself. Sara regarded her and smiled excusing herself to return to her desk. 

As she left, Sara said over her shoulder that she looked forward to getting to know her.  Lyric smiled at her then turned to her door and opened it. She scanned the office as she moved across to the desk. She moved around behind the desk and began to settle in to start her new job and life. 

The first two weeks flew by. She saw Ethan a lot however she still had not met Michael, whom she knew was Ethan's brother. Apparently there had been an issue with someone out of state; she really hadn't paid a whole lot of attention as to who the issue was with or about. She wasn't one for listening to the office gossip, but she did hear that all the women thought that both Ethan and Michael were just the best looking men that any of them had ever seen and all of them lusted after both, even though Ethan was married to Sara who was the receptionist. 

Lyric hadn't noticed the first day that Sara was pregnant but over the next few days she had learned and then noticed the small baby bump the woman seemed to be so proud of displaying. 

As she sat in her office on the end of her second week, Lyric who was a she wolf knew that finding your true mate was one of the most important things in their lives and not everyone always found theirs in their home packs or even in their own species. She knew the full moon was coming up, her body reminded her vigorously. She was fighting the lusting urges because she had grown tired of the noncommittal trysts she’d had in the past and longed for her true mate. She thought about going back to her home pack to enjoy the full moon gathering and hunt and since she had not gone rogue yet she could go home.

She was staring out the window of her office, off in her own thoughts, when she felt a sudden warming and the scent of deep woods hit her nose. She let out a low warning growl not realizing she was growling when she heard from behind her a low deep rumbled laugh. Turning quickly, there stood the man from the waiting area.

Her mind went numb and all she wanted to do was run to him. Quickly gathering her thoughts and hoping that her warming body would not betray her she spoke. She asked, "May I help you?" Smiling at him in the hope of concealing her lusting body and soaking wet panties; she saw his nostrils flare to smell the air and knew she had failed.

He returned the smile as he moved towards her speaking as he moved from the door jamb he’d been leaning against watching her, "I just came in to introduce myself, Hi, I'm Michael. I heard my brother had hired a fantastic new director of operations so I had to come see for myself.”

He smiled at her with the most perfect white teeth she had ever seen. She tried with all her might to get her brain to engage, to make her mouth move and speak, but failed. He asked as he stood there watching and waiting for her to speak, "Are you busy?"

Finally, as she mentally kicked and pinched herself and her wolf whined, she forced herself to speak. Standing she extended her hand, "No, I'm not busy and I'm Lyric. I was just taking a moment to take in the view from my wonderful office window. I guess I should say welcome back, hope your trip was successful." 

He chose to ignore her comment about his trip being successful. Unable to control a low growl that came out sounding almost like a purr, he said, "Nice to meet you Lyric, so glad that you like your office and its view. I have to agree with you it is a wonderful view".

Lyric tensed at the sound, she could feel that pull again and she wanted nothing more than to go to him and wrap her arms and legs around him.

“Mine!”

The thought startled her, where the hell had that come from??  She had to get a hold of herself. She could feel the warm pooling in her panties.

He flashed a knowing smile at her causing all her insides to melt further if that was even possible. As he moved closer towards her she held her breath which made him smile wider.  He got so close that she could feel the heat from his body, taking in a deep breath in an attempt to clear her head, only to cause it to cloud even more with lust from the scent of timber and all man.

Finally getting a hold of her-self, moving back around her desk away from him, she asked again, "What can I help you with Mr. Mainwaring?"

His brow furrowed and he said to her, "Call me Michael, my father is Mr. Mainwaring. I came to tell you that we are having an impromptu staff meeting to introduce you formally to the entire staff in 15 minutes in the large conference room."

As he turned to leave he said over his shoulder, "I love the smell of your office and the view is spectacular."

She let out a loud sigh as she slouched into her chair. Sasha, her assistant, poked her head into the doorway asking if she needed anything.

Lyric looked at her shaking her head, "Do you have anything that will help keep my libido in check?"

Sasha laughed saying, "Sure, if I had that do you think I would still be working for someone else?"

Lyric regarded her calmly; she had gotten to know both her and Sara over the last couple weeks and really like both women. She knew that they were both she wolves also. The only thing she hadn't had the nerve to ask was if they were all from the same pack. She was guessing they were but no one had brought up joining as of yet. She knew that it would come because that was how things worked in a pack. However, she was from a small town and was in a large city and wasn't so sure that it worked the same. 

Sasha smiled and reminded her that they had a mandatory meeting to attend in 5 minutes and should get moving upstairs. As they walked to the elevator Sara joined them.

She appeared to be showing more or it was just because she now knew that she was pregnant. Sara just glowed and seemed to be so happy. Lyric was happy to see her new friend so happy.

She hadn't had many girl friends when she lived back home. Most of the girls were only friends with her because of her brothers and their rank in the pack. All the boys wanted her because of her rank in the pack as the alpha’s daughter. Here, she was just Lyric and she liked it that way.

They entered the conference room chatting but she stopped short when something blocked her entry, looking up she saw Michael blocking her path.

He said quickly, "I would like to speak to you privately for a moment if you don't mind Lyric?"

She looked to Sara then to Sasha, both smiling sheepishly at her. They stepped aside and moved past him leaving her on her own.

She leaned around him saying to their backs, "Thanks for bailing on me guys."

They both on queue turned and giggled with large smiles.

Looking back to Michael, "Sure Michael, what can I do for you?"

Taking her arm at the elbow, he led her to a separate office down the hall. As he closed the door he turned to her saying, "I know you feel it, I wanted to speak to you without anyone else around to get things out rather than play back and forth until you give into me."

All she could do was look at him; the shock that was running through her mind at how forward he was being just blew her away. 

She had heard all the stories of her packs elders that had found their true mates and the way things went due to situations at the times when they had found each other.

Clearing his throat bringing her out of her reverie, still trying to avoid this whole issue she said, "Don't we have a meeting to get to?" She headed for the door; he moved quick blocking her path to the door. 

Looking down at her speaking low and dangerously, "You are mine and we will have this talk one way or another. I will not allow you to avoid me for long so don't even think this is close to over."

Moving away from the door and opening it she walked through with him right on her heels.

Back in the conference room Ethan had already started the meeting without them. As they entered, Ethan stopped and looked to his brother who just stared back blank faced, as far as she could tell, but she knew that something was being said between them. She moved over by Sasha and sat down.

Ethan turned back to the group and continued what he was saying, Within about 10 minutes he asked her to stand and join him. As she did she could feel Michael’s eyes follow her as though he was memorizing every move and curve of her body! 

She reached Ethan’s side and he introduced her to everyone as a group, telling them they could stop by her office to do a more personal introduction or if there was an issue that needed to be brought to the firm’s attention.

Lyric waited as he finished speaking; as he did he turned to her asking, "Do you have anything you would like to say to the group?"

She smiled at him and turned to the group, "I am looking forward to working with everyone, if you have any issues or questions I will be more than happy to assist you in any way that I can. My door is always open." She turned back to Ethan smiling and moved back to her seat.

The meeting lasted another 30 minutes not that she heard anything that was being said because it was all she could do to keep herself from jumping into Michael’s lap. 

He watched her the entire time, never taking his eyes off her for even a second. When the meeting ended she tried to get out quickly to avoid being snatched by Michael again, however as she started to exit, Ethan called out to her to stay behind for a minute.

She turned to see Michael smiling at her; he had known what she was up to. She frowned at him knowing he had something to do with Ethan stopping her. She looked to Ethan and smiled "Sure, what can I do for you?"

Sara had remained as well; as she looked from Ethan to Sara she noticed that Sara had a smirk on her face. Lyric sent her a questioning look only to have Sara smile even wider at her.  She just knew the three of them were up to something.

She started to move away from the door and Michael asked that she close it behind her.  She moved back to the table and sat down, "Is there a problem Ethan?"

Ethan said, "No, no there is no problem Lyric, just need to speak with you just the three of us and you."

Lyric agreed, "Okay, what would the three of you like to talk to me about?"

She looked from him to Sara only, trying with all her might to avoid looking at Michael. She could feel every move he made and could smell his arousal which was making her wolf go nuts, as well as her human side. 

Ethan cleared his throat to get her attention. She looked back to him waiting for him to speak again. He sighed and looked to Sara; at this point she was starting to get annoyed by the whole situation. What did they want and what was going on.

She looked back to Sara who looked straight at her and with all the authority she could muster, "Lyric, you know that we are all alike, and with this knowledge we want everything to be out in the open. We are a pack here in the office." Sara looked to Michael who looked back and nodded to her. She continued, "We know that you have not left your pack back home and know that you are the pack alpha's daughter. Even though it may appear that Ethan and I are the alphas of this pack, we are not, Michael is the alpha." She stopped as she waited for this information to sink in with Lyric.

Lyric was completely shocked by the information, because she had actually assumed that Ethan was the Alpha. She looked from Sara to Ethan then to Michael and back to Sara. She started to speak but nothing came out so she closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. Michael took this opportunity to move from his seat to the seat next to her.

She jumped up as soon as he touched her hand, needing to put some distance between them.  She backed towards the door saying as she moved, "This is just too much to take in and I need some time to wrap my brain around this before we can finish this conversation." With that she turned and left the room heading straight to her office, closing the door behind her. 

Pressing her back against the door, she closed her eyes to calm herself for just a moment.  Pulling herself back to the here and now, she moved to sit down at her desk. Turning to look out her large window to the sky, she went over in her head not only the conversation with the three of them but also the one in Michael’s office. Why was this happening, she hasn't even had a chance to find herself? The worst part is every time she is around Michael she can't think of anything but being with him and not wanting anyone else near him.

“Mine!”

Thinking to herself, “Damn it, why can't I control this”, she already knew there is no controlling the feelings when it comes to finding your true mate. She wouldn't be able to deny this feeling for him much longer, but she would for as long as she could. She turned to her desk putting her head in her hands; god she had a headache the size of Texas. Sighing, she decided that she needed to do some work, that would get her mind working in the right direction or at least to distract her until she could leave for the day. 

Sasha knocked on the door and waited for her to offer entry.

Lyric looked up as she entered the office, "Please close the door behind you."

Sasha did as she was asked and moved toward the chair opposite Lyric. "Are you okay?" Sasha asked.

Lyric responded, "I'm not really sure what I am at this point. Is it possible that I am losing my mind here?" Asking but not really wanting an answer, she just looked at Sasha with a sad smile.

Sasha smiled back at her, "You know what is going on between you and Michael, right?"

Lyric was shocked by the statement as well as the question at the end. All she could do was nod her head. Finding her voice she said, "I know, but Sasha as much as I want him and know that he is who I am supposed to be with, I am not an Alpha like my mother. I don't have that drive. I can't be what he will need for me to be to be his mate." She lowered her head and started to cry.